aecurtis  | 19 Aug 2009 8:21 p.m. PST |
Want to adapt your individually-based "skirmish" figures for large bases, as used in "Impetus" or "War of the Ring"? Feel like doing something inexpensive and crafty instead of paying the big bucks to some company for custom trays? It's been a while since I've been able to get to the nearest Michael's, but I did today, and found what I'd been hoping to find in the scrapbooking section: a 1" hole punch; it's shown here on the Jo-Ann's online page, and is cheaper there, as I did pay $7.99 USD for it: link Perfect if you base figures on 1" fender washers, and as you can see, there's also a 3/4" punch which would work for figures based on 3/4" or 20mm fender washers. I tested it when I got home, and it punches perfect circles out of the magnetic sign material I keep stored on the side of the spare fridge in the garage (I buy offcuts from the local sign shop for next to nothing). Now I can use it the same way I've used magnetic sign material with square- and rectangular-metal bases on movement trays: laminated to pieces cut from 12" linoleum tiles! (I'm cheap, and that's the cheapest rigid and easy-to-cut material around: about 50-60 cents a square foot.) The scrapbooking hole punches would also work for cutting circles from "steel paper", if you prefer to go that way. I suppose I ought to do up an article someday on my El Cheapo movement tray and multiple base construction techniques. If the idea intrigues you, and you go by Michael's, look for the Uchiba brand. Fiskars also makes hole punches that probably give better mechanical advantage, but inspect their slot for sliding in the paper or other material to be punched. I don't think it is wide enough to accommodate anything much thicker than BristolBoard, which rules it out for most magnetic sheet. