Choices other than Litko

[Shecky]

Are there any other base manufacturers in the US besides Litko?

My patience with them is starting to wear thin. I placed an order with them for 125 bases in early January, the same day I placed an order with Pendraken for some FPW figures. It took just less than 3 weeks for Pendraken to cast up the figures, pop them in the post and arrive on my doorstep. That seems like a very reasonable timeframe considering they are cast fresh (I assume) and travel across the pond.

The Litko order was shipped on Monday but still haven't arrived. Turns out they were shipped via first class instead of by priority which I paid. To be fair, their website does say that small orders would be shipped first class instead of priority. However, the tracking information indicates that they went to a postal code other than my own. And I did check my order and confirmed that I put the correct postal code.  Now I know that the USPS will sort it out and deliver my package eventually but as they were sent first class they don't have the same urgency to find the correct postal code as if it had been sent priority. So now I'm thinking they will get here on Monday and my plans to start basing the FPW figures I've already painted are on hold.

What bothers me is that it always takes 4 - 6 weeks to fulfill my order and ship it from Indiana to Texas, yet anything I order from the UK takes less. I don't like paying for one shipping option and getting another but I can live with that as their site clearly indicates that they have the option to do so.

Apart from cutting my own bases, which I will never do again, what other options are there for base manufacturers? I prefer wood bases over metal.

Tom

[Leon]

You could buy ours?!   

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/MDF-Bases-c28/

Unless you're getting the 1.5mm ply bases from them, which at the moment I don't do.  The price of ply is around 3x the cost of MDF, so it would depend on whether people would pay more for them.

[Shecky]

Do you have the flexible steel base bottoms as well?

[Leon]

Do you have the flexible steel base bottoms as well?

Nope... 

[Shecky]

Depending on how this order gets worked out it may be an option to buy from Pendraken. I'd just need to find a source for the adhesive rubberized steel.

[goat major]

Coritani do sticky steel tape..

http://www.magneticdisplays.co.uk/magdisp1.asp

[Rob]

Coritani do sticky steel tape..

http://www.magneticdisplays.co.uk/magdisp1.asp

This is the route I am taking with Napoleonics. They also do steel paper which I intend to put onto plastic-card for movement trays. I know this works well because I have done it previously with 15mm figures.

[Shecky]

Well the bases arrived today and it turns out that the postal service messed up the delivery as they sent it to the wrong postal code.  I've finished rebasing the 60+ figures I've painted so far. Just another 1200+ figures to go...

However this experience has made me look for other suppliers as my main gripe is that Litko takes too long to fulfill an order. I found a custom laser cutter in the area and may check out their rates. Pendraken is an option as well since I can buy figures and bases from the same source.

[Leon]

However this experience has made me look for other suppliers as my main gripe is that Litko takes too long to fulfill an order. I found a custom laser cutter in the area and may check out their rates. Pendraken is an option as well since I can buy figures and bases from the same source.

If the local guy can sort you out then that would be ideal really.  Although I won't say no to more business!   

[Blaker]

Wow, Shecky!

Just read this thread. I am surprised what happen with Litko and your order.

I have had good success with Litko so far. I wonder if it the smaller orders that they are having trouble with? My orders are usually 4 to 6 packs of 100piece packs plus magnets. They always come Priority. Might be the difference.

You might Pendraken bases a try with your next order 

[Shecky]

Blake,
My issue is more around the time it takes to fulfill the order. The fact that the PO messed up the delivery is secondary.  I don't think it should take 4 weeks to fulfill an order, regardless of size. Does Mike Gomez still make bases?

[Blaker]

Howdy Shecky,

4 weeks to just put the order together   

Havent had that problem, knocks on wood 

As far as I know, shoot Mike an email and he could cut whatever in wood or metal. Just remember they are not always exact cuts. Some could be short or long by 1mm or 2.

cya

[Shecky]

"Just remember they are not always exact cuts. Some could be short or long by 1mm or 2."

Heck, I can do that!    "Measure once, cut twice" is my motto either in scratch-building bases or doing "handy" things around the house.  That's why I'm looking for someone else to be the precise cutter.

[Blaker]

"Heck, I can do that!    "Measure once, cut twice"       

Unless Mike fined tuned his cutter, 10years ago when he cut a lot of metal bases for me in both brass and aluminum they were not all precise.

I tried that fellow that was doing heavy artboard bases, they were precise but tended to warp with paint even after getting the flex magnets on the bottom.

You might try out the bases Leon has here.  It seems like someone at Millennium was talking about a new company doing "Litko" type of laser cutting bases but I cant remember who was talking or who they were talking about. It was late and the Zombie Effect was taking over 

[sebigboss79]

Depending on exactly what you want there are many companies to fill your gaps.

Started using Pendraken bases and am very happy about them. If lastic bases then lipped bases only whoever supplies the cheapest.

If I order for the first time from someone I tend to email them beforehand...more than once I have decided to NOT order then.