http://www.ifithermoplastics.com/products/blade-tech-accessories



Here where you can get the paddle attachment.



 

Level II attachments are available here.

http://www.ifithermoplastics.com/products/blade-tech-accessories



 

Just finished up the plumbing for my new vacuum former I made. I'll be testing it tomorrow.

The top of the former is upside down waiting for the silicone to dry between the joints of the sealing foam.

Everything works like it should.

That's awesome looks like something out of science fiction...

What thickness are you guys using for your holsters and belt loops?

I don't offer a hybrid style. I make taco or pancake holsters I use mostly .080


Some pancake holsters get a .093 or .125 for the back & .080 for the front.


Since all the major suppliers now have injected polymer loops/clips I quit making my own.


But is you want to make them yourself use .125





 

I haven't read much on using a vacuum but do you waste more material this way? Obviously your definition is insane and you aren't putting a lot of pressure on a firearms like you would with a press but what are some of the other benefits of doing it this way?

Awesome, thank you.  Ordering some material this week.  Haven't made anything in almost 2 years, but excited to get back to it.

Actually the waste is minimized. You can position the sheet and not get shifting like in a book/taco press. Waste to me is just part of the process. I try to keep it to a minimum but it's better to use a bigger piece and cut it to your style of holster than to be short then try to make it fit the gun.  On a vacuum former you can see the placement of the Kydex not like a regular press.

This is my first entry into vacuum formers I have no intention of selling them this was one of three that I and another guys built. It's more of a added dimension of holster making. I still use both my book and taco press.

This press was cloned from a press that was selling for $500.00 (just the press ). My total cost was not that high. If your interested in building one or buying one or just looking for more good information on construction and use you can visit the KydexPro forum. The threads about vacuum forming on this forum are very useful and informative.

I got a lot of ideas for the plumbing of my press from that forum.



Benefits: Yep the definition is outstanding. I'm still discovering different ways to use the press.

I can press the top and bottom at the same time.

The time from oven to press is dramatically improved resulting no serious loss of temperature of the Kydex.

I can do pancakes with variable splits 70/30, 80/20 depending on the foam used and the thickness of the cutout. The cutout is simply a one piece generous size outline of the gun that you place over the gun. Process is Kydex on the cutout-gun-top layer of kydex.  

A true 50/50 can be done with a blue gun split down the middle butterfly style.

One of the gun mold makers offers this as a special order. The thickness of the cutout determines the split.  

Although I don't do hybrids but it is capable of producing excellent shells for hybrids.

With a curved platform you can put the curve in a holster body eliminating a lot of different processes to attain the same results.

Taco's can be done also.

Multiple mag holders can be laid out and pressed instead of one at a time.

For me, it sped up my production time.

If your only making a few holsters every so often maybe a vacuum former would not be suitable for that situation.

Hope this helped.

Here's some links of commercial ready built units if you don't want to build one yourself.



http://youtu.be/Y8OgfXpnQAo

http://youtu.be/-jPOlbcVZac

 

 

Thanks! I'm going to start reading about this more I guess. Very interesting.

Posted this for another members inquiry so I guess I can post it here too.

My holsters have came a long way but are still not on the level of some of you.

They work well though and that counts for something.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/jrhack79/kydex/F803DBBC-0F4D-4BFD-9178-A170C353B89D_zps2nztrkzl.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/jrhack79/kydex/3361C210-1B47-4175-8575-719FC68A2088_zpsctzld9bg.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/jrhack79/kydex/9BE4D61D-7959-4A2F-8875-02D29E960C4F_zpsxuimgf8n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/jrhack79/kydex/587085CE-D21C-4548-B5AE-F6048E251EED_zpsal45ydrg.jpg

0422141616~2 by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr

These little "Bug" guns give me the fits. Here's 3 IWB with different sweat shields.

I used the CB taco press.

.080 Kydex. Injected Polymer belt clip.

Best place to buy scrap .080" black kydex?
I need a 10"x 4" section for a misc project

I'll trade you for a butchered pelican case . PM me your address and I'll ship you a piece.

