Again, this was written for someplace else...
So, I've got something workable. Yay!
I made a press that generally follows the idea set forth in the youtube video I had mentioned earlier:
For foam, I bought a couple hunting seat cushion things. They're closed cell foam, 1.5" thick, and not bad on price ($5, that link again is:)
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/outdoor-recreation/hunting-equipment/tree-stands-blinds/hunting-seat-cushion/p-2180556-c-13885.htmI didn't drill holes for zip ties but instead glued and screwed in some 1x4 scrap to keep the clamp holstered underneath the press. Does it really work for keeping the press "ready to go" ? No. Does it make alignment a breeze ? Yes.
Note, I used some the cheaper clamps (tool shop brand). One of the clamps didn't want to hold at at high pressure and kept slipping a bit.... so ... I ended up sitting/standing on my press / gun yet again (facepalm):
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/hand-tools/fastening-tools/24-ratcheting-bar-clamp/p-1497908-c-9135.htm
After one attempt, I noted that things weren't quite working out around the trigger guard. The Kydex wasn't really forming to the outside of the guard very well, leaving things kinda bulbous. I trimmed up the pink hard foam to a bit of a tighter fit and made it twice as thick. You'll also notice a piece of yellow foam up there in an odd shape:
This fits inside the trigger guard from underneath. It has room for the trigger, and the lower lip is under the trigger guard housing. This accomplishes two things - it stops the kydex from sinking into the trigger guard too far, and it stops the Kydex from folding up under the trigger guard (it extends the trigger guard down to the table). Both of these help to reduce tension a bit without needing to go back later and add relief with a heat gun.
This area (towards the front sight) is really tight. Getting that screw in there and tightening it down was not fun. The shape of the Kydex was drawn with some yellow to help show it.
The skin tone leather is some veg-tan leather. It was originally meant to be a spacer between the Kydex and leather in my previous attempt - but after trying to align the holes in the leather to the Kydex, it was clear that things weren't perfect yet. With the new piece of Kydex, I've gotten it formed 'closer to the table, eliminating the need of the spacer. When assembling everything, I noted that the screw posts were too long to hold the Kydex tightly. With the veg-tan under the Kydex - there wasn't enough retention - so above the Kydex it is!
There's some concern if I needed to treat the veg-tan any so that it won't fall apart upon moisture or something, I dunno. We'll see.
And the back side, if anyone was curious:
