Make your own kydex holster!

mhm2a · January 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM

The recent threads on appendix carry, which I prefer, have inspired me to make my own holster. I wanted an AIWB that had a body shield, straight drop, and sat as low as possible. I found a couple of makers that did that, however, the lead time was too much.....I want it now...So here is the rest of the story.

I ordered three 12" x 12" sheets of kydex from knifekits.com

I then made a template to my Bersa .380 using a manilla legal folder:

Using painters tape to mark my lines I tranfered the template onto the kydex using my trusty bosch cordless jigsaw:

mhm2a · January 10th, 2008, 01:33 PM

After some hand sanding with various grits (60, 120, 400, 600) the edges were looking like a pro. I was now ready to apply some heat to bend the spine to match on both sides.

Once you have the spine where you want it then insert your firearm into your favorite medium thick dress sock then apply some more heat and use your cheap clamp pad plywood press to mold the kydex to your firearm.

mhm2a · January 10th, 2008, 01:35 PM

Your product should look something like this:

Just add your pull the dot strap and voilla:

Final Product:

orangehole · January 10th, 2008, 02:17 PM

Wow! great work. You make it look easy but I was never good with tools especially a bosch cordless jigsaw! How did you heat up the kydex? I have seem people bake it in an over or use a hair dryer type device.

David in FL · January 10th, 2008, 02:20 PM

mhm2a · January 10th, 2008, 05:04 PM

I use a heat gun to shape the kydex. I heat it to a wet leather consistancy and then shape and hold.

Ragin Cajun · January 10th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Nice Job!

friesepferd · January 10th, 2008, 05:31 PM

very nice! bravo

tseabourn · January 10th, 2008, 05:34 PM

What kind of foam did you use?

Sporty79 · January 10th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Cool, I might have to try that, I have been wanting some type of custom made holster to fit under the dash of my truck. This sounds like the answer. Thanks

mhm2a · January 10th, 2008, 06:05 PM

The foam is actually a camp pad from wally world, however, knifekits.com does sell the foam too. The camp pad was cut into sections and glued to a peice of 3/4 inch plywood with the same dimensions. I just place the heated kydex with mold in there and stand on it for about a minute. Not high tech...but it works.

Mfitzwater...I am also toying with vehicle mount and Kydex is the perfect material for that as well.

matiki · January 10th, 2008, 06:17 PM

That is a nice looking holster there... I ordered some Kydex myself. I was once a car stereo guy and we used to heat and bend abs plastic a lot back before "dash kits" were common. Hopefully I'll do as well as you have.

mhm2a · January 10th, 2008, 06:48 PM

If you can install a stereo you can make your own holster. If you can dodge a wrench you can make your own holster!

matiki · January 10th, 2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhm2a

If you can install a stereo you can make your own holster. If you can dodge a wrench you can make your own holster!

I don't know why but that scene has stuck with me as one of the funniest moments in a movie I've ever seen.

bluelineman · January 10th, 2008, 10:06 PM

How did you put the pull the dot strap on? Did you get that from knifekits.com too?

rocky · January 10th, 2008, 10:18 PM

Very nice. I might add. I like to leave the side of the holster that will rest aginst the body smooth/flat for more comfort. Also I tape a rod on the top of the slide to create a front sight channel.
Looks like you did well making your holster. My first few did not turn out nearly as good looking. Nice job!

tseabourn · January 11th, 2008, 12:28 AM

How did you affix the two sides of the kydex together? Looks like some kind of rivet or grommet. Is that all that is holding it together?

mhm2a · January 11th, 2008, 12:53 PM

Bluelineman - The pull the dot strap just uses a 3/16" hole to attach and, yes, they have them at knifekits.com.

Rocky - I thought about leaving the inside flat or non molded. That is a good idea as well as the sight channel. Thanks for the complements.

tseabourn - It is a rivet, also sold by knifekits.com. That is all that is needed to hold it together. You could also us a chicago screw to adjust the tension if you so desired.

stmcelroy · January 11th, 2008, 01:15 PM

Very nice job.

Danger Mouse · January 11th, 2008, 01:39 PM

I like that, one question, is it possible to add a retention strap to it? Also what grade/thickness did you use?
never mind, I found it, I had to click on the right link, forgot now which one, but I found it.

