Kydex sheath making HOW TO get the PERFECT FIT!! 

This is what a professional with intense attention to detail custom work looks like.

2 years later it's still one of the best video explaining the process of making a knife sheath. Congratulations bro 🤟🏼

I know you don't think you are having a hard time explaining the process but this is by far the best video I've seen. I just ordered over $300 worth of kydex stuff today and can't wait to get started

I started doing leather work in the late 70’s and still doing leather work. Made my own Kydex press and learned a lot. Made tons of Kydex sheaths and that click is so satisfying. The ricasso area like you say is the key to a good fit up. I like the look of leather wrapped around Kydex. Great video brother.

Hey man.. not boring at all. There’s really no other way for us to learn. You basically gave us our very own 1 on 1 lesson. Really great in depth info. Love vids like these.

You explained it all very well. We are able to see what you were talking about. Thank you.

Just finished my first kydex sheath after finishing my first knife. This video and the others I have watched from you helped tremendously. Very informative and easy to follow. My case turned out awesome thanks to all your tips. Keep em coming!

I get it. Good that you made a point to let people know not to rush that part . I’ve never got a perfect fit and have often settled, this video made me decide to try harder. Thanks Brother!

Great video, I was able to see everything you were intending to show, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, God Bless

Brilliant video. Made my first ever kydex sheath and the fit is not too not bad but now I know exactly what Ill be doing for my next sheath.

Another thing a lot of guys get wrong is the placement of that top eyelet. It makes a huge difference in retention. When marking out eyelet locations, I use a small pair of the wide jaw welders vice grips as a temporary rivet of sorts, moving it up and checking the retention, then marking the spot. You can also use a 1/4-20 bolt and nut as temporary rivets once you have holes drilled.

I just wanted to say thanks, this helped me fix a sheath on a factory knife!

Just wanted to say thanks man that I've learned so much from how in-depth and detailed you get with your videos especially with this kydex and the sheath making. I've only got a few knives made so far so I'm really new at this but prior to watching your videos I had enough trouble making knives let alone sheaths but thanks to you I'm getting it down and getting them done, so I really appreciate it.

What about using something like an emry board / nail file there are various grits, and they are thin enough with just the right amount of rigidity to be able to get into small spaces, you can also shape them with a pair of scissors.

Finally! The fit questions answered. I've been making Kydex sheaths for a while and never knew how to get that click. Mine have been too tight and I didn't know where to open them. Thanks!

This is incredibly informative! I can’t wait to jump into the Kydex world sometime after the new year

Stop apologizing, this was a very informative video with some great insights. Got a sub!

Get you an arbor press to set those eyelets. It's way faster and won't split eyelets anywhere near as much. Also, get you some 3M scotchbrite wheels for your buffer. Makes cleanup and polish a snap. I use a green wheel and can grind, remove sawmarks and polish all with that one wheel.

Man, I'm a couple years late to this party, but I'm glad it came across my suggested videos! First and foremost, I just want to say that I deeply appreciate the attention to detail on your sheaths. I know you know this, but it is NOT common among knife makers who do their own sheaths, so from one craftsman to another, huge props bro! No idea what your process looks like these days, but I'm sure it's only improved with time given your clear passion for quality. That said, I have a couple very minor suggestions that might save you a few minutes per sheath and pretty much gives you the results you're looking for at an earlier stage in the process. The biggest thing I would say is that if you shape a piece of aluminum or even wood to fit up under the handle, you can get the blade clearance you need no matter where you cut the material. Just saves a little fussing and lets you play with the shape more if you choose to. The second thing is only adding tape to the blade. The extra space on the handle from taping it usually results in having fix the fit after forming. When you bend the thumb ramp, it sometimes forces the handle downward, producing a tighter fit, which may cancel things out (in a good way). Nevertheless, it could be advantageous to prep the blade for retention, rather than trimming and reworking parts of it for the same ends. Hope I didn't come across as wanting to step on your toes. I'd be DAMN PROUD to carry one of your Sheaths, and as you might imagine, I generally don't carry anyone else's kydex but my own. And on top of that, the few knife models I've seen on the two videos I've watched so far look OUTSTANDING! I'll be going shopping for one of your pieces real soon. You are crushing it, bro! Can't wait to see what else you make! 👊🔥

Good job explaining how it’s done!

