It took another two decades for synthetic materials to become a mainstream alternative to traditional leather. In that time, two alternate methods of manufacturing rigid synthetic holsters emerged: molded Kydex and injection molding. What exactly IS Kydex?

KYDEX® 3D thermoplastic laminates give designers the ability to incorporate compound corners and contoured edges, logos and wire management holes whilst eliminating unsightly seams and the need for edge banding typically associated with HPL/TFM surfaces. Its high impact resistance minimizes costly maintenance associated with the other membrane pressed and flat laminates. The knife sheaths and gun holsters of the history books are almost exclusively made of leather, canvas, nylon, or other pliable material easily manipulated and stitched together. So when thermoplastics—namely Kydex supplies—started growing in popularity in the late 60s, the whole game shifted. KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet can be assembled to other materials using mechanical fasteners. Some tips for successfully accomplishing this include:When using rivets, control the tightness of the rivets in both diameter and length to minimize stress concentrations. Flat washers can be used to further reduce stress concentrations at rivet locations.

Technical Brief 150-A, Technical Brief 150-B, Technical Brief 150-C, Technical Brief 150-D, and Technical Brief 150-Eprovide detailed information on the correct adhesives, solvent cements, and tapes to use with KYDEX® sheet. Available in Extreme Durability (XD), Extreme Durability with Antimicrobial Product Protection (XD MB) and Wood Grain (XDWG) product grades. Kydex® has also been used in an exciting new project with the NHS. Like many healthcare organisations across Europe, The Hull NHS Foundation Trust needs to deliver carbon reductions, save money and at the same time provide environments that are built around patient needs. A wide variety of materials can be used to safely clean KYDEX® sheet. However, certain aggressive cleaning agents may damage the material. Technical Brief 160-A and Technical Brief 160-B provide guidelines for cleaning KYDEX® sheet. What are the chemical resistance characteristics of KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet? Kydex is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of applications. It is strong, durable, and easy to work with. Kydex can be cut with a variety of tools, but a few basics will get you started. In this section, we will cover how to cut Kydex with a few different tools.If you're using an oven, preheat to about 275-300 and throw your Kydex in for about 3 minutes. If it's uber soft and flimsy when you pull it out, it's ready to go, and the race is on...you gotta move FAST.

If your holster, knife sheath or mag pouch is equipped with screws or other hardware, be sure to apply Loctite to all fasteners to ensure positive retention. Kydex cutting jigs make it easy to get professional results when cutting Kydex. There are a few different types of jigs available, but the most popular are the hand-held variety. These jigs have a built-in guide that helps you keep your cuts nice and straight. By following these tips, you can ensure that you’ll get professional results every time you cut Kydex with your new cutting jig.Kydex is also easy to work with. It can be cut with simple hand tools, and it molds and shapes easily. You can even heat it and form it into complex shapes. Once you know the basics of working with Kydex, you can make just about anything you can imagine. KYDEX® sheet is resistant to many common industrial chemicals. Details about them are provided in Technical Brief 120-A. Can KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet be laminated to MDF via membrane pressing? Workstations & reception Desks – These are being installed in select areas where a new clean & fresh look is paramount. In use in various forms since the mid-1800s, injection molding utilizes a blend of molten materials (most often a nylon polymer) injected into a mold. This process lends itself to volume production, lower manufacturing costs and consistency. The tradeoff is overall quality where an injection-molded holster can wear out faster than a Kydex counterpart and may not exhibit the precise fit of the more expensive alternative.

Kydex is a type of thermoplastic used to make molded items such as holsters and sheaths. It is durable, easy to work with, and can be molded to fit any number of objects. Kydex is made by heating the material and then molding it into the desired shape. Parts formed from sheet will be rigid and will see moderate deformation when loaded. This is of particular importance in deep formed parts with thin wall sections. KYDEX® 100– Rigid, tough, durable, plastic alloy sheet available in a wide range of standard and custom colors, textures, and sheet sizes. It is Underwriters Laboratories® Inc. recognized for UL Std 94 V-0, 5V and has 961 J/m (18 ft-lbs/in) Notched Izod impact resistance. Developed in 1965 by Rohm and Haas, Kydex is a thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride whose construction gives the plastic rigidity while also allowing it to be molded into various shapes. Engineered for thermoforming fabrication, it combines the properties of the acrylic (rigidity and formability) and the polyvinyl chloride (durability and chemical resistance) components.KYDEX® 110and KYDEX® T are also suitable for medical equipment housings. Both pass the UL standard V-0 and 5V and are available in a wide variety of colors. Is KYDEX® sheet resistant to harsh disinfectant cleaners? KYDEX® sheet is also available in a range of standard colours, realistic wood grains and metallics. Custom colours and a diversity of designs are also available to enhance virtually any commercial, retails or institutional styling theme. Get new white paper on how KYDEX® sheet creates durable, attractive retail fixtures. How does KYDEX® Thermoplastic sheet compare with fiberglass? A similar acrylic polyvinyl chloride material ( IPK Acrylic-polyvinyl chloride) is manufactured by Emco Plastics and Interstate Plastics, which carries nearly identical properties with an added layer for screen printing. [2] Kydex has become a generic trademark, and often refers to any material of a similar composition. If you’re considering cutting Kydex with a Dremel, there are a few things you should know first. While a Dremel can be a great tool for cutting Kydex, it’s not the easiest tool to use and it can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Here are a few tips to help you cut Kydex safely and effectively with a Dremel: