Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Topic started by: NeilCFord on 07 September 2015, 03:43:22 PM

Title: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: NeilCFord on 07 September 2015, 03:43:22 PM
Some basic questions:

1. what to people use to cut down oversized MDF bases?

2. what glue should I use to stick metal figures to MDF bases?

Thanks

- Neil.
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: jimduncanuk on 07 September 2015, 03:46:29 PM
Quote from: NeilCFord on 07 September 2015, 03:43:22 PM
1. what to people use to cut down oversized MDF bases?
2. what glue should I use to stick metal figures to MDF bases?

I use a razor saw for small cuts.

I've never had to make a big cut in MDF but again a razor saw or perhaps a Stanley knife and a steel edge.

Whatever you do wear a mask, MDF dust is nasty stuff.
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: fred. on 07 September 2015, 04:20:59 PM
I use PVA for sticking figures to MDF - as long as the base is big enough. You have to leave it a while to dry. Super glue works too - the cheap runny stuff is best as you use quite a lot.

As for cutting a knife and sharp edge works, and creates least dust. For bigger cuts a hand saw or jig saw can be used. A dremal cutting disk can be useful for cutting bases after you have stuck the figures on!
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: NeilCFord on 07 September 2015, 04:22:32 PM
Thanks for the advice. Just want to maybe cut down some larger bases to base some small buildings. Being a bit of a cheapskate rather than buying a load of different sized bases.

- Neil.
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: NeilCFord on 07 September 2015, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: fred    12df on 07 September 2015, 04:20:59 PM
I use PVA for sticking figures to MDF - as long as the base is big enough. You have to leave it a while to dry. Super glue works too - the cheap runny stuff is best as you use quite a lot.

It will mainly be single figures on 15mm round bases and two figures on 20mm bases, so a trip to Poundland for some superglue in bulk might be in order.

- Neil.
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: fred. on 07 September 2015, 05:33:01 PM
Quote from: NeilCFord on 07 September 2015, 04:22:32 PM
Thanks for the advice. Just want to maybe cut down some larger bases to base some small buildings. Being a bit of a cheapskate rather than buying a load of different sized bases.

- Neil.

For this you can even cut small amounts off with snipper style pliers.

Poundland & Wilcos seem to be good sources for cheap super glue.  Tesco sometimes too - then it's essentially free as it becomes part of the weekly shopping budget  ;)
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: Ithoriel on 07 September 2015, 06:41:00 PM
For trimming small bases I use a craft knife as I feel I create less dust than I would with a saw.

For gluing figures I use superglue but then I never bother rebasing anything.
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: Leman on 07 September 2015, 06:45:08 PM
As insurance I now use PVA for gluing figures to bases. So much easier if you decide to rebase.
Title: Re: Cutting and glueing MDF bases
Post by: NTM on 07 September 2015, 07:21:30 PM
Pound shop superglue is what I use for attaching figures to base.
Went to precut mdf as I'm crap at cutting my own. If I don't have the required size I buy them but as I have a really useful box jam packed with various sizes I should be okay for a decade or so.