Making a Kydex Holster
Personal Defense Network EditorsDescription
Ever wonder how a kydex holster is manufactured? PDN is onsite at Psy-Op Tactical with President Bruce Buell, who gives us a step-by-step look at how they manufacture their kydex rack holsters. All processes – from heating the kydex to molding, cutting, securing the two halves, and finishing – are shown, and Bruce discusses the special features of the Rack Holster.
I'm here at the headquarters of Sayab Tactical where the range and carry the rack holsters and the range and carry belts are made. And they're made by Bruce. Bruce has really built an amazing little facility here in the corner of this workshop where he's going to take you through all the steps involved in manufacturing, kydex holster. In fact, one of the rack holsters from two sheets of plastic all the way through the vacuum table and clean up and everything else. Bruce, I appreciate you giving a little insight and sharing this with everybody who I'm sure is interested in exactly what the process is.
Great. Thank you. Okay, well, to start all of the rack holsters start with our proprietary mold, and that's what we've have here. The next step, once we have the mold selected, would be to use the heating element. Let me do this right now.
55 seconds later, this will come out and we'll start the molding process. This comes out at approximately 365 degrees. And the holster essentially has been molded at this point. We now will wait and let it cool off and then show you the rest of the magic. The kydex has had a chance to cool off and at this point I'm going to release the vacuum.
Okay. And as you can see at this point the holster is molded and has cooled. And at this point, I'm going to mark it and start the cutting and finishing phases. At this point, I'll use the bandsaw and cut this thing up. After the initial cut, I'll clean up these edges.
Once I have my clean edges, I can mark it. And because this is the rack, I have specific, positioning for all of the snaps, and eyelets, and rivets. At this point, I need to step over and punch some holes real quick. And I'll secure the two halves, temporarily. At this point, I'll break this out.
Because of the vacuum. It is a very tight fit. While I'm here. I'll punch out, a couple of extra holes, make sure everything's proper size for when I put the eyelets in. Okay.
Return to the bandsaw. After I've secured the two halves together I need to mark the remaining cuts. Back to the bandsaw. And at that point I basically have a rack holster. From here on it would be more sanding, polishing, and final assembly.
As you can see, the rack holster is completed. The belt loops are installed and some of the special features of the rack holster, the molded, uh- lip, that facilitates the emergency manipulation that is taught in the I.C.E. classes. And this is a holster that, I wear. It's that good.
And as you can see that's what is involved in making a rack holster.
Great video. I would love to know who makes and where to buy the kydex heater and vacum units he is using.
I see the advantages of the kydex holster if the mold is exactly like the gun. I would suppose he has molds for the most popular guns. Looks like what is the finished product is a solid holster that might last awhile. I would like to know what he says the advantages are compared to other holsters. Also would like to know what brand gloves those are that can handle that kind of heat and not be too bulky.