Removing integrated bases

[fenriskw]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with the best methods and tools to use to remove figures from their integrated bases (such as with Reaper and Ral Partha miniatures).

Thank you very much for any help with this.

 

[mattrock]

dremel...

alternately, you could cut it with a jewler\'s saw and then file what remains after the cuts have been made

 

[Shawn R. L.]

A strong pair of flush cut dikes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Snap-On-Electronic-Flush-Cut-Dikes-Wire-Cutters_W0QQitemZ140207070328QQihZ004QQcategoryZ20767QQcmdZViewItem

 

[DarkStar]

I use a combo of Jeweler\'s saw and Dremel. To help prevent the snapping of your sawblades lubricate it by sawing into some chapstick before you saw into the metal. This helps reduce friction which can lead to a snagged and soon broken blade.

If you do alot of this kind of work, buy extra blades, it\'s easy to break them.

 

[QuietiManes]

If you set the blade up to cut on the pull it\'s rather hard to break the blade if you don\'t twist it around. If you do that and still break alot of blades then I dunno what to tell ya. :evil:

I use candle wax for saw lube. A cheap candle or tea light will last forever and a day. Might be a cheaper alternative to chapstick. You can also use bar soap for hand held small saws, anything large or really fast wont work well with bar soap.

Anyway, to the topic at hand, it depends how thick the base is and what, if anything, I want to keep afterwards. I hate integrated bases with a passion so I don\'t often have to deal with them. Usually just a pair of snippers followed by files or xacto knives.

To mini producers: please stop doing integrated bases! If the mini needs a base, cast it seperate, for the love of all things that don\'t aggrevate me! HAHA, teehee, carry on...

Edit: Holy moly, $25 US or more for those dikes (that sounds kinky), that is crazy, unless they can cut through a padlock or steering wheel column?

 

[DarkStar]

Originally posted by QuietiManes
it\'s rather hard to break the blade

You\'re obviously buying better quality blades than myself. I break about 15 a week when working with metal. I work with mostly resin now and don\'t break nearly as many, but usually would go through 3 blades per mini on average removing a integral base.

Regarding using chapstick as lube for the sawblade , I\'ve been using the same stick for about 5 years. It would take me the rest of my life to use the rest of the stick for this purpose. So if someone was to be concerned about cost effectiveness between a candle and a stick of chapstick, I really don\'t think it makes much of a difference what they decide to use, that would be taking frugality to a new level. lol

 

[Einion]

I clip off the majority of the metal with a pair of nippers/cutting pliers, then grind off most of the remainder using a cutting head in my motor tool. Final cleanup I might do with a knife and file.

Nippers, something like these:
1
2
3

This kind of cutting head (don\'t use the stone grinders, they clog badly with white metal).

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
A strong pair of flush cut dikes.

New word on me!

Einion

 

[demonherald]

Dikes... not heard that one either...

I use a saw and clippers then File.. I used to use a dremel but got a lot of breaks at ankles..

Basically I saw the bulk of the material off as titght to the mini as I can then use knife and files to trim the rest..If the model has tiny or thin feet that might be difficult to add a pin I leave some of the base materail on to act as the pin...

 

[Thunderhawker]

If its thin enough, I just use a larger pair of flush cutters. For thicker I use a razor saw, then file down the excess (or use a dremel).

 

[fieldarchy]

actually if you are just wanting to remove Reaper DHL minis from the broccoli base and put it on a square base . . . instead of going through a ton of headache, get some battle bases from Reaper. They are square metal bases that are hollow so you can sink a mini into it and greenstuff over it.

I did that recently on my CW sorceress and a few other minis in my gallery.

 

[StarFyre]

for larger ones...

i HATE the brocolli bases with a passion!!!

I ended up getting so upset at them (especially the larger models\' bases) I now use metal cutters (for cutting thru fairly thick metals) and just snap out as much as i can. It normally causes some bending in the legs of the model, but that I can easily force back to position.

Then use a finer saw (not jeweller though) and cut off excess.

At this point, couldn\'t care less if the model gets bit of roughing up damage...

Yes, I hate their bases THAT much!!!

Sanjay

 

[Sand Rat]

And I just put the Reaper minis on a GW base and build up the basing accordingly.

 

[squidders]

I\'m actually waiting for \"I just cut them off at the ankle and have all my minis shin deep in resin swap.\" lol

 

[fieldarchy]

that works too squids! lol

 

[Shadzar]

Originally posted by squidders
I\'m actually waiting for \"I just cut them off at the ankle and have all my minis shin deep in resin swap.\" lol

you jsut gave me the perfect idea of what to do with all those silly Catachan Jungle fighters i have.

cover the bases with sand and just glue the heads down. stupid guys all happened to fall into 50+ near-each-other quicksand areas

thanks for that idea!

 

[4trickpony]

Originally posted by Einion

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
A strong pair of flush cut dikes.

New word on me!

It\'s my understanding that \"dikes\" is meant to be a contraction of \"diagonal cutters\" but \"dics\" doesn\'t pronounce correctly.
Anyone know the word for that? it\'s not really a contraction.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I\'m off to clip and grind some metal.

 

[QuietiManes]

Regarding using chapstick as lube for the sawblade , I\'ve been using the same stick for about 5 years. It would take me the rest of my life to use the rest of the stick for this purpose. So if someone was to be concerned about cost effectiveness between a candle and a stick of chapstick, I really don\'t think it makes much of a difference what they decide to use, that would be taking frugality to a new level.

Hey, you can never be too frugal! I didn\'t think chapstick would last that long, figured it would get globbed in the teeth of the saw but I guess that can be avoided.

 

[MPJ]

Ahh-ha! It\'s people like you guys who are responsible for the ruination of the miniature industry, which is the advent of the plastic base. Maybe I\'m alone here but I love the integrated base and am extremely loathe to remove them.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by MPJ
Ahh-ha! It\'s people like you guys who are responsible for the ruination of the miniature industry, which is the advent of the plastic base. Maybe I\'m alone here but I love the integrated base and am extremely loathe to remove them.

Ok....Backs away slowly while keeping wary eye on MPJ.

 

[MPJ]

Actually I really blame things on the breakaway from true 25mm scale. But I blame the breakaway from 25mm on GW/Citadel and the timing of the scale breakdown came at the time Citadel started using plastic bases.

Now, what\'s wrong with the miniature industry today you might ask? Well it\'s all a matter of scale or more to the point the lack thereof today. I guess I\'m getting old and resistant to change.

Now if only I had back all the minis I\'ve ever owned. :drunk: