Kydex experts here?

[toplessHO]

working with a plastic whose name brand is Kydex-V
its there any way to weld this with a plastic welder?
Im using a heat gun to form and that works fine but need to
join the joints.I have tried a little welding and it can be overheated.

 

[liliysdad]

It can be welded, but it doesn't typically turn out well due to the extreme sensitivity to heat. I worked Kydex and Bolatron pretty heavily in the day, with holsters, sheaths, etc. I never found a suitable chemical bonding agent. Mechanical bonding through rivets and fasteners was always the best way.

 

[toplessHO]

According to this chart it can be chemically welded

https://a.mpcdn.io/kydex/2021/07/KYDEX_Technical_Brief_150-E_KYDEX_Sheet_Adhesive_Guide.pdf

 

[toplessHO]

And more about filling with dissolved kydex and MEK and THF

https://a.mpcdn.io/kydex/2021/07/KYDEX_Technical_Brief_161_Repairing_KYDEX_Thermoplastic_Sheet.pdf

 

[mike93lx]

If chemical welding worked well, I bet every single holster on the market wouldn't use rivets and screws

 

[toplessHO]

I may try for my application.
I think that I need nitrogen to make the thermal welder work without it looking like burnt bacon

 

[toplessHO]

Have some THF coming so Im going to try chemical bonding as well as making a filler
for some pinholes.

 

[American Locomotive]

The process they described to solvent weld it sounds nearly the same as how PVC pipes are joined. PVC "glue" is actually PVC shavings dissolved in a solvent. PVC joints are ridiculously strong.

It wouldn't surprise me if a Kydex solvent weld wouldn't also be very strong.

Solvent welding is messy, and riveted joints give a certain look and are easy to do, so that's why I suspect most people working with kydex go that route.

 

[toplessHO]

Got the THF so tried solvent welding.
Test pieces with solvent about size of a thumbprint,clamped in vise overnight.
I couldnt pull pieces apart. Put one piece in vise and twisted the other until weld broke loose.
It took considerable force to break the bond.

I welded the corners on 2 pieces with the hot air welder and it did OK.
40 grit sanding disc cleaned it up.
The star of show was the combo of shavings,THF,MEK.
With this I was able to paint on a paste that dries to same as parent material.

 

[mike93lx]

I wonder how long it needs to be clamped for

 

[toplessHO]

I did some vise grip clamping on other pieces and did fingernail test on the
dissolved part that squished out.
within a couple hours I removed clamps,but didnt do a destructive test on it.