Homemade Kydex holster CW45

[Acasper708]

Well I ordered all the stuff to make kydex holsters. Figured I could make a few version for myself and make some for friends.
This is my first one and I friggin love it! It's really concealable. I have IWB belt clips that can be put on. But you can't even see it OWB.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/ara2u3a5.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/u3u2y9at.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/5amuqe4a.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/my6uzy2u.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/e8edyhyh.jpg

[codegeek]

Nice work! I like OWB holsters that conceal well.

Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 4

[addictedhealer]

Very very nice. Great handy work. Keep going!! Mind I ask what you bought and $? I have a KT and would like to make my own.

[Acasper708]

I ordered everything from Knifekits.com
I made my press out of wood in my garage and also had a old toaster oven. All I bought was 4 sheets of Kydex, foam for the press, a pack of 100 rivets, rivet setting tool, a 10 pack of Chicago screws, and 6 IWB belt clips, for $90 shipped. It's enough to make 6 holsters like this. I ended up just making the OWB belt clips. I can make 5 more holsters and easily sell them for $40 each.

[Acasper708]

There's a bunch of YouTube vids and info on the net. Watch and learn as much as possible.

[Acasper708]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/07/a4u8u2y7.jpg

[Decado]

If you decide to sell any, I'd be interested in an OWB for my CW45.

[muggsy]

Nice job. Very clean and professional looking.

[onemule]

I've been thinking about doing something similar. What thickness Kydex did you use?

Do you like the results, or would you go thicker or thinner Kydex if you were to do it over again?

Would you use the same thickness Kydex to make magazine carriers as the holster or go lighter?

[Acasper708]

I use .060 Kydex. The thicker it is the less definition it will have and less flexible it will be.

[knkali]

nice work! do you have retention adjustment on your holsters? I cant tell

[onemule]

I use .060 Kydex. The thicker it is the less definition it will have and less flexible it will be.

Thanks for the information. You did a really nice job. The shape is very pleasing as well as appearing to be functional. Thanks for sharing your work!

[Acasper708]

I put a retention screw on the mag holster I made but not for the holsters. The holsters don't really need a retention screw. The last few holsters that I made, I had to relieve some of the definition on the slide and the trigger just to be able to remove the pistol from the holster. All of the ones I've made so far, you can turn them upside down and shake the hell out of it. The pistol doesn't even budge. But with a quick jerk in the right direction, it releases from the holster.

Also for my Kahr and a M&P it shows zero wear on it from the holster. But the 1911 I made one for, started showing wear on the blueing instantly.

[Acasper708]

When I first made the holster I only had the OWB clips and was really happy with it. It is very comfortable and concealable.
Then my buddy with the 1911 wanted the IWB clips. I ended up trying them on my holster and it was surprisingly just as comfortable and even more concealable.

[Acasper708]

CM9
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/je9y9eby.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/yqaty7yb.jpg

[Acasper708]

Also a M&P 40 I made for a retired sherif
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/e4u9yrun.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/yju3y9yq.jpg

[Bawanna]

The badge is a very nice touch. Very handy generally.

[onemule]

How did you shape the Kydex to the guns? Did you use vacuum or foam under pressure or pressing by hand or something else?

[Acasper708]

Thanks. I'm giving him the holster this weekend and he doesn't know about the star yet.

Here my CW45 with a mag holster I made.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/4ara5yhy.jpg
And my CW holster with a added eagle globe and anchor
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/09/bady3eqa.jpg

[Acasper708]

I use a homemade Foam press. I just got the foam as well as everything else from Knifekits.com.
Then made a press out of wood laying around.
And heat up the Kydex with a old toaster oven that I've had layin around.

[ReManG]

Very nice work!

[onemule]

I use a homemade Foam press. I just got the foam as well as everything else from Knifekits.com.
Then made a press out of wood laying around.
And heat up the Kydex with a old toaster oven that I've had layin around.

When I checked the knifekits.com site, they showed three kinds of foam available (Maxx, Mega, and Standard). Do you recall which kind you ordered? It appears different foams give different degrees of definition, and some may have a longer useful life.

Any chance you could post a pic of your homemade press?

[AIRret]

Looks like you've done some great work.
What's the total number of holsters you've made thus far?

[dorangolv]

That is awesome!:2eek:
Looks very professional.

