Kydex: Want to build a holster,

[AZRedhawk44]

I'm looking at $80 or more for a pre-fabricated kydex holster for my 92A1.  And the number of companies that offer one is pretty slim, since I'm a southpaw.

I may use this as an opportunity to learn to make my own holsters.  I figure I need a sheet of kydex, a heat gun, a scroll saw or band saw or hack saw, and some hardware to seal the "taco."  I can probably build the first holster for less than $60, and I also want a couple of other holsters that have been sitting on the back-burner of the project pile for awhile (XDs OWB, PF9 OWB, PA-63 IWB and OWB, Becker BK7 sheath, a S&W SD9 IWB and OWB holster for my brother, probably others).  The per-holster cost gets a lot smaller once I already have the heat gun and I buy hardware in screw sets of 20-100 per box.

What thickness of kydex should I be searching for?  Where's a good place to get kydex?  Is a Harbor Freight heat gun going to be sufficient to the task for an infrequent holster maker?

[lupinus]

Part 1
Part 2

Also if you look through is channel he has several other videos related to holster construction.

[Boomhauer]

The harbor freight heat gun is a good unit. Own one and use it pretty frequently

[bedlamite]

Instead of a heat gun, use an oven, assuming you have one in your kitchen.

[brimic]

A friend of mine makes them, in fact he used my 92Fs as a pattern to send with his cousin who is in the Marine Corps.

Interesting sidebar- he buys used, beat up safariland retention holsters off ebay for cheap, takes the retention strap/bail assembly off them, then fashions new holsters that fit the retention assembly. He showed me how he does it over beers awhile back, its pretty slick.

[RevDisk]

A friend of mine makes them, in fact he used my 92Fs as a pattern to send with his cousin who is in the Marine Corps.

Interesting sidebar- he buys used, beat up safariland retention holsters off ebay for cheap, takes the retention strap/bail assembly off them, then fashions new holsters that fit the retention assembly. He showed me how he does it over beers awhile back, its pretty slick.

Ayep. Kydex is the easy part. The clips are the annoying part. They're either expensive, or crap, for DIY folks. Best to buy a cheap or beater holster, steal the clip or retention gear, and make your own shell.

Also, gluing the thinnest leather you can find to the kydex can be kinda nifty.