DIY Kydex adjustable cheek-piece:

[Lucky]

Does anyone know where that plastic they use to make holsters can be gotten? I looked at some adjustable cheek-pieces for rifle stocks, but wasn't sure they'd fit properly the combs of different stocks.

But if one had some bulk sheets of kydex then they could boil it until soft, drape it over the comb, let it harden and trim it to shape. Then you just cut a couple tracks up the sides and put bolts through the stock, and you've got an adjustable cheek-piece custom fit to your stock.

?
http://www.imageseek.com/karsten/gallery/custom/P1160033

http://www.fnhusa.com/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF006&gid=FNG005&mid=FNM0024

 

[Hank Zudd]

TRY

knifekits.com; or post on a knife sheath makers site on one of the knife boards if you want other colors.

 

[Lucky]

Thanks, the Kydex website didn't have any distributor info, but your link was perfect.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

Do a web search for Kydex small lot and you will turn up some hits. Some companies will sell a 1-2 ft piece for a reasonable price but you don't get the color selection of half sheet buys. You can also try locally at a plastics supplier and they might have the size and color you want.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

Was looking for something somewhat unrelated, but thought I'd resurect this thread and chime in because I just went through this.

I wanted to make a kydex cheek rest for my new M1A, and knew I could do it myself for less than the ones on the market. I thought it would be easy to find a small sheet of kydex, but I couldn't find anything more than .06" or .092" thick. Fine for making knife sheaths, but not thick enough for my cheek rest project.

I called lots of places local to me, and of the few that had it, they only wanted to sell me a $150+ 4'x8' sheet.

Finally, I got the bright idea to check ebay. Again, nothing there thick enough, but I emailed all the sellers to see if they had something thicker.

One did, and I ended up with a nice 12"x12" black sheet, .187" thick, for $15 after shipping.

The company is Harva Plastics, at http://harva.com/ and http://stores.ebay.com/Harva-Plastics. Amber was helpful and got everything done and in the mail within a couple days. Write them at [email protected] and/or [email protected].

 

[Lucky]

Awesome! Do you have pics of how you did it, where you drilled and what fasteners? I've been thinking about patio-furniture fasteners.

I was going to do it for another rifle until I realized Monte Carlo cheek-pieces can't be modified like that.

But now I've got an M1a too. Just don't want to drill into the butt-pockets.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I'm in the process of making it now. I've got the kydex formed over the stock and now I just need to trim it down to the final shape, cut the grooves, and drill the stock.

I'm taking pictures as I go, so I'll post a mini-tutorial when I'm finished.

 

[R-Tex12]

Thanks for taking the time & trouble, 10 Ring Tao. I'm really looking forward to your posting the tutorial.

R-Tex

 

[Lucky]

I was curious about the grooves as well. Some of the produced ones look like they just took a drill and made a bunch of holes with the edges slightly touching, while others have flat edges like they used a router bit.

And I'm itching to see how you did it, and where to do it so you don't hit the storage pockets in the stock.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

The flat grooves make it so you can slide the cheek piece up and down just by loosening the nuts. The ones that look like a line of holes lock the position better, but require the cross bolts to be taken out in order to move it up and down.

I think I'm just going to drill through the top storage compartment.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3491834

 

[R-Tex12]

You did a terrific job, 10 Ring Tao. Both on the cheek-piece and on the tutorial.

Thanks for your efforts!

R-Tex

 

[heron]

If you haven't yet, DON'T DRILL THE STOCK!
Here's what to do instead: After you heat and form the Kydex, apply some sticky-back Velcro to the stock and inside the cheek-piece. Infinite adjustment without holes in your stock.
Only possible drawbacks of this are: if the stock gets really warm, the stickum might soften and allow some movement, and, of course, if you ever want to change back, the stickum is very difficult and messy to get off.

 

[Jim Watson]

I went ahead and bought the Karsten and drilled my stock. I have owned and seen sticky stuff cheekpieces and they are not stable enough for me.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I don't see how a velcro attachment could ever be stable enough to not shift after every shot.