Re-shaping Kydex

Tim

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I have a high(ish) dollar kydex holster made for an XD(m) 4.5" that I would like to modify for my 5.25" XD(m). Exact same frame, the slides are interchangeable. Just the barrel is longer.

Do I just take a heat gun to the area that needs molding, then wrap the gun in some plastic wrap and shove it on in?

In the pic you can see where the barrel 'ends'. I need to push that out ~0.75". Or, should I get the hacksaw out and cut it off?
DAF94827-0A82-4744-B084-B5F6F2D09F52.jpeg
 
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I have a high(ish) dollar kydex holster made for an XD(m) 4.5" that I would like to modify for my 5.25" XD(m). Exact same frame, the slides are interchangeable. Just the barrel is longer.

Do I just take a heat gun to the area that needs molding, then wrap the gun in some plastic wrap and shove it on in?

In the pic you can see where the barrel 'ends'. I need to push that out ~0.75". Or, should I get the hacksaw out and cut it off?
View attachment 241843

Blue painters tape on gun.

Heat the holster slowly and be careful with how high you go on it. Have a towel or piece of foam handy to press the kydex down against the gun.
 
Blue painters tape on gun.

Heat the holster slowly and be careful with how high you go on it. Have a towel or piece of foam handy to press the kydex down against the gun.

just heat the area near the muzzle? or pop it in the oven and heat the whole thing?
 
Just the specific area. You heat the whole thing and you'll likely have a mess.
 
just heat the area near the muzzle? or pop it in the oven and heat the whole thing?
It tries to return to flat when heated, so definitely slowly move up with a heat gun. A good indicator it has reached temp will be a visible softening of the existing contours. Second finding some dowel to make sure the sight channel doesn't collapse.
 
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Mission accomplished. A pencil made a great stand in for a dowel. Since the retention is around the frame, I wasn't too worried about screwing up...same gun, just a bit longer slide/barrel.
AE0DC83E-7F20-42FE-A2A4-B85FB668336C.jpeg
 
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