This is a video of How-To make a Kydex holster for your gun. For more details go to my YouTube channel SlavicFMJ, I have a video of me making it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1hYtSZzEs8&feature=share&list=UUXnhdsjtN34xBT0olCHmsYA Materials: 2 x Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Mega Form) - (12x11.5x1) 9 x Eyelets - #8-9 (1/4) - Gunmetal Finish - (for .080-.093 KYDEX™) 1 x Hand Setter Kit - (#8) - (for 1/4 inch sheath rivets) 4 x Chicago Screws - Black Oxide - #8 - (.1875 x .250) - 1 x KYDEX™ Sheet - Black - (.080)
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Step 1:
Tools: - heat gun - oven - set of screwdrivers - drill with 1/4 inch bid - Dremel with stone/sand paper attachment - 150, 300 and 500 grip sand paper
Step 2:
Anyhow. In the video I talk about what I made and how but a few things I left off and they are not in order: How to set in rivets/eyelets: Use a punch kit that I have in description. It consists of a metal base and a metal punch. All you have to do is to put an eyelet through your sheet of Kydex, then set it on a base and punch on the other and hit a few time until rivet will expend and look good. How to sand down the edges: Use low grit sand paper at first and make your way up to a 500 (fine) and make sure you sand down all the sharp corners EVERYWHERE.
Step 3:
How to make belt loops: This one I forgot to film, so read carefully. First decide what size of a belt you want to use it with. For mine I had a 1.75 inch width. So that means I need my loop to be in rectangular form 1.75' long and 3/4' wide and 0.5' thick. So to make them I cut out a peace of wood size of 1.75' wide and 0.5' thick (length doesn't matter) so then I took my heat gun and heated up a strip of kydex of the right size with some room to spare and after you get kydex to about 300 F it becomes really soft and you just wrap around your piece of wood and in a few minutes it comes out the shape you want. (if this a sucky description, I'm sorry, English is not my first language)
Step 4:
How to bend the edges of a holster: Very easy. When you holster about to be done and all is left is to curve it to the right angle, use a heat gun and warm up the edge you want to bend (not Hot but warm) and gently force it to bend where you want it to bend. If I missed anything or if you need more explanation, let me know and I will make sure to help answer your questions. Thanks! p.s. It's my first instructable. More to come.
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Recommendations
Like everything else in life, holster selection involves a series of trade-offs. When you score points in one category, you lose them in another. If you want to draw quickly, you're going to sacrifice retention. Less weight means less strength, and so on. So let's get this out of the way up front: the holster I present here is not for everyone. It's not for every gun and it's not for every situation. I've worked several jobs in the past that required the concealment of a firearm in some pretty hairy situations. I became frustrated with the lack of a SIMPLE, LIGHT-WEIGHT, LOW-PROFILE, and INEXPENSIVE holster on the market. There's a nifty clip that attaches to pistol frames, allowing you to tuck the gun into your waistband, but most work policies don't allow modifications to firearms. I would often resort to using a 'string holster' or simply tucking the piece in my waistband, but these seemed a little too sketchy. Finally, I came up with this idea.
DISCLAIMER: Don't do this if it's illegal where you are. Don't do this unless you're 100% certain of your ability to prevent an accidental discharge. This is NOT the safest holster out there. (I'm not even sure if it really is a holster!) There is nothing here to block a hammer or shroud a trigger. I don't accept any responsibility for accidents on your part. This is about as minimalist as you can get and I don't recommend it for anyone who isn't entirely proficient with the handgun of choice. The benefits of this device are as follows:
It works
It is highly concealable
It is comfortable
It is cheap
It will work with any number of handguns, calibers, and positions
No one will ever look at it and accuse you of being a professional
Here are the drawbacks:
It has no integrated retention do-dads
You can't write it off on your taxes
Reholstering with one hand is next to impossible
It won't contribute to the Miami Vice persona you're trying to cultivate