January 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#1
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	Make your own kydex holster! The recent threads on appendix carry, which I prefer, have inspired me to make my own holster. I wanted an AIWB that had a body shield, straight drop, and sat as low as possible. I found a couple of makers that did that, however, the lead time was too much.....I want it now...So here is the rest of the story. I ordered three 12" x 12" sheets of kydex from knifekits.com I then made a template to my Bersa .380 using a manilla legal folder: Using painters tape to mark my lines I tranfered the template onto the kydex using my trusty bosch cordless jigsaw:

January 10th, 2008, 05:04 PM	#6
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	Heating Kydex I use a heat gun to shape the kydex. I heat it to a wet leather consistancy and then shape and hold.

January 10th, 2008, 06:17 PM	#12
matiki VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: N.W. Posts: 2,915	That is a nice looking holster there... I ordered some Kydex myself. I was once a car stereo guy and we used to heat and bend abs plastic a lot back before "dash kits" were common. Hopefully I'll do as well as you have. __________________ "Wise people learn when they can; fools learn when they must." - The Duke of Wellington

January 10th, 2008, 10:18 PM	#16
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 13,157	Very nice. I might add. I like to leave the side of the holster that will rest aginst the body smooth/flat for more comfort. Also I tape a rod on the top of the slide to create a front sight channel. Looks like you did well making your holster. My first few did not turn out nearly as good looking. Nice job! __________________ "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson Nemo Me Impune Lacesset Link to my kydex builds:http://rocknloadkydex.blogspot.com/

January 11th, 2008, 01:15 PM	#19
stmcelroy Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 238	Very nice job. __________________ www.RKBAholsters.com Check it out for quality reasonably priced leather *Pocket Holsters*......

January 10th, 2008, 01:33 PM	#2
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	After some hand sanding with various grits (60, 120, 400, 600) the edges were looking like a pro. I was now ready to apply some heat to bend the spine to match on both sides. Once you have the spine where you want it then insert your firearm into your favorite medium thick dress sock then apply some more heat and use your cheap clamp pad plywood press to mold the kydex to your firearm.

January 10th, 2008, 01:35 PM	#3
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	Your product should look something like this: Just add your pull the dot strap and voilla: Final Product:

January 10th, 2008, 02:17 PM	#4
orangehole Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PA Posts: 290	Wow! great work. You make it look easy but I was never good with tools especially a bosch cordless jigsaw! How did you heat up the kydex? I have seem people bake it in an over or use a hair dryer type device.

January 10th, 2008, 02:20 PM	#5
David in FL VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,336

January 10th, 2008, 05:27 PM	#7
Ragin Cajun Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 688	Nice Job!

January 10th, 2008, 05:31 PM	#8
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	very nice! bravo

January 10th, 2008, 05:34 PM	#9
tseabourn New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 10	What kind of foam did you use?

January 10th, 2008, 05:35 PM	#10
Sporty79 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 211	Cool, I might have to try that, I have been wanting some type of custom made holster to fit under the dash of my truck. This sounds like the answer. Thanks

January 10th, 2008, 06:05 PM	#11
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	The foam is actually a camp pad from wally world, however, knifekits.com does sell the foam too. The camp pad was cut into sections and glued to a peice of 3/4 inch plywood with the same dimensions. I just place the heated kydex with mold in there and stand on it for about a minute. Not high tech...but it works. Mfitzwater...I am also toying with vehicle mount and Kydex is the perfect material for that as well.

January 10th, 2008, 06:48 PM	#13
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	If you can install a stereo you can make your own holster. If you can dodge a wrench you can make your own holster!

January 10th, 2008, 10:06 PM	#15
bluelineman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 854	How did you put the pull the dot strap on? Did you get that from knifekits.com too?

January 11th, 2008, 12:28 AM	#17
tseabourn New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 10	How did you affix the two sides of the kydex together? Looks like some kind of rivet or grommet. Is that all that is holding it together?

January 11th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#18
mhm2a Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 82	Bluelineman - The pull the dot strap just uses a 3/16" hole to attach and, yes, they have them at knifekits.com. Rocky - I thought about leaving the inside flat or non molded. That is a good idea as well as the sight channel. Thanks for the complements. tseabourn - It is a rivet, also sold by knifekits.com. That is all that is needed to hold it together. You could also us a chicago screw to adjust the tension if you so desired.

January 11th, 2008, 01:39 PM	#20
Danger Mouse Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cumberland, VA Posts: 363	I like that, one question, is it possible to add a retention strap to it? Also what grade/thickness did you use? never mind, I found it, I had to click on the right link, forgot now which one, but I found it. __________________ Think twice Buy once!

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