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Sidearms & Scatterguns Kydex is stretching

Swift

Chief Bagel Technician
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 4, 2010
1,460
0
36
Cleveland, OH
on my Crossbreed for my Glock 19. It's developed some play and the weapon now falls out if turned upside down. How do I tighten it back up a little? Can I hit it with a heat gun without damaging it?
 
Re: Kydex is stretching

Yes, carefully heat it with a heat gun. You'll notice a small change in the look of the kydex once it's ready to be molded. Pretty sure this is a no brainer- but make sure you take all ammo out of the gun first. A little pressure in the trigger guard will do a lot to help with retention.
 
Re: Kydex is stretching

Just now heated mine with a blow dryer. Used the handle end of the little woman's hairbrush to put pressure in the trigger guard area and reshape it to hold the G30. Took maybe 10 minutes and works like new now.
 
Re: Kydex is stretching

As a custom kydex holster maker this is my suggestion.

First put the weapon in the holster, then warm it .... slightly, focus your warming around the trigger guard area as that is where most of the retention is probably put. IF you see the kydex getting shiny you have got it too hot too fast, you just want to be able to warm the material to where it is pliable. It is moldable with your fingers once its been warmed but you may want to put some gloves on in order to keep from burning yourself.

I doubt that the kydex is stretching though, what I think you will find is that the leather backer is stretching and when the holster is off your body it will allow the weapon to fall out, but when the holster is pressed up against your body its retention is correct.

If you need any more help just let me know and I will be more than happy to help if I can.
 
Re: Kydex is stretching

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Outsy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As a custom kydex holster maker this is my suggestion.

First put the weapon in the holster, then warm it .... slightly, focus your warming around the trigger guard area as that is where most of the retention is probably put. IF you see the kydex getting shiny you have got it too hot too fast, you just want to be able to warm the material to where it is pliable. It is moldable with your fingers once its been warmed but you may want to put some gloves on in order to keep from burning yourself.

I doubt that the kydex is stretching though, what I think you will find is that the leather backer is stretching and when the holster is off your body it will allow the weapon to fall out, but when the holster is pressed up against your body its retention is correct.

If you need any more help just let me know and I will be more than happy to help if I can. </div></div>

Thanks for the responses guys (and gals). I think the leather might have something to do with it but when it's on, there's still a little play fore and aft. Is there anything I can do about that? Also, is a heat gun or a blow dryer a better tool to use?
 
Re: Kydex is stretching

I would use a heat gun on the lower setting and not high. if there is a little wiggle fore and aft you can tighten that up at the trigger guard too. Thats where I reccoment doing it because there you have kydex rubbing on kydex. Just take and heat the entire trigger guard area, mash it in a little where your finger goes thru the trigger and then press it a little tighter on the underside of the trigger guard as well. Remember though that when the kydex is warm that it will pull the divot out of the tirgger guard if you push too much on the bottom of it. If you want you can do it in two steps. Do the divot, and let cool, then do the underside of the trigger guard once the divot has cooled and you can concentrate the heat to just the underside. Becareful not to heat the screws or screw holes too much of that will result in calling crossbreed and buying a new body.
 
Re: Kydex is stretching

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Outsy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would use a heat gun on the lower setting and not high. if there is a little wiggle fore and aft you can tighten that up at the trigger guard too. Thats where I reccoment doing it because there you have kydex rubbing on kydex. Just take and heat the entire trigger guard area, mash it in a little where your finger goes thru the trigger and then press it a little tighter on the underside of the trigger guard as well. Remember though that when the kydex is warm that it will pull the divot out of the tirgger guard if you push too much on the bottom of it. If you want you can do it in two steps. Do the divot, and let cool, then do the underside of the trigger guard once the divot has cooled and you can concentrate the heat to just the underside. Becareful not to heat the screws or screw holes too much of that will result in calling crossbreed and buying a new body. </div></div>

Excellent. I'll try it later today, slow and steady. Thanks for the help!