Canadian_F_H Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 anybody else do this? and how? I usually glue the biggest washer i can find into the round bases of my marines etc. i feel it adds a nice weight to them, and helps top heavy mini's stay up right, (especially on tables with slopes) i always felt the old pewter minis "felt" better in the hand because of the weight, this is also helped for the plastics with this weighting. i learned this right when i very first started from a GW employee in London, Ontario... except he was using nickles! as if this hobby wasnt expensive enough for a 13 year old Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fibonacci Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I also use nickles when I need to weight a base. It is cheaper than a washer of similar size and pennies are too light. I have also used #9 bird shot with slot bases before. Just pour the lead in with a little PVA glue and let it dry. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4036809 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 I also use nickles when I need to weight a base. It is cheaper than a washer of similar size and pennies are too light. I have also used #9 bird shot with slot bases before. Just pour the lead in with a little PVA glue and let it dry. I find myself with access to thousands of washers so... I pretty much weight every single base I can... Couldn't do the reqlusiarch's special base yet... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4037050 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysere Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 If you haven't yet you should look into getting some 32 mm bases. They don't really need help with weight, and they are quite roomy for marines. Otherwise washers and nickels are great for guys with metal bits. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4037054 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 If you haven't yet you should look into getting some 32 mm bases. They don't really need help with weight, and they are quite roomy for marines. Otherwise washers and nickels are great for guys with metal bits. I haven't decided how I'm going to handle the 25 vs 32 bases yet .. But I'll be washering every base regardless because I prefer the weight. I'm going to be washering the terminator bases to once I get them. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4037071 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetterOffShred Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I also use Nickels, pennies and Washers. All are super cheap and add enough ballast to keep my dudes on the table. I've melted lead fishing weights in a thrift store pot and poured them into little tin foil molds for things as well, but it's kind of a pain in the ass. -Brett Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4037947 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I've had my eye on Tungsten weights for small, dense base weighting. Seems like it would be ideal for adding a nice chunk of weight to your base without taking up much space, but I haven't put it into practice yet, so grain of salt. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038031 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I've had my eye on Tungsten weights for small, dense base weighting. Seems like it would be ideal for adding a nice chunk of weight to your base without taking up much space, but I haven't put it into practice yet, so grain of salt. Why tungsten when lead is heavier and cheaper? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038035 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I've had my eye on Tungsten weights for small, dense base weighting. Seems like it would be ideal for adding a nice chunk of weight to your base without taking up much space, but I haven't put it into practice yet, so grain of salt. Why tungsten when lead is heavier and cheaper? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the periodic table is a bit misleading on this one. Although lead has a greater atomic weight, tungsten atoms are more densely packed - i.e., with equal volumes of tungsten and lead, tungsten is heavier. Basically, a lead atom is heavier than a tungsten atom, but a cubic inch of lead is lighter than a cubic inch of tungsten. However, most commercially available tungsten isn't pure, due to its high melting point - that's part of why I recommended Pinewood Derby-tungsten weights. I've yet to find a crowd that's more intense about the density of weights than Pinewood Derby - they'd be on the warpath about tungsten weights that are lighter than an equivalent volume of lead. Part of my interest in this is based on my struggles to weigh down the bases of a triad of scratchbuilt Blight Drones. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038050 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostLegion Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I tend to use lead fishing weights if i need some extra weight ot rebalancing. Couple good hitd with a hammer to smash flat, then cut to size as needed...easy and cheap Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038076 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Going off my memory atomic weight of tungsten less than lead but would need to check the weights for a given volume. Lol ... That's going to annoy me till I check it. Edit: your spot on it's atomic weight is greater but the space/volume each atom takes us is less so you can fit more atoms into the same volume. You learn something new every day. :D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038101 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Tungsten would be preferable so as to avoid unnecessary handling of lead. I've smelted lead before for work in the past, but I'm not doing that at home. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quixus Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Why would you smelt lead? Just put a bit of GS in the base and push some lead in it. