Kydex Forming Foam..

I am having one helluva time finding some forming foam to make a press. I AM FINALLY GETTING MY SHOP NEXT MONTH!! After 3 long years of issue after issue when I actually had the cash, I'm finally going to be able to start making some knives in a barebones simple tools shop!!! I am so excited to be able to finish the 3 blanks I have ground out, that have been sitting for 2 years now. I'm going to slowly build a heat treat oven, but in the mean time, MAP GAS and fire bricks, it is!! Does anyone know where I might be able to find some forming foam, or is there some sort of substitute I could use??

 

Canadian knifemaker as It For sell 8 x 12

 

This is a good place to deal with to
Index Fasteners there in the US
Knife kits have some to but There shipping is a small fortune .

 

Ok, they must've added some recently, because it was listed as sold out last time I checked.

Yeah, it tends to be a bit pricey coming from most places in the US. Ithe seems most places are usually sold out, so I'll certainly take a look. Thanks!

 

ive been using knee pads from walmart, they are 8'' * 12'' and so far so good but have only done about 4 sheaths

 

I found large black foam knee pad material 12x24 or similar in size and it works okay from Princess Auto

 

I've read that guys have been using neoprene foam. It doesn't have tomorrow about heat until up to 400F so it's perfect for sheaths from what I have been able to find online. So you're using the anti fatigue floor mats, is that what you mean by knee pad foam?

 

ive seen people use the puzzle floor matts online but the one john and I are talking about are a think pad used by gardeners mainly that will some times have a handle cut in one side, I can add a pic tomorrow aft when im home if you want

 

I use similar to above but in black

 

ya mine was smooth not bumpy like the pic, but I could only find baby blue or pink haha

 

Ok, I'll hit up princess auto in the coming days and see what I can find! I know exactly what you're talking about now. I recall seeing something similar when I was there last. Do you guys find that it deforms under heat at all? Or that you are replacing it on a regular basis?

 

I'm from London Ont but was at princess auto today and they had the same ones I used only thing was they did have the grooves but should work non the less

 

This is good to know, I have foam I got from Jantz I have yet to use, I made it as part of a larger supply order, I'd hate to have to get foam alone from the U.S, the cost to shipping ratio could end me lol!

Question- since we are on the subject- I guess the route to go is an arbor press and flaring dies, and not a hammer and flaring guide? I know Princess Auto have their 1 ton press for sale on occasion $69 last time and $99 reg, and knife kits sell #6&#8 dies from $24.95-34.95 (the lesser named journeyman series and the higher master series, not sure why the ten bucks difference, quality, hardness/ durability maybe?)

https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=41_526&osCsid=mu18agkngcq8es45d1ehk10oa0

 

I'm not sure. The sizes of the dies are different but the smaller sets don't seem to be much different other than that. The Arbor presses have different sizes and amounts of dies by the looks more things. I have no idea though haha!