Great video, when I started making holsters 10+ years ago there were only one guy on utube teaching people how to make them. I bought a Glock 17 full size plastic gun model so I didn’t melt the gun I was making the holster for. I also made a fixture to make the belt loops out of 1/8 thick kydex and I use .080 stock for my holsters . I use the blue gun and block out any catch points other then the trigger guard for keeping the gun in place and I use a round pice of wood as part of my blue gun setup so the retention can be adjusted with a heat gun after it’s all finished . The pice of dowel goes in the trigger guard, this really makes the end adjustment very easy. Great video , I watch all your videos. Thanks
This is a fantastic tutorial man. Great job. Im currently in school for gunsmithing, and we are working on a Kydex holster project. This is so much more detailed and has so much more valuable information than the course provided material.
Thank you. I am just starting to play with kydex. I just made a neck holster for my NAA Pug. I got 4 sheets of kydex for less than the holster would have cost me, and mine came out looking better. Now on to knife carry solutions. This is fun. thanks
I would call leaving a mag in during the pressing a must on polymer pistols as I've had a mag well shrink up a bit losing that drop free goodness on a Glock, I had to carefully heat up the frame while inserting a mag to get it back to normal. Great video!
What an excellent tutorial. One of the most complete I have watched to date. I finished my press yesterday and will be starting my first holster this weekend. Thanks Walter!
Did notice that the rear rivet hole on the green holster was too close to the trigger guard for you but you applied what you learned there to the single rivet on the tan holster. Good job. Good video. From the time of posting of this video from the future of 2023. 👊🏽😎
Straight to the point, informative, and well presented. Thank you! I'll be making one for me and probably all my friends too 😆 Edit: a pre made paddle or mount would go a long way, and they're usually cheap, and a strap over the top of the gun would be a nice touch too. DIY is the best.
The foam padding sold to go under sleeping bags works well for Kydex pressing. You can buy rolls from the sporting goods section of WalMart. For knife sheaths, one thickness will probably work, but you'll need two thicknesses per side for a holster.
I am somewhat surprised at the number of these types of video's I've watched (holster making DIY) in which they DON'T use the rod/dowel for the front site in prepping the gun. Well done!
Good afternoon Walter, thank you for posting this video. Whilst I am unlikely to use this material for a gun holster, I can see many other practical uses for it, using wooden blanks for templates. All the best, Tim
Im making a holster thats going on my tactical molle belt, the problem is that i just have 0.2 mm not 0.6 or 0.9. Is 0.2 too thin and just a time waste trying to make it ? And also do you have any good tip on what I can use to get the right shapes when you have a flashlight on the pistol? To build up the curves from the flashlight and other details ?
I am a holster maker and I use .80 boltatron it's kydex just stronger. Also knife kits is a sister company to holster Smith which they carry same products but knife kits has more knife making vice versa. I cut out a 8x6 sheet for most full sized guns then I design it and cut it out. When heating kydex you shouldn't pre heat because that will it fold so put it in then heat and if you can you should use a laser thermometer then heat it to 320 F or 160 C
Hey just wondering if you were going to attach one of these holsters to Molle how would you do it? Thank you so much for the informational video and I realize I am slightly late.
Tip for anyone making the book press used to fold kydex. The foam can be made out of office foam matting. You can find this at office depot or staples, but lowes or osh should carry some of it. Also have the bottom foam removable. If you have foam on both sides you will be forced to make a clamshell style deisgn as shown here. By using only foam on one side, one side of your holster will be flat which tends to increase comfort and follow the form of molle vests more seamlessly leading to less wobble when mounted.
If you want an IWB holster, just make this holster, but for the opposite side. If you are right handed, make a lefty holster. Also, what kind of tape did you use for the sight bar?
Walter, you're the man! Have been watching your knife videos for years. Got really into guns, and was surprised and excited to see you had a DIY holster video. I'm trying to make my own holster for a G48 with Streamlight. Any tips or things to look out for when making a holster with a weapon light or just follow the same process? Cheers!
