photog Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 (edited) I had my Witness Limited fall right our of the CRSpeed WSMII holster that I was borrowing. Luckily it wasn't during a match and it was unloaded. After falling in the pumice we have around here, I couldn't move the slide or else get grit worked into the gun so it went back home and got washed and thoroughly cleaned. After that incident, I decided to look around for a holster that had better retention properties, and made me feel more safe. The only holster I could find was the Blade-Tech Kydex. So, I emailed them asking whether they had them in stock, and if they made the mag holders too. They never replied. Hey guys, if you are going to bother putting your email on your web site, you better check them and give replies! SO after a little internet research, I decided to buy some Kydex and make my own rig. I spent about $80 with Knifekits.com, buying .093 sheets, TechLoks, and extra belt clips. They shipped right away. After working with the Kydex for a couple hours doing practice molds, I have come to really like working with it. It's a lot like moldable plywood. All your woodworking tools will work great with it. I bought a used toaster over at the thrift store for $3, borrowed my wife's heat gun (she's an art teacher), and found some old packing foam from a wine shipment. The Dremel with a cut off blade was my main cutting tool, along with a couple bastard files, and some steel wool for finishing the edges. You probably have all those tools already. A couple of hints: the more dense the foam in your press, the better. Use a heat gun to 'touch up' areas that didn't quite work out. make a paper template first, then cut your Kydex to size, leaving plenty of extra. If you don't like the way it came out of teh press, just put it back in the oven and mold it again. Kydex is VERY COOL stuff. Granted, I'm a handy guy, and have been a mechanic for some 20 years, it really only takes basic wood/metalworking skills; think cutting using a Dremel, drilling holes with a hand drill, and using a hand file or sandpaper. Great place to start is here: So the above is my first try at using Kydex. I have never made a holster before, out of any material. I made a few errors along the way, and had to adjust the TechLok to make it USPSA legal, but all in all it came out OK. I made 3 mag holders, each with a little different offset, so the fit me great. I still have plenty of material left, so Gen2 is on the way! Edited October 11, 2008 by photog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cy Soto Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 You did a nice job on that holster. My only suggestion would be to get some Chicago Screws for it. It will make it look even better. Good job!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brif Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 Wow, that looks nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photog Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 You did a nice job on that holster. My only suggestion would be to get some Chicago Screws for it. It will make it look even better. Good job!! If I could find ny-lock Chicago screws I would use them! The problem is the Chicago screws will work their way loose and change the tension of the holster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gundry Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 LocTite 242 (the blue stuff) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybrosh Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 Nice job. About Blade-Tech - I've been dealing with them for years, and nothing but praise. Speak to Bobby McGee, he's their Customer service manager and also handles tech support. A great shooter, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phudd Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 A few of my homemade rigs: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybrosh Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 How do you get a mold of the firearm? do you simply wrap and press it between the folded kydex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cold Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photog Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 How do you get a mold of the firearm? do you simply wrap and press it between the folded kydex? Wrap soft kydex around firearm, place in your press, hold till cool. Check out he video and it shows it in action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob D Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) That's some awesome info! I've been thinking about doing this lately, but couldn't find a good video. I could afford to screw up a lot of $10 sheets of kydex before I pay for a single decent holster. Phudd, can you give me any details as to how did the front-sight channel on your 2011 holster? Edited October 14, 2008 by Rob D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phudd Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I slotted the end of a 1/4" dowel to fit over the front sight, then squished it into a channel cut in a board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 From freeidaho's website: http://www.parmarng.org/freeidaho/AlSkDjFh...6/Holster6.html He has about 6 holster builds on there, along with all kinds of other good stuff (prop designs). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob D Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I slotted the end of a 1/4" dowel to fit over the front sight, then squished it into a channel cut in a board. Awesome! I can only guess that mag-holders are even easier to make. Thanks for your info on the sight channel too, Flex. Time to get out the heat gun and see what happens. I'm sure my first one will be a frankenholster, but it's not going to make my glock look any uglier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian_Sorah Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 So do you have to take the sights off before you mold it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photog Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 So do you have to take the sights off before you mold it? No. Just use a pencil taped to the top of the slide to form a grove where the front sight will slide when holstering the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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