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038487 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgr_maddog Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I had a lot of slotted bases and terminators. Can't put a washer in there easy, so I fill them with fine sand (because its free, nothing to do with it's atomic mass or volume in comparison with lead or tungsten, lol) and pour a heaping helping of PVA glue over that. You need to let them sit out for a day or two to dry, but they feel nice. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038525 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I cast my own bases and if I need to make a weighted base I add the metal clippings from the tabs of of models (mainly lead due to the age of my collection) to the moulds when about 25% filled with resin and then top up with resin. The advantage of this over tungsten is I can drill it easily with a pin vice. Tungsten would just damage the drill bit. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038606 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyRhino Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Back when I was big into metal casting, I made a silicone mold and poured molten pewter in the shape of the halves of a slotta base. All my pewter came from old dinnerware or candle sticks found at thrift shops, as well as various sprue offcuts from old metal models (and sometimes entire models that were damaged beyond repair). It's a little extreme if you don't already have the tools for casting metal though. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038607 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Back when I was big into metal casting, I made a silicone mold and poured molten pewter in the shape of the halves of a slotta base. All my pewter came from old dinnerware or candle sticks found at thrift shops, as well as various sprue offcuts from old metal models (and sometimes entire models that were damaged beyond repair). It's a little extreme if you don't already have the tools for casting metal though. What temp does that go to? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038627 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Mp of lead is around 621.5 F Mp of pewter is 338 to 446 F Pewter referring to a group of alloys means it's melting point varies from mixture to mixture... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038709 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Hmmm ... I think my rubber can happily take the pewter within it's working tolerances. Interesting, very interesting. So weighted bases could become even more weighted if I needed to make them that way. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038745 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyRhino Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Hmmm ... I think my rubber can happily take the pewter within it's working tolerances. Interesting, very interesting. Most silicones rated for casting can handle pewter. I used Alumilite HS2 for my old molds. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4038750 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 All the casting I've ever done was lead alloy and aluminum castes. Making projectiles out of salvaged projectiles dug out of a berm at the sheriff's range. It wouldn't be hard to mill a block of aluminum to make bases out of pewter... Or better yet duplicate those fancy bases in caste pewter! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4039038 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyRhino Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 All the casting I've ever done was lead alloy and aluminum castes. Making projectiles out of salvaged projectiles dug out of a berm at the sheriff's range. It wouldn't be hard to mill a block of aluminum to make bases out of pewter... Or better yet duplicate those fancy bases in caste pewter! If all you want are pewter bases, you can get those from Reaper. Prohibitively expensive, though. http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/base%20metal/sku-down/74017 Or you can buy additive powders for resin casting bases http://www.alumilite.com/store/p/959-Tungsten-5lbs.aspx Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4039601 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 All the casting I've ever done was lead alloy and aluminum castes. Making projectiles out of salvaged projectiles dug out of a berm at the sheriff's range. It wouldn't be hard to mill a block of aluminum to make bases out of pewter... Or better yet duplicate those fancy bases in caste pewter! If all you want are pewter bases, you can get those from Reaper. Prohibitively expensive, though. http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/base%20metal/sku-down/74017 Or you can buy additive powders for resin casting bases http://www.alumilite.com/store/p/959-Tungsten-5lbs.aspx I like making stuff. So did doesn't bother me. I work in a welding and fabrication shop. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4039665 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoic Raptor Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 I've always used nickels to weight 25mm non-slotted bases. For the 32s, I may still do so - I have yet to find a commercially available product that will give as much easily-used weight for 5 cents a base. A 32mm base is about the same size as a half-dollar, but since they already cost nearly that much, I'm reluctant to try that (also, they don't circulate 50 cent pieces too often here). For slottabases (which I no longer used) I'd probably just go with Sculpey. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4039675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peredyne Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 You could still use a nickle to weigh down the 32mm bases. It won't fit snugly, but it will still weigh down the base. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307381-weighing-down-bases/#findComment-4039728 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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