[Acasper708]

I actually bought the bulk bundle foam in the clearance section. I don't remember which type it is. It really doesn't matter on the foam. It matter most with preheating the foam and making sure the Kydex is up to temp as well as the amount of pressure on the press. The last cpl holsters I've had to relieve some of the definition with a heat gun so it was easier to draw the pistol.

I've made 4 holsters so far.

I just took my CC class for IL and used my CW45 with my holster and it worked great.

Here's my press. I was pressing the belt clips with one piece of foam in this pict
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/16/9emy5u4e.jpg

[Bill K]

Very nice work.

Having served in the Marine Corps I particularly liked the holster with the Globe and Anchor.

[onemule]

Thanks for the information and the pic. I didn't realize you have to heat the foam too. Do you do that in your toaster oven or with a heat gun or something else?

Congratulations on taking your CC course! I hope everything works out well for you to get your permit. I'm glad IL is finally on board with the permit. I hope they will soon honor my state's permit as well as others'. I'm not holding my breath on that though.

May you always have your gun with you if you need it, but I hope for your sake you never need it for defense. Enjoy. And thanks again for sharing your holster making skills. - great work!

[Acasper708]

The foam doesn't need to be really hot. But just setting the foam on top of the toaster oven with the plastic in it. The warm foam will keep it from cooling down the Kydex really fast and will give it more definition.

[moosedan]

Great job and looks great.

[noslolo]

Looks great! Kudos on a job well done!

[Acasper708]

Here's a few things I've made the past month
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/mamema2a.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/7y5a2a4a.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/7a6egyqa.jpg
Sig P227
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/qyhepysa.jpg
Glock21
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/3a6y5eze.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/ytu3anym.jpg

[rvanpelt]

My son made me this IWB for me. It fits both my CW9 and my Glock 26. The most comfortable and secure holster I've ever owned. Thanks for a great product.
Rod
http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad154/vanpeltrk/bowser/0401130756b.jpg (http://s931.photobucket.com/user/vanpeltrk/media/bowser/0401130756b.jpg.html)

[Acasper708]

Nice!
I was gonna try making that style but I am lovin this OWB pancake style.

[Acasper708]

A little tip for someone doing this with a toaster oven.
I noticed that the plastic would shrink a bit cause it was close to the heat output.
So I made a heat shield out of a piece of tinfoil to block the Kydex from direct heat. The plastic doesn't shrink anymore.

[Acasper708]

I've been wanting to try and make a paddle attachment.
So here it is.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/21/a7a7a2uv.jpg
It's not bad. I actually was carrying it while wearing some sweat pants and it worked great.

[Acasper708]

I made this pocket holster for my CW45 when I'm wearing my vest one the scooter.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/10/ujerumeh.jpg
This is how it sits in the pocket.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/10/9e5azu5u.jpg
It is positioned perfectly for when u open the pocket.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/10/hybege3u.jpg

[Scrambler]

That vest holster is ingenious. Thanks for sharing.

[Acasper708]

I whiped up this today.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/21/agepygu3.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/21/uteheqa5.jpg
I really like it!!
More than my leather/Kydex IWB.
The leather/Kydex is very comfortable but I don't like it when I disarm. Reholstering my CW45 can be sketchy since it doesn't have a safety!
With this I remove the holster with the gun.

[Slugnutty]

Hello 2014 - your thread is being dusted off and 2016 is impressed with the results.
I've been thinking of trying this for a fixed blade knife for a start to see who bad I do, and work from there.

How is the retention on the pistol?

Well here's hoping another 805 days or 2 years 2 months and 23 days don't again on this thread... *grin*
Good work and now fire for my motivation .

[Bawanna]

The beauty of kydex is if your not happy with the retention or it has too much you can heat it up a bit and add more to take some away.

It's pretty forgiving which is why I use it from time to time. I need forgiveness frequently.

I mostly do fixed blade knives myself. I don't have a foam press or any of the amenities that make working kydex much nicer.
Just a toaster oven (now mine, wife didn't want it back???) and a heat gun.

I'm not nearly up to acaspers quality or expertise but I get passable results and keep my knives from stabbing or cutting me.

[AIRret]

Bawanna knows all about using "tin foil" to block things. I'll let him explain that!

[Bawanna]

You must of seen my hat huh? It's really not a conspiracy if they really are ought to get ya.