I have been surfing you tube for kydex holster making. So far this is direct easy.Most i see use 2 pieces of molded kydex up to 8 rivets. One question have you ever done one with an inside barrier felt,cloth or leather between holster and the gun?
+Taurus/Hipoint Enthusiast i have..... but you need to glue the leather first before forming the kydex.... works well for knife sheaths..... neck knives stay in no prob with just the blade covered and not the handle....
Have a question ...when it comes to using the same heat molding with kydex, would the same process work with UHMW? And between the 2, which would be the better, or wouldn't it matter?
What about loading up all the goodies on the rails first? Got any vids on that? I have a laser site on the rail and it doesnt fit any premade holster on the market. Thats a royal pain.
Mr. Sorrells, I enjoy your videos. Coincidentally, I had a Glock 19 on my hip as I watched this video. Have you ever attached thick leather belt loops to the kydex ?
Bradley Cornell Those straps are rubber. That's actually a store-bought holster. But I'm sure you can buy similar straps. I actually kinda hate that holster though.
Watched a lot of these Kydex videos and the one thing I noticed is that almost everyone preheats their oven/toaster. Why? Logic defies me as to why one would want to throw the cold kydex into a hot oven/toaster. Why not heat the two at the same rate? Answer please.
+Larry Martin maybe because it's faster? when i make knife sheaths, i heat up the oven to about 180°C. The sheet takes roughly a minute to be ready for molding. while the oven heats up i have time to mask the knife, prepare the press, get my heat gloves ready, or whatever needs to be done. Also, when making several sheaths or holsters, it's often you just go industrial and leave the oven on for the next job, and go to the press every 10 minutes with a new molding, getting them all done. All in all, as long as the oven is not cranked up, but set at the right temperature, kydex doesnt mind getting tossed up there cold. It's also easier to see it react to heat and determine when it's ready to be molded. you see it going from flat to slightly wavy on the corners really quick. If you turn your oven on with the kydex in it, you basically have to wait in front of it to make sure it doesn't melt.
Cool set up! When I saw the Glock 19 with the flashlight on it, I was hoping you'd make a holster that fits the light. I have a holster coming from Bravo Concealment that's fitted for my VP9 with a TLR-1s :)
,06 kydex is light and is great for any holster. But they are not strong enough for a Belt loop. That's where you use a belt clip screwed on the holster.
Although this is a great concept, I have been using this style of holster for IWB and the belt loop broke. My buddy who makes these said it has been occurring on most of his holsters just because of the constant pulling/tugging at the belt loop will finally make it brittle. You just better hope it doesn't brake when you in Walmart or something.
+usafsoc I use these types of holsters in competition with thousands -- if not tens of thousands - of draws a year. After about two years, they break. I can deal with that. At the end of the day, holsters are consumables.
No, I haven't. The polish is a big part of what makes Japanese swords, so Japanese swords are always housed in scabbards that are designed to have as little contact with the blade as possible, so they won't scratch up the blade. You also want to use soft materials, for the same reasons. So soft, dry wood is the way to fly.
noticed you added a mag to the pistol..... if you dont when the kydex is higher in the grip the handle will slightly close making the mag not want to come out easily..... been there done that..... no worries tho heat gun handle with a heat gun lightly on the handle of the glock and add a mag will restore it....
I'm a bit late to the video but could anyone please tell me alternatives to using rivets as where i live holsters are mostly imported and not made locally but i want to change that and make affordable and effective holsters. Kydex can be acquired through some suppliers that are in the neighboring countries etc but the only problem is the rivets
This is one of those few channels that I automatically like the videos when I watch
Silver Trident yes
Great video, when I started making holsters 10+ years ago there were only one guy on utube teaching people how to make them. I bought a Glock 17 full size plastic gun model so I didn’t melt the gun I was making the holster for. I also made a fixture to make the belt loops out of 1/8 thick kydex and I use .080 stock for my holsters . I use the blue gun and block out any catch points other then the trigger guard for keeping the gun in place and I use a round pice of wood as part of my blue gun setup so the retention can be adjusted with a heat gun after it’s all finished . The pice of dowel goes in the trigger guard, this really makes the end adjustment very easy. Great video , I watch all your videos. Thanks
This is a fantastic tutorial man. Great job. Im currently in school for gunsmithing, and we are working on a Kydex holster project. This is so much more detailed and has so much more valuable information than the course provided material.
