First time with kydex, eyelet trouble.

setlab

Member
This was my first attempt at setting eyelets, I was using .068" kydex, .321" long eyelets, and a set of dies I all bought from USA Knifemaker. I've think that I'm either using eyelets that are too long for the kydex being used or either my dies or my eyelets are a mismatch or not made within spec. If it matters I've just been clamping the dies together in my vice to "rivet" it together. Any suggestions, what am I doing wrong with my eyelets? Thanks.
 

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I think you may be correct in saying that the rivets may be to long. I use the same dies. I just did some and the rivets were barely sticking through the backside and it worked well for me. I put the female end in the vice then strike the other die with a hammer sort of like holding a punch. Add another layer of kydex and try it?
 
Ok I'll give that a shot. Is there a good rule of thumb for how much eyelet must be sticking out past the end of the kydex to form a good rolled over eye? Looks like I'll have to make a jig or something to trim these 1/4" eyelets down, I saw you have a smaller s60 eyelet but they're only .031" shorter than my s61 eyelets.
 
The 3/16" s-38 are used for thinner kydex. If you need to swap dies, we can do that.
If you leave them around .125" proud, that should leave enough for the roll over.
 
Well I found my problem...I was using your die backwards lol. I knew there was a reason there was always a lip left sticking up. Thanks for the die swap offer but I'm eventually going to buy both sets, that is if I ever start making more stuff from kydex.
 
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