How to Make a Kydex Press

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By writedesign
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You can make a simple kydex press for under $25.

Kydex is a thermoplastic sheet that you can bend and mold after it is heated. It is often used to make knife sheaths - a hard protector you can put a knife in when it's not being used. Kydex is very rigid and is resistant to chemicals, fire, water and impact. A kydex press is the device one uses to make a kydex knife sheath - it basically presses the heated kydex over the knife and forms the sheath. You can buy a kydex press at specialty stores or you can make one yourself for a fraction of the cost. Here's how to make a kydex press:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

two 3/4" pieces of plywood
two 1" pieces of Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam
C-clamps
work bench

Step 1

Lay one piece of the plywood on top of the work bench. This is the bottom of the kydex press.
Step 2

Place a piece of the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam on top of the plywood. EVA foam is flexible enough to help mold the knife sheath.
Step 3

After the kydex is heated, wrap it around the knife and place it on top of the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam.
Step 4

Put the second piece of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam overtop the heated kydex.
Step 5

Place the second piece of plywood over the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam.
Step 6

Use the clamps to secure and press all the materials together.
Step 7

Example of a completed knife sheath.

Keep the kydex press clamped together until the kydex knife sheath has cooled (about 10 minutes).
Step 8

Remove the knife and kydex from the plywood, foam and clamps and proceed to cutting and putting holes in the knife sheath.