DIY Kydex links

I read a few forum threads about how easy it is to make custom Kydex holsters and mag pouches and such, and I purchased some gear from knifekits.com and will give it a try when it gets here.

It looks really easy and enjoyable, and you can save a lot of money and time spent waiting for commercial holster vendors to work through their backlog (Currently 16-18 weeks lead time for Raven Concealment, and Kaluban Cloak was about 8 weeks, for example).  And you can choose a lot of different colors or camo patterns for the Kydex, and make gear for rare guns or gun/flashlight combinations that otherwise would be unattainable.  For example, I'm thinking of making a sheath for my cheap Romanian AK bayonet, just for fun.


Some tips I've gleaned from reading a bunch of threads:
- Don't heat the kydex in the same oven you use for food.  It can release toxic chemicals.  Use a dedicated toaster oven.
- If making a holster for a gun with a weapon mounted light, you need to make a jig to cover the trigger guard area.  If you didn't, then the kydex pressed in around the trigger guard would prevent the light from coming out.
- Buying a kydex press is a waste of money, but do get the nice 1 inch thick PVC or neoprene foam from a vendor like knifekits.  Many sources said the sleeping mat foam was not as good.


M4carbine how to make a kydex holster picture tutorial
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=64714

http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php?10608-Kydex-Press-My-Way

http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php?1687-Building-a-Kydex-press-and-making-a-Kydex-Sheath-Tutorial

Kydex pouch for ar-15
http://www.migunowners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=87106

http://www.derekleewo.com/wp/2009/04/10/homemade-leatherkydex-tuckable-iwb-holster/

Another tuckable crossbreed ripoff
http://nicksfirearms.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/project-p11/

Forming kydex belt loops
http://www.paracordsecrets.com/articles/22/article.html

Holster tutorial
http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/threads/2602-Procedure-For-Forming-Kydex

Big Do it yourself kydex thread
http://www.ar15.com/FORUMS/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=628104&page=1

Podcast on getting started with Kydex
http://www.gunfightercast.com/wordpress/2011/01/20/gc-038-getting-started-with-kydex/