Thanks this helps a lot this is going to be my 1st time making kydex so I can't wait to get started

Great Info" Thanx for posting! new-sub from Idaho!

That is quite clear to me, thanks😊. Fine finishing is usually the hardest for most to do with patience and care

Makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to share this. Nice work btw.

You are the best # 1

Very much appreciate you sharing your craft and techniques with us! The attention to detail really comes through, even by video. I have had to “tune the fit” on a few Kydex sheaths myself. One tool I found helpful in smoothing out the throat on the sheath just above the choil are Emory boards. They are basically semi stiff 220 grit sandpaper and work great for shaping those tension points you mentioned. You can find them in any drug store in the nail care isle.

I am a holster builder and on occasion build sheaths for customers knives and you absolutely nailed the issue that I have to explain to them and it is very difficult to explain and get right lol the whole deal of sheaths come down to sometimes too hard or just right of push on the belt sander around that area of blade meets handle great video really well done

Super helpful. Thanks!

Wow- great video. You do a great job explaining your attention to detail and why those details are so important. This is a very helpful video!

Dude, THAT was entertaining!!

Very informative. Thanks.

This was awesome! Thanks so much.

awesome video! beautiful knife. I'm on my 7th knife and 2nd sheath. this was perfect timing.

excellent video. dont sweat the small stuff. you were very informative. thank you

Yeah, great video, I did learn a lot, and it was very interesting watching. You are an excellent craftsman, I’m a woodcraftsman and former luthier, so and if I do say so myself, I know that of which I speak. Thanks. By the way, YES! I LOVE that little knife you showed in the presentation!

Well done!

This is great 👍 Thanks so much for this video.

Nice video brother it was great you broke down every part how you exactly do it and I learned enough to order some kydex and eyelets! Thanks for the vid

Good stuff man. Kydex sheaths have always been frustrating for me

Great video attempting my first kydex sheath soon. Very informative.

Thanks for the video. I picked up some great tips. I've made a bunch of Kydex holsters for firearms but only one for a knife. You might have mentioned this in other vids, but I found that I get better definition when I heat up my thermal foam so it doesn't cool the Kydex too quickly.

Good job

Great video/job!

Great video sir…thank you

Very helpful. I’ve only made a few sheaths, maybe half dozen. I used my heat gun to soften up the kydex and press it in with my fingers on my last sheath. I’ve got a weird handle design. Lots of curves on my handle on all sides so it was a bit of a challenge. I actually cut everything away from the sheath to would come close to scales. Then used heat gun to soften and pinch the sheath around the metal so no sanding on the inside.

Dude!.... you said it. Haha Nu-ice....and it was! Perfectness and I know you are too modest too be that way but in was Nu-ice! Great job!

Great job buddy…Happy Thanksgiving

Fantastic 🎉❤

Very good video.

Hello dude your videos have been very helpful thanks, I use a portable bandsaw like your one and the blade broke one day and sprung up into my eye. I was wearing glasses but it went up the underneath. I’ve fitted a guard at the top to stop it happening again and it works. Noticed you might do the same. Regards Arron

I just subbed. Kydex is something i want to get into. I like how you actually show steps and the tweaks. Thanks. One question. I bought a MOS Glock 19, the kydex holster i bought has an extra boxy spot for the red dot. I doubt i will ever buy one and that box makes it harder to conceal. * should heat it up and re shape it to get rid of the extra, trim it off, or just leave it?

Spectacular, friend. You work really well. I have some knives that I would like to have that type of sheath but unfortunately, in my country, kydex sheets are not available.

