Posted: 2/1/2011 10:01:28 AM EDT
| Does anyone know of anyone doing custom kydex rigs in Iowa? I am looking to get a new holster made but I don't want to deal with shipping a handgun out and having it languish in a kydex shop somewhere else. |
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Kydex can be bought online and comes in sheets. You can get a square foot of black for about 5$ but large sheets (usually 4'x8') are very expensive. Kydex is a thermoplastic that is molded in a process that is very similar to vacuum forming. Generally however you use pressure from below and above to form the plastic to the item of your choice. |
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Interesting timing......anyway, I just started doing this and was going to post up some pics to get feedback. Anyway, after getting fed up with the makers of custom kydex currently available, because it was either too expensive, took to long to get, and once I got it it was pretty flimsy and broke after some hard use.
I decided to try this myself......so far, I am pleased with what I have come up with. I currently have holsters for Glocks in stock (26/27, 19/23, 17/22, and 34/35) yep just what I have myself.....I have made a few inside the waistband, and mostly belt sliders and a few with light mounts. I am currently working with black and a digicam pattern but can get just about any color, although I prefer to work with these or I just ordered some olive drab. Attempting to solve the problems I had with what is currently available, I use much thicker material both in the holster and the belt loops to prevent breakage during hard use, and found that I have to mould the holsters a bit differently with the thicker kydex but am now happy with the level of retention on the gun and how they ride on your side... I tried to get onto my photo hosting but couldn't get on tonight, Rick or Michael, can you help a brother out pics inbound on e-mail. Any questions please feel free to PM me. Thanks, R |
i have a couple of pics of romp's stuff... granted, these weren't taken for advertisement purposes, but you get the idea. darned good stuff:
we're working out the plan now, but there is a strong possibility he'll be offering these direct through CCA very soon. we're building the page on the site for it now and planning out the logistics... ;) i'm pretty excited for him and CCA both! Quoted:
Interesting timing......anyway, I just started doing this and was going to post up some pics to get feedback. Anyway, after getting fed up with the makers of custom kydex currently available, because it was either too expensive, took to long to get, and once I got it it was pretty flimsy and broke after some hard use. I decided to try this myself......so far, I am pleased with what I have come up with. I currently have holsters for Glocks in stock (26/27, 19/23, 17/22, and 34/35) yep just what I have myself.....I have made a few inside the waistband, and mostly belt sliders and a few with light mounts. I am currently working with black and a digicam pattern but can get just about any color, although I prefer to work with these or I just ordered some olive drab. Attempting to solve the problems I had with what is currently available, I use much thicker material both in the holster and the belt loops to prevent breakage during hard use, and found that I have to mould the holsters a bit differently with the thicker kydex but am now happy with the level of retention on the gun and how they ride on your side... I tried to get onto my photo hosting but couldn't get on tonight, Rick or Michael, can you help a brother out pics inbound on e-mail. Any questions please feel free to PM me. Thanks, R |
The mag extensions are from Arondondo they are plus 5 to a 15 round Glock mag.....making it a 20 rounder .
Still working on mag pouches.....and I will not offer them until I am satisfied they are up to standards......basically I will not sell crap as reputations are far more important than $$$$. R |
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Hey septic what are those extensions on the glock mags ? Ive only come acrossed plus twos but those look a wee better  they are the only mag extensions I will use. I've use pearce and scherer and have had catastrophic magazine failures with both under light use. The ones I use for my Glock21 are +4. They aren't cheap but they are rock solid and come with a new magazine spring to increase reliability. Romper you know you can use my Glock 21 and Colt Officers Model anytime you want. Between you, me, tbeminio, strongarm, and Joe Leo we probably have most handgun models covered. Don't forget Septic has a couple Walthers you could use as well 
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Those look nice Romp and I definitely could use one for my G19 once I decide to actually shoot it...still NIB after 3 years.  I don't have much in the way of pistols so I don't have anything new to add for a selection sample for you to use...except a Kydex holster for a Mac-11A1 SMG would be kind of different. 
Also nice to know about the mag extensions for the Glock as all I have are Glock +2 extensions. |
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Thanks for the kind words guys.....like I said earlier, this was born out of frustration with what is out there and if we can help some guys out with a decent affordable option now that we can all legally carry then it is good for all.
R Booger, give me a shout as I have 19/23 holsters in stock in both black and digicam (right handed only, but I am planning on being in the shop Thurs afternoon and can knock out a few lefties. R |
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Can you do leather wrapped Kydex?