I like this guy more and more with every video of his I watch...
Thank you. I am just starting to play with kydex. I just made a neck holster for my NAA Pug. I got 4 sheets of kydex for less than the holster would have cost me, and mine came out looking better. Now on to knife carry solutions. This is fun. thanks
I would call leaving a mag in during the pressing a must on polymer pistols as I've had a mag well shrink up a bit losing that drop free goodness on a Glock, I had to carefully heat up the frame while inserting a mag to get it back to normal. Great video!
What an excellent tutorial. One of the most complete I have watched to date. I finished my press yesterday and will be starting my first holster this weekend. Thanks Walter!
You sir, are a Godsend for the everyday DIY'r. Thank you for your dedication! God bless.
Did notice that the rear rivet hole on the green holster was too close to the trigger guard for you but you applied what you learned there to the single rivet on the tan holster. Good job. Good video. From the time of posting of this video from the future of 2023. 👊🏽😎
I like that you make the holsters and use them in completion modifying, tweeking as needed then teaching us ins and outs 👍
Great diy! I’m going to try making one of these to use as a trigger guard for my Can Can belly band.
Walter your gifted with technique and sharing, Thank you !!
no matter whether knife or gun holster - the knowledge needed is all the same ... so thanks a lot for sharing this knowledge. and, thumbs up of course
Very good instructional video. You are a good instructor.
Straight to the point, informative, and well presented. Thank you! I'll be making one for me and probably all my friends too 😆
Edit: a pre made paddle or mount would go a long way, and they're usually cheap, and a strap over the top of the gun would be a nice touch too. DIY is the best.
This works great. Did it for my HIll People gear bag.
Great video this has help me so much with our holsters.
this guy is the mark serbu of knife making
One of the few gun related video out of the US that I liked, and the only one from a channel I am subscribed to!
Great, now I have to go out and experiment. Thanks for the good intro video.
Thanks for these tips, saved me a lot of future time not making those mistakes.
Well done! Very professional and easy to understand!
Very nice craftsmanship sir.
Nice reload in that outdoor match! I'm guessing you must be a master class shooter?
Thanks for the video!
The foam padding sold to go under sleeping bags works well for Kydex pressing. You can buy rolls from the sporting goods section of WalMart. For knife sheaths, one thickness will probably work, but you'll need two thicknesses per side for a holster.
I am somewhat surprised at the number of these types of video's I've watched (holster making DIY) in which they DON'T use the rod/dowel for the front site in prepping the gun. Well done!
Good afternoon Walter, thank you for posting this video. Whilst I am unlikely to use this material for a gun holster, I can see many other practical uses for it, using wooden blanks for templates. All the best, Tim
I'm from Brazil.
Great video 👍
Great stuff as always Walter. And super props for Collateral references!!!!!
Real craftsman. Good teacher. 👍🇱🇷😎☕
Im making a holster thats going on my tactical molle belt, the problem is that i just have 0.2 mm not 0.6 or 0.9. Is 0.2 too thin and just a time waste trying to make it ?
And also do you have any good tip on what I can use to get the right shapes when you have a flashlight on the pistol? To build up the curves from the flashlight and other details ?
.2 is bigger than the normal .080
I know this is an old video but I watched is and made a fine little holster
I wish my area had a deal like this shooting. Be lots of fun and good fellowship
Thanks Walter ! Nice holsters, good shooting ;-)
I am a holster maker and I use .80 boltatron it's kydex just stronger. Also knife kits is a sister company to holster Smith which they carry same products but knife kits has more knife making vice versa. I cut out a 8x6 sheet for most full sized guns then I design it and cut it out. When heating kydex you shouldn't pre heat because that will it fold so put it in then heat and if you can you should use a laser thermometer then heat it to 320 F or 160 C
Hey just wondering if you were going to attach one of these holsters to Molle how would you do it? Thank you so much for the informational video and I realize I am slightly late.
Excellent video! Very informative!
Tip for anyone making the book press used to fold kydex. The foam can be made out of office foam matting. You can find this at office depot or staples, but lowes or osh should carry some of it. Also have the bottom foam removable. If you have foam on both sides you will be forced to make a clamshell style deisgn as shown here. By using only foam on one side, one side of your holster will be flat which tends to increase comfort and follow the form of molle vests more seamlessly leading to less wobble when mounted.
Thanks for the tips.
Ff
Xox and the
Ty and former y. O
F.😮
I really like the reduced use of hardware by folding a belt loop over from the extra materials rather than buying clips etc.
Got a video on how you made your press? Thanks for sharing!
"Today not knifes guns" Yippee!!
Good video, nice details!
Belt and braces 😂 My kids always laugh when I go the extra mile and say belt and braces. As they are Swedish it's even funnier for them.
Well made, informative video. Subbed... You can always learn something new, even though I've been making kydex holsters for years.
If you want an IWB holster, just make this holster, but for the opposite side. If you are right handed, make a lefty holster. Also, what kind of tape did you use for the sight bar?
Wish you could make a sheath for my 800 dollar Katana Sword. Great videos... Liked and Subscribed.
Awesome; thank you!
Walter, you're the man! Have been watching your knife videos for years. Got really into guns, and was surprised and excited to see you had a DIY holster video. I'm trying to make my own holster for a G48 with Streamlight. Any tips or things to look out for when making a holster with a weapon light or just follow the same process? Cheers!
Well done very interesting work.
I have been surfing you tube for kydex holster making. So far this is direct easy.Most i see use 2 pieces of molded kydex up to 8 rivets. One question have you ever done one with an inside barrier felt,cloth or leather between holster and the gun?
+Taurus/Hipoint Enthusiast i have..... but you need to glue the leather first before forming the kydex.... works well for knife sheaths..... neck knives stay in no prob with just the blade covered and not the handle....
KYDEX!!! YES SIR! good stuff..
Very cool! What loads do you run in your 34?
You got all "Homie, is that my briefcase?" on em. Nice video
Great video!
is it better to make an epoxy replica of your pistol for kydex holster making?
Where is my holster for my M22 Gen 4 and M30S??? Great vid Walter!
Yeppers....gonna make me one....ordering stuff off amazon tonight.....
Great tips, congrats
Have a question ...when it comes to using the same heat molding with kydex, would the same process work with UHMW? And between the 2, which would be the better, or wouldn't it matter?
Would it be possible to show how to make a kydex holster that would also fit the light attachment?
Execellent video!
Great video! Thanks for making it. Curious what type of kydex do you recommend? (Kydex 100,T, V) Or does it matter?
I haven't found that it makes much difference.
What about loading up all the goodies on the rails first?
Got any vids on that?
I have a laser site on the rail and it doesnt fit any premade holster on the market. Thats a royal pain.
Walter I like your riggers belt! Airborne all the way!
Great great videos Walter, subbed
Great Video Thanks! Subscribed.
Very interesting stuff!
Great video
Mr. Sorrells, I enjoy your videos. Coincidentally, I had a Glock 19 on my hip as I watched this video. Have you ever attached thick leather belt loops to the kydex ?
well explained step by step thanks
Could you possibly show how you made that kydex press!
Best I've seen ! Thanks
at about 11 minutes you show a different holster with leather straps attached to it. Do you have any tips on how to build to allow those?
Bradley Cornell Those straps are rubber. That's actually a store-bought holster. But I'm sure you can buy similar straps. I actually kinda hate that holster though.
Walter Sorrells okay awesome info to have.
Do you sell holsters, I would like to get one like the one you have for competition
Watched a lot of these Kydex videos and the one thing I noticed is that almost everyone preheats their oven/toaster. Why? Logic defies me as to why one would want to throw the cold kydex into a hot oven/toaster. Why not heat the two at the same rate? Answer please.
+Larry Martin maybe because it's faster?
when i make knife sheaths, i heat up the oven to about 180°C. The sheet takes roughly a minute to be ready for molding.
while the oven heats up i have time to mask the knife, prepare the press, get my heat gloves ready, or whatever needs to be done.
Also, when making several sheaths or holsters, it's often you just go industrial and leave the oven on for the next job, and go to the press every 10 minutes with a new molding, getting them all done.
All in all, as long as the oven is not cranked up, but set at the right temperature, kydex doesnt mind getting tossed up there cold.
It's also easier to see it react to heat and determine when it's ready to be molded. you see it going from flat to slightly wavy on the corners really quick.
If you turn your oven on with the kydex in it, you basically have to wait in front of it to make sure it doesn't melt.
Makes sense to me. I only do one at a time ever two of three months..
How would you go about doing this with a light mount
Cool set up! When I saw the Glock 19 with the flashlight on it, I was hoping you'd make a holster that fits the light. I have a holster coming from Bravo Concealment that's fitted for my VP9 with a TLR-1s :)
Can you make a holster for a Scoped Dan Wesson Revolver?
,06 kydex is light and is great for any holster. But they are not strong enough for a Belt loop. That's where you use a belt clip screwed on the holster.
Is there anything you have seen that could possibly replace the rubber stuff? Styrofoam maybe? but it would be only one-use I guess.
Unfortunately I've tried a bunch of (cheaper) stuff that worked like crap. You want the good stuff.
Although this is a great concept, I have been using this style of holster for IWB and the belt loop broke. My buddy who makes these said it has been occurring on most of his holsters just because of the constant pulling/tugging at the belt loop will finally make it brittle. You just better hope it doesn't brake when you in Walmart or something.
+usafsoc I use these types of holsters in competition with thousands -- if not tens of thousands - of draws a year. After about two years, they break. I can deal with that. At the end of the day, holsters are consumables.
great vid!
Have you ever tried to make a sheath out of Kydex for your swords? Just wondering if Kydex have any merits as a sword scabbard or none.
No, I haven't. The polish is a big part of what makes Japanese swords, so Japanese swords are always housed in scabbards that are designed to have as little contact with the blade as possible, so they won't scratch up the blade. You also want to use soft materials, for the same reasons. So soft, dry wood is the way to fly.
What if I want to do one with a paddle or wider backing to it?
Great vid. Subed. Gunna try and make one this year and see how it goes.
Is it safe and ok to use your gun to make your holster
i was thinking about doing this and cutting the belt loop down the middle so it can go in molle.
How many times can you reheat and reshape kydex?
noticed you added a mag to the pistol..... if you dont when the kydex is higher in the grip the handle will slightly close making the mag not want to come out easily..... been there done that..... no worries tho heat gun handle with a heat gun lightly on the handle of the glock and add a mag will restore it....
"sorta like a taco"
damn that's a great example
Stick the kydex on a baking tray and some thread-lock would keep those screws in.
I'm a bit late to the video but could anyone please tell me alternatives to using rivets as where i live holsters are mostly imported and not made locally but i want to change that and make affordable and effective holsters. Kydex can be acquired through some suppliers that are in the neighboring countries etc but the only problem is the rivets
brilliant!
Was the beginning clip at GA Firing Line?
Zerkazerkastan LOL that's awesome.
Subscribed 🇬🇧🇸🇪
you got those bad guys before they could even think
What range had the competition? It looked like Mainstreet.
+ryanlong1 I can't remember for sure but I think most of the outdoor shots were taken at at IDPA matches at South River Gun Club outside Atlanta.
+Walter Sorrells Been there. It's near Covington. Shot skeet and trap. Decent range way out in the country. Good prices too.
Any reason you can't just use just chicago screws and no rivets?
Do you sale them holsters? I'm interested in one
You can easily find them on the internet.
Digital to much money don't have a job
L7 p Do you think his ones are cheaper? They would be a lot more expensive as they are not mass produced.