Cleaning Bulks of Miniatures

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Carlin

New member
Since I'm waiting for my painting shipment to arrive I was thinking I might as well clean my miniatures now.

By cleaning I mean the soap and water part not the filing and cutting part (still don't have my tools!).

So, as far as I can remember washing your miniatures with soap is the first step to remove the oily agent sprayed on them by the manufacturer. I just want o know if it's possible to throw, say, 100 miniatures in a big bowl of hot water (how hot?) then use dish washing gel/detergent to clean them with. Is this process advised or am I going to end up with damaged miniatures? (also does this work for both metal and plastic miniatures?)
 
TrystanGST

TrystanGST

New member
Well your best bet to really get the residue off is to actually scrub each one with a toothbrush, but a soak won't hurt. I've left minis overnight in straight pine sol when I was removing old paint, and they came out fine. Though plastic will soften if you leave it in there too long, which can be a problem when you go to scrub them.

But soap and water? Not an issue.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
metal or plastic?

i've never washed a metal mini. Figured the water would be worse later on than anything left on it.

An X-acto knife (#11 blade & handle) can be had cheap at most local department, craft, woodworking stores. Would give you a big leg up on prepping your minis.
 
C

Carlin

New member
Thanks guys for the tip.

I order GW Hobby Knife, is that good enough (is it considered an Xacto knife?)
 
No Such Agency

No Such Agency

New member
Carlin said:
Thanks guys for the tip.
I order GW Hobby Knife, is that good enough (is it considered an Xacto knife?)
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Basically the same, looks decently ergonomic... X-Acto #11 blades should fit it, you'll go through those suckers surprisingly fast.

As for cleaning them, a little dish soap and a quick scrub with a toothbrush, and clean water rinse, should remove mold compound. I wouldn't worry about residual water, they should dry fast (esp. with a cool blow-dry) and it won't hurt acrylic paint.
 
Einion

Einion

New member
Carlin said:
So, as far as I can remember washing your miniatures with soap is the first step to remove the oily agent sprayed on them by the manufacturer.
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Not the first step, the last step - do this after you've cleaned up the castings since you'll be covering the mini in finger grease as you work, which would only necessitate cleaning them a second time if you were being careful.

Carlin said:
I just want o know if it's possible to throw, say, 100 miniatures in a big bowl of hot water (how hot?) then use dish washing gel/detergent to clean them with.
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Yes.

The water can be as hot as you like with metal (I've literally boiled white-metal castings in a saucepan). Hand-hot is probably as high as you'd want to go with plastics or you're likely to get warping.

Carlin said:
I order GW Hobby Knife, is that good enough (is it considered an Xacto knife?)
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You could have gotten one a lot cheaper I'm sure. For future reference, GW's stuff is generally overpriced (and often not super quality either). There are a few previous threads which list alternative suppliers for buying things like pin vices, files and other basic tools inexpensively.

Einion
 
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Carlin

New member
Excellent, first clean up the casting (removing flashes and mold lines..etc) then wash them.

Just one random question... why do people consider metal miniatures of higher quality than plastic? (sometimes plastic casting is smoother than the metal which usually have more problems with details).
 
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finn17

New member
Carlin said:
Just one random question... why do people consider metal miniatures of higher quality than plastic? (sometimes plastic casting is smoother than the metal which usually have more problems with details).
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What would you prefer, a plastic watch, or a metal watch?

As a collector of miniatures, I have little, if any, interest in plastic stuff. Good luck to those who like them..:)
 
Dragonsreach

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Carlin said:
why do people consider metal miniatures of higher quality than plastic?
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Ooooh what a question, so my penniesworth:

Soemtimes its a Value perception, if I'm paying X pounds I want to have something that feels like its worth the money. Metal weight gives me that perception over plastic's lighter weight.
Also Plastic figures have a tendancy for some people in my generation to be thought of as Kiddies Toy Soldiers instead of Miniatures for more 'serious pursuits'.

Strangely enough I don't have an issue with Resin miniatures, Failcast the exception.
 
freakinacage

freakinacage

New member
while the detail you can get on plastics is sharper, the problem lies with the moulding process. you get orrible back fill problems which mean you can loose a lot of detail if the mould isn;'t planned properly (look at the space hulk termies for example). when it comes to inorganic stuff such as machinery, weapons etc, plakky can't be beaten imo
 
Einion

Einion

New member
Dragonsreach said:
Carlin said:
Just one random question... why do people consider metal miniatures of higher quality than plastic? (sometimes plastic casting is smoother than the metal which usually have more problems with details)
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Ooooh what a question...
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Ain't it though?!

I think it's partly a "this is what I'm used to" kind of thing, plus the weight of them gives an impression that you're getting more for money - DR's value perception.

Personally surface finish tops everything, and white-metal castings have given me lots of grief over the years with pitting, soft edges, mounting issues due to the weight (hugely heavy for larger-scale stuff) and the tendency to flatten surfaces or projecting detail even if only knocked over on the bench! So I'm totally over metal.

Give me a good resin casting any day of the week. Plastic is okay with me too, long as there aren't too many issues with undercuts (or the lack thereof).

Einion
 
C

Carlin

New member
Einion said:
Ain't it though?!

I think it's partly a "this is what I'm used to" kind of thing, plus the weight of them gives an impression that you're getting more for money - DR's value perception.

Personally surface finish tops everything, and white-metal castings have given me lots of grief over the years with pitting, soft edges, mounting issues due to the weight (hugely heavy for larger-scale stuff) and the tendency to flatten surfaces or projecting detail even if only knocked over on the bench! So I'm totally over metal.

Give me a good resin casting any day of the week. Plastic is okay with me too, long as there aren't too many issues with undercuts (or the lack thereof).

Einion
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While I admit I am a newbie (I am still not blind though!) I agree with what you said. Looking at Kingdom Death resin miniatures I just go.. Wow... I never seen such details in a metal miniature. Metal Miniatures always get rough facial features and problems with fine detail and I am guessing require more cleaning job.

I guess I'll go buy one of these Kingdom Death minis :p

Oh, what are the best brand of miniatures on the market? Miniatures that would look great painted (beautiful cloaks/feather, excellent sculpt, a lot of good detail that would make the end result rewarding..etc).
 
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