Project Information
My friend is starting a business making Kydex gun holsters and asked if I would be willing to help him make a few jigs and tools to help him get started.
The first thing I built for him is this Vacuum Press table. After doing some internet research I settled on a fairly simple design that uses a shop vac to create the suction, though we may later modify it to run on a dedicated vacuum pump.
It really is just a simple box with perforated peg board forming the table top (I did use a 1" dowel in the center to provide support". I made the box sides and top sides in one piece and ripped the top off at the table saw. All if the inside joints are sealed with silicone caulking as is the base of the box were it attaches to the base board. The top has a sheet of silicone that is attached using double side tape and staples. The seal on the box is created with 1/2" wide by 3/8" deep weather-stripping.
We got a couple of toggle clamps to put some serious pressure on to form a nice tight seal.
To make a holster the Kydex will be heated to 350 degrees and then the gun mold will be placed on the vacuum table and the Kydex placed over it. The lid is clamped shut and the vacuum turned on. The suction will force the material to mold itself around the gun mold.
The first thing I built for him is this Vacuum Press table. After doing some internet research I settled on a fairly simple design that uses a shop vac to create the suction, though we may later modify it to run on a dedicated vacuum pump.
It really is just a simple box with perforated peg board forming the table top (I did use a 1" dowel in the center to provide support". I made the box sides and top sides in one piece and ripped the top off at the table saw. All if the inside joints are sealed with silicone caulking as is the base of the box were it attaches to the base board. The top has a sheet of silicone that is attached using double side tape and staples. The seal on the box is created with 1/2" wide by 3/8" deep weather-stripping.
We got a couple of toggle clamps to put some serious pressure on to form a nice tight seal.
To make a holster the Kydex will be heated to 350 degrees and then the gun mold will be placed on the vacuum table and the Kydex placed over it. The lid is clamped shut and the vacuum turned on. The suction will force the material to mold itself around the gun mold.