Great video. Just one question. Why does noone weld (really just solder) these sheaths together? I get that the rivets are tacticool, and give you a place to add clip and/or attachments, and tie parachute cord, but if I'm a civilian, and don't want to print and profile, then I'm going for the minimalistic setup. Leather is great for this, but leather cuts too easy, and leather requires a strap of some sort to retain the blade. A couple years ago I was busted up a fan shroud on my 03 Lightning. Not good as Ford no longer makes them, and GL finding a good used one. I was left with either converting to an electric fan setup, or fixing the shroud on the truck. I order one of those cheap, China made soldering iron kits off Amazon, and prepped the plastic the same as I do metal before welding. Pretty much just chamfered the edges of the broken pieces and the down the center of the cracks to give the plastic weld somewhere to fill in, and I started welding (melting) plastic to plastic. On a scale of 1-10 on my happiness level on how the fix turned of I was an 11. It turned out strong, and not something thats about to break without serious effort, and after sanding it you can barely see where the welds are. Black zip-ties work great as filler material. IDK I was just thinking that this would be a great way to shrinking the sheath size down, plus give it a clean/fitted look. Shape, cut, weld, and sand. I've never made a sheath, but am looking to getting into it, and was wonder this?

I've got several kydex sheaths that have been sent out with the knife super loose in the sheaths, like and they bounce around alot, I'm guessing just heat it up and squeeze in on the knife?

To me personally making a good fitting Kydex has been more pain than making an actual knife. I am not a full time pro and do not do a lot of knives and therefore do not get exactly that "Feel" that comes from making dozens/hundreds of them. Each time I garbage 1-2 sheaths until i can make a decent one. Always been wondering if somehow it would be possible to ever so slightly melt Kydex there inside where it touched the scales to make it a bit rounder and smoother. Like a micro torch or something.... Thoughts? Great video. THANK YOU for making one! (And for all the others too!!!!)

Please you need to do a Winkler Knives Belt Knife with the kydex/Leather sheath

Awesome. Great video. Btw what diameter have the 2 small drainage holes ? Thx best regards

Is it possible to make a kydex sheet with a magnet in it to get rid of all this extra work

No I know your channel says custom times I'm but are they strictly your idea custom or could we submit basic designs and you create them create them? There is a design I've been working on but I don't got the tools to pull off Would we be able to send knives in to get a sheath made?

Great video! I use the .060” thick kydex. Do you get better fitment with the .080” ?

Do you ever get any scratches on your knives from the kydex sheath

For a 10oz, a lil over 6 inch blade- for inside the waste band concealment is it best to go with the pancake style and use 2 ulti clips or a taco style is good enough?

What about a knife with no ricasso? I make a few skinning knives that are ground all the way.

Hello, I have a Buck Kalinga and I need a kydex sheath for it. Can you do that? Joe B

A carry knife, is the most ridiculous thing I have issues with. I’ve carried the same Walmart Camilus blade or however it spelled for like 15 years, it locks in great, I cut steak with it, open box’s, and the usual utilitarian stuff (specifically started carrying it to train myself to not use it as a screwdriver…… and yeah it’s turned the action screw on my marlin once or twice but with the back of the blade not the actual blade part). Got a different one not long ago, a boot knife, and for the love of god, I like the blade, the sheath, and size, but the hook… I always wear dress slacks and a belt, boots 95% of the time, and my issue is drawing and the sheath comes with the damn blade, even if it’s tied to my boot, and yet that cheap Walmart blade just works

Why do you have two holes at the blade tip?

Good video but please get rid of those hoodie strings for shop safety!

What is that small knife?

Where do I go to see your knives?

If I sent you my knife what would it cost for you to make one for me to ride horizontally on my belt?

Do you make sheaths for customers?

No respirator?

Good afternoon, I have been watching your video’s for a while now. Can I send you my knife to make a kydex sheath for me. Thanks ,hope to hear from you soon.

.80 or .60?

If I send you my knife can you make a kydex sheath for it ?

is it possible to make a flat back sandwich?

I didn't realize how "easy" it was to make a custom kydex sheath. I'm still learning, but had a question... My goal is a horizontal sheath that would attach to my belt. Question: Can one piece of kydex be used to make the sheath & the "loop" / channel the belt goes through? Follow up question... Are rivets necessary? Or is that just like a tradition? Edit: Your video answered my questions. Looks easier to just make a kydex sheath & add a tek lok for the belt clip.

No matter what I do, my sheaths end up scratching my knives.

Ive heard better click than that.

When you are smoothing where the blade goes in and out, have you tried using cheap emery boards?

@GlentryCustomKnives , I enjoy your video and I would like to send my knives to you . I have three of them and they are long knives so I would have to send them to you too get a price for them . I have no problem doing that and I will send you an Email first so you can decide .