I decided to make a holster. This post is not about my holster…it is about the vacuum table I am building in order to make my holster.
In the past I posted about my PVC vacuum table that is still working perfectly today. But it’s too big to do the type of vacuum forming I want to do. I cut holes in 1/8" 12x16 aluminum, and set it upon a modified version of my old PVC table to provide air distribution. I cut two frames from PVC and inserted the membrane secured by .25 20 bolts into threaded inserts.
I will be using my heat press to heat Kydex and forming it on this table.
I have purchased a few nice holsters in my time but this one is going to cost a lot more than what I paid for those. LOL… But the fun is in the making.
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I would love to see the heat press you are using. Not making holsters but it would be fun to have a large format vacumforming tool.
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If I were to buy another one I wouldn’t get the clam. They have machines that drop down straight which gives you the option of pressing larger things…and even using it with foam without heat.
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Lots of interesting things going on in this thread. Sublimation on acrylic? Do you have any projects that you could share?
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White Cast Acrylic sublimates perfectly. Trouble is warp. This membrane vacuum press will fix that problem. Coming off the heat press it will spend a few minutes under vacuum. That’s why I cut the base plate out of aluminum…since PVC doesn’t like heat.
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Monks Corner? That’s just a couple of hours up the road from me.
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Yup. Com on up and I’ll give you some Mobile Vactra #2 
30 miles north of Charleston on Lake Moultrie.
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Sorry, that’s not tempting. I have a 3 lifetime supply because that was the smallest quantity I could get😀
I am outside of Savannah.
I know. I have actually learned a lot from you. Dang… I was trying to offload some Vactra.
If you learned from me your starting point must have been pretty low 
I have tried to offload Vactra for a while.
I like the press. What are you planning to make the holster out of?
I might like to check your vacuum table out at some point. I have been wanting to do that. Creating something small to start with rather than trying to tackle the whole bed seems like a good idea.
I think it was the SST dragknife thing. If you want I’ll send you the file. I know you have Vectric either desktop or pro. As all must say…make sure the toolpaths fit your machine. PM your email to me if you want it…I don’t want to post it publicly.
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