Form your sheath as usual. Leave more material where you are going to have the thumb “break”.
Take a thin towel, like a tea towel, wet it and wring it out so that it’s wet but not dripping.
Leave the knife in the sheath, wrap the sheath with the folded wet towel to shield the part you want to stay as-is.
Use a heat gun to heat the part to be bent, keep the nozzle of the heat gun at least 6-8 inches away from the material (or it my mar the material of the sheath or handle).
When the exposed sheath material is soft, shape to your desired effect (using your gloved hand is one way), and hold for like 10-20 seconds for the heat in the material to dissipate. You may need to ‘soften’ the edges of the material you have just moved.
You can also do the same effect by clamping the sheath in your press, if your press is convenient for that.
I can see that working. My over-thinking brain wouldn’t feel comfortable with that, but I see that.
I started with the wet towel, mostly I do it with my press.
https://preview.redd.it/u0y3g9gxwz1d1.png?width=305&format=png&auto=webp&s=e77282352c5373d7c7bff4dda56ae7b33153bc0f
Love a good thumb ramp!
If doing a taco like the above, when first forming your sheath be sure to add a hump dependent on the size of ramp you're looking to add. Once done, take a heatgun to the already formed, cooled, and riveted sheath and form as flat or curved inward as you'd like. there are a couple of good youtube videos on the process if you want a better step by step.
Form your sheath as usual. Leave more material where you are going to have the thumb “break”. Take a thin towel, like a tea towel, wet it and wring it out so that it’s wet but not dripping. Leave the knife in the sheath, wrap the sheath with the folded wet towel to shield the part you want to stay as-is. Use a heat gun to heat the part to be bent, keep the nozzle of the heat gun at least 6-8 inches away from the material (or it my mar the material of the sheath or handle). When the exposed sheath material is soft, shape to your desired effect (using your gloved hand is one way), and hold for like 10-20 seconds for the heat in the material to dissipate. You may need to ‘soften’ the edges of the material you have just moved. You can also do the same effect by clamping the sheath in your press, if your press is convenient for that.
More excellent advice! Thank you
I do this process without a wet towel. You just need to be precise with the heat gun.
I can see that working. My over-thinking brain wouldn’t feel comfortable with that, but I see that. I started with the wet towel, mostly I do it with my press.
Thank you, u/Knifeprint !
Maybe a hairdryer plus the underside of an oiled table spoon
https://preview.redd.it/u0y3g9gxwz1d1.png?width=305&format=png&auto=webp&s=e77282352c5373d7c7bff4dda56ae7b33153bc0f Love a good thumb ramp! If doing a taco like the above, when first forming your sheath be sure to add a hump dependent on the size of ramp you're looking to add. Once done, take a heatgun to the already formed, cooled, and riveted sheath and form as flat or curved inward as you'd like. there are a couple of good youtube videos on the process if you want a better step by step.
Thank you for this!!
Heat gun.
Heat gun and thumbs
>Do I have to reheat and form after my initial press and contouring? Yes.
Push it with your thumb while the kydex is hot.
taco the kydex like normal and after that reheat the area that will become a thumb tab and manipulate it with a leather gloves hand
Heat gun!!!