Then you'd be RICH! I'd just be happy with something that's comfortable. This is coming from the cowboy action side of me (no, you can't see my costume), but there's ONE person making kydex lined leather holsters and they are UNGODLY expensive ($550 for 2 holsters and a basic belt). If you could make a setup for $350 you'd be printing money. |
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Can you do leather wrapped Kydex?
Then you'd be RICH! I'd just be happy with something that's comfortable. This is coming from the cowboy action side of me (no, you can't see my costume), but there's ONE person making kydex lined leather holsters and they are UNGODLY expensive ($550 for 2 holsters and a basic belt). If you could make a setup for $350 you'd be printing money. I'm not sure who the ONE person you are talking about is, but tucker gunleather makes leather lined kydex and there's another maker(name escapes me now, but I'll try and locate info for him) |
| I went to rompers today and checked out his operation. Granted I know as much about kydex production as strongarm knows about consensual sex with a Hootets waitress, but romp has a cool set-up and is turning out a great product. His stuff seems much thicker than the other stuff I've seen. Maybe romp can comment on the materials he is using compared to other makers.... |
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I went to rompers today and checked out his operation. Granted I know as much about kydex production as strongarm knows about consensual sex with a Hootets waitress, but romp has a cool set-up and is turning out a great product. His stuff seems much thicker than the other stuff I've seen. Maybe romp can comment on the materials he is using compared to other makers.... I like him. He's silly. 
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Quoted:
I went to rompers today and checked out his operation. Granted I know as much about kydex production as strongarm knows about consensual sex with a Hootets waitress, but romp has a cool set-up and is turning out a great product. His stuff seems much thicker than the other stuff I've seen. Maybe romp can comment on the materials he is using compared to other makers.... i was there today too. ever since i was a kid i was able to visualize moving parts and 'put things together' in my mind... so, as a pompas ass i made the assumption kydex work was easy any dipshit could do it. i was way wrong. i have a new found respect for this, as quality control, method of construction, thorough attention to detail, and basic design configuration are the cornerstones of what i witnessed. no kidding. i was impressed and i'm glad romp is offering the product. it was a painful day, but worth it. i had to listen to romp and rick actively participate in lowering my self esteem. luckily i visualized them wearing pink skin suits and laughed to myself most of the afternoon. good times. |
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Leather wrapped kydex.....wow. Probably not going to go there. I would entertain doing a combo leather/kydex holster eventually but not for awhile.
As far as materials, just about every maker that I have seen is using thinner kydex stock, in both the holster body and on the belt loops (and thin belt loops break fairly easy.....and its not fun to watch your weapon in its holster bounce off the ground). The thing that I like about working with kydex is that you can pretty much build to suit your needs, gun with light, no light, ect. as far as design, well there is only so much you can do with 2 pieces of kydex with a gun in the middle.....I have been working on some things, nothing fancy, to me functionality and comfort trump looks anytime anyway. And if your holster is comfortable then you are more likely to carry that weapon and exercise the rights that you all fought so hard for. I have been using the thickest material I could find (kydex that is) for the belt loops and like the way the pull the gun into your body so that newer CCW folks will not get that paranoid feeling thinking that everyone can see my weapon. I also enjoy a good leather holster, but I already know a guy who does that and he is the best at it.....so I use him for my leather needs..... Another thing I like about kydex over leather is that it is fairly light, and regardless how thick the material is it is still thinner than most leather holsters. Some trade offs.....kydex can be hard on your weapon's Finnish, basically if you want a gun that is perfect from scratches, dings, or dents then you better not use kydex because it will scratch you gun (never had a problem with this with Glocks), on second thought....if you want to keep your pistol in perfect condition then why are you carrying it in the first place......stuff happens. And some guns are just meant to be carried in a quality leather holster....nuff said. Probably the strongest plus that I can see using kydex holster has is the ability to carry your gun with a light mount attached, and for this to not interfere with your draw.....basically.....THREAT, and snap you are instantly able to identify the threat and engage if needed. R |
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I stopped by Rompers with rlarge and septic to drop off my gun to get a holster made. Had an opportunity ot fingerf**k the holsters, and Romper is going to be making a great product. Didn't stick around too long so they could work on business, but I'm looking forward to getting the holster.
Thanks again Romper Jason |
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Holster is done Jason, you threw me a bit of a curve with the light/laser combo......but I like how it turned out. I tried it and it sits nice and tight against your hip (like all holsters should). Hold on the gun is good and it draws well.
See you Saturday night bro. R |