 

G19 adj retention, soft loop and strut. Crappy cell photos. Still figuring out the logo labeling... who knew a stamp wouldnt hit in a neg bend
0425142018b by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr
0425142018c by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr

Tell us the truth, those cuffs are stuck in there permanently aren't they? But really, those can't be easy to draw.

Are any of you guys doing taco style holsters that mount to molle loops?

They actually come out very quickly because of open design.. This carrier is used 40 hours a week with no issues.

Knew I had been saving all my scraps for some thing.
0427142003 by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr
0427141847 by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr
0427142053 by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr

Still getting the hand of the stamping. Plan on giving out the key chains with orders. Waiting on one more stamp to come in before I start that.

Is it two separate pieces riveted together or is it tacoed at the bottom or side opposite of the rivets? Thanks.

Its a taco. Folded at the base and open on both sides. Rivoted on the left so its open for aright hand draw. Secured with a large tek-lock.

AIWB for a Ruger LCP w/Crimson Trace Laser.


These small "Bug" guns are are tough to work with. I finally came up with this.


Ride height & retention can be adjusted. It makes a good design for deep cover.


Customer was happy and that's all that counts.






















 

What is the third screw for?

That hardware covers the hole for the ride height adjustment.

If the person wants to raise the holster 3/4" on a 7" gun.

You redo the screws and drop the loop.





 

Customer sent this photo of their gun asking about color matching:

nice

 

can someone IM me a link where I can learn step by step how to begin?

also, with what parts/tools i need, etc.

Ive read the post on m4carbine but all of the pictures are gone from the users photobucket.

kydex press - you can buy one pre-made, or build your own
clamps for the kydex press
oven - I use a small toaster oven
infared thermometer - to get the temp on the kydex right ~320*
some kind of bandsaw or scroll saw - I use a bandsaw, but there are smaller and more economical options out there.
riveting tools - Dies at the very least, but it's sure nice to have them mounted to an arbor press.
buffing/sisal wheel
belt sander
heat gun for modifying/putting bends in holsters
hole templates are really nice to have, but not completely necessary
popsicle sticks for building up parts of the gun you don't want the kydex to touch.
painters tape to hold the popsicle sticks in place.
rulers/straight edge/ colored pencils/erasers for marking cuts and layout
box cutter for cutting large chunks of kydex out of a sheet.

check out phlster's vids on youtube for how-to. He covers most of it, but a lot needs to be learned through experience

once I get a gun taped up the way you want it and the kydex formed, cut one side of the tape along the slide and peel it off. This is a template you can use on other guns of the same model. Templates are molds are the secret to making a quality product imo.

There are a ton of videos on YouTube.

anyone use a dremel for any portion of the process?

im gathering everything i need to start and was wondering if a good dremel would be useful for any parts of the process.

I use my dremel all the time

+1

Very handy to smooth out the top edges on the holster where its too tight and "curvy" to use strait-edge sanding tools.

_MG_5666 by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr

using all scraps now.

That gives me an idea. I carry a AAA streamlight micro stream and use the 3.7 volt batteries. Thing is they only last half as long.

I could make a keychain holster for a spare AAA battery and it would be like a key fob instead of a battery rolling around in your pocket and would be with me always.

that would be slick.

i cant get my taco style knife sheaths to fold just right. is there a trick to it?

Using a cb press?

I use one with a sanding wheel to flatten the edges prior to sanding and polishing. I use the diamond cutting wheels from HF for rough cutouts of sweat shields where a scroll/band saw isn't useful. The hard felt wheels also are good for final polishing. I just discovered a pack of circular saw blades for the rotary tool it zips through Kydex. (and your fingers if your not careful)

http://www.harborfreight.com/diamond-coated-rotary-cutting-discs-5-pc-69657.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-hss-saw-blade-with-mandrel-set-67224.html





 

I've found those at HF about 9 months ago.  They work well.

Playing around with some scrap pieces, decided to try making a "competition" style holster.  Used the Safariland standard 3-hole mount pattern and mounted it to a SL drop-offset belt mount.  Came out pretty well and was quick to shape up.  Might make another one with a nicer piece of kydex.






ETA: had the time and these type go together so easily, made a "production" model in coyote.  

Here ya go Brad. Crappy cell pictures before I washed it up.

0515141741 by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr
0515141741a by 4DAIVIPAI2K5, on Flickr