Saw 0-0’s thread about a new mattress, and it reminded me:

I just got a new mattress, and an adjustable frame.

I used to have a regular box spring and mattress.

I also used to use an L-shaped bedside holster made of kydex, that slid between the box spring and mattress

Playing with the new adjustable frame each night, my bedside holster no longer stays put where I want it.

Since it’s made of kydex, I’m hoping I can just bend it to go over my wooden bed frame rail, instead of between the frame and mattress.

But, I’ve never tried to mold kydex.

I’m sure we have some members here who are pros at it. So, just how hot do I need to get it before it’s pliable?

Thanks in advance!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: C-Dubs,

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“I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

I don’t know the exact temperature, but a standard heat gun on high takes only a couple of minutes to get there.

I baked in a cookie sheet at the lowest oven setting. Maybe 180 for 5-10 min or so.

I set my toaster oven to 250 and just keep an eye on it until it's the malleability that I want. If I leave it in too long at that temp, bad things happen. All you really need is a heat gun...heat it until it lets you form it how you want.

Thanks for the replies.

Heat gun it is.
I can direct the heat more accurately to the one area I need to bend instead of using an oven and making it all soft.

My bed frame rail is a 1x8.
Just need to turn the L-shape into a tight U-shape and use a scrap 1x8 to help mold it.

If I'm just adjusting certain areas of the holster, I cover the areas I don't want to reshape with a wet washcloth and heat the area I want to mold with a heat gun.

quote:

Originally posted by bobandmikako:
If I'm just adjusting certain areas of the holster, I cover the areas I don't want to reshape with a wet washcloth and heat the area I want to mold with a heat gun.

Thanks for the tip!

It's been a minute since I played with kydex but definitely wave it over the area vs holding it in one spot. Sorry if that seems silly but I messed it up in the past.

Also depending on the kind of heat gun you have you really don't want to blast really high temps at it. The thermoforming range is in the +- 400F. So either adjust your heat gun (if its adjustable) or keep it at a decent distance and go slow. You will easily be able to tell when you are at the workable range as the material becomes obviously pliable. I make adjustments all the time in kydex and have not had the issue of having to cool other areas, but I guess that will really depend on the shape change needed. For what you want it sounds very easy. apply heat and pressure in the direction you want to go and when its hot enough it will move. There is a small amount of springback if your tolerances need to accommodate that.