A friend gave me an A4 sheet of 2mm MDF.
What is the best way to cut it - knife, saw etc- for those of us who lack a laser?
The best result so far is to deeply mark both sides on the same cut line.
You do need to wear a mask when cutting it.
Buy pre-cut MDF bases from any well known supplier.
Doh!
You want to avoid the dust and pre-cut bases are so much neater.
As you already have the 2mm mdf - best answer is to make repeated light cuts down the marked line - I always used to stay on the same side rather than risk being slightly off on the other side. With a sharp blade and medium pressure it usually cuts through in about four strokes for me.
Don't use a saw if you can help it; the dust gets everywhere and it isn't good for you to inhale.
A sharp knife blade produces virtually no dust.
But once you've used your A4 sheet - buy from Leon! :D Much easier, marginally more expensive than diy but infinitely easier and more precise (and you avoid those trips to A&E carrying bits of finger in a bag with ice cubes around them :( ).
I'd be tempted to use the A4 size MDF for basing large-ish terrain items. That way you won't need to make too many cuts.
On the other hand, trying to cut the MDF sheet into small bases for figures will take an awful lot of time & effort and risk potential "spoilage" if the cuts don't go quite right. As has already been suggested, pre-cut MDF bases are a much, much better option (relatively inexpensive and cut exactly to the size you require).
Cheers,
Geoff
Cutting 2mm MDF with a Stanley knife works well enough though you had best start with a new blade and expect to replace the blade to get the best results - MDF is surprisingly hard on knife blades. Using a smaller craft knife with a thinner blade produces cleaner cuts but needs more passes with the knife.
Using a hand saw to cut 2mm MDF for bases isn't a great option. Even a fine saw will leave a rough edge and, unless you have a very steady hand, you will probably catch a tooth in the fibres of the MDF and ruin some bases. A razor saw gives a nice clean cut but takes ages.
The best option is a saw table with a 'chopping' blade with widely spaced teeth. A fine toothed circular saw doesn't give a particularly clean cut - not what you might expect but true nonetheless.
My only question is - Why bother? If you do it perfectly you will get around 70 Bases 40mm x 20mm.
You can buy 80 of these for £5.20 from Pendraken. THese will be perfectly straight, you will not have blunted several Stanley knife blades and you will have all your fingers.
Do as Elliesdad suggests and use for basing terain
As others have said, a Stanley knife will do it in several passes, but make sure to have a metal ruler to guide you, as the MDF will try and send you off course constantly. I'd recommend one 'scoring' pass to begin with so that your knife blade has something to sit in for the remaining passes. Trying to force it too much on the first go will jump you off line in my experience.
Avoid the temptation to snap it once you're almost through, as you'll just end up with tattered edges that are a nightmare to clean up.
First thanks to everyone who responded. The forum is alive!
Special mention to Gwydion and Leon for the "hands on" advice.It works.
I totally take on board the good sense and logic to buy the Pendraken MDF "oven ready".
However, the reason "why" I asked the question:
1. I had been gifted an A4 sheet.
2. My children's adventure in second hand 1/200 continues,(its a step up from 6mm!). My son has aquired a Total Battle trench system which needs troops. One advantage of smaller scale is the 1/200 "9mm"figures fit the trench- if based prudently.
3. I found by mounting figures on a unique 12mm x 50mm base, I have a unit which can fill the trench.
4. If a few of the figures are angled sightly they can also be deployed as a line and even single file. This beats carving figures to be dedicated trench troops.
But apart from these special circumstances, buy oven ready from Pendraken.
The wargame will be based on the Cypriot invasion of 1974, but set on the island called Vesta. A scenario fiction created by Charles Grant for a horse and musket demo game.
The smaller scale allows "toy" models sourced from such as some Matchbox skykings,Dinky aircraft such as Supermarine Swift (a boxfull at a car boot sale) and Micro machines (the car ferry) to be used. I also recommissioned an early Pendraken warship based on the Flower class corvette with new superstructure, radar and guns(Cornwall models). The diecast Motormax C-130 is described as 1/100 but is closer to 1/200 and playworn models often come up on ebay, cheap but needing TLC.
Big landing craft are converted from Heller1/200 trawler and fitted with bits from Galoob aircraft carrier with bow doors and superstructure of a toy warship.
Ahh ....Covid brought out the modeler in me again!
No worries, and give me a shout if you ever need any of those custom sizes making.
Leon, you just got yourself an order!
We look forward to the battle reports.
I assume the island of Vesta is somewhere in the Indian Ocean and the invasion is all about control over the islands vital industrial facility, which manufactures dehydrated curry...
Thanks Leon, order's in!
Vesta is in the origional Charles Grant 18th Cent scenario situated in the Med.
Irredentist claim by the Islamic Republic of Hatay (Indianna Jones fame) and violence between Orthodox Christians & Muslim minority spark invasion.
Quote from: Sunray on 12 June 2023, 05:57:04 AMLeon, you just got yourself an order!
Order processed and paid. The Dark Lord will task the dwarfs to cast up the metal and cut the MDF in the hours of darkness.....
We'll get those sorted and out to you asap!
Breaking news- Pendraken dwarfs come out in solidarity with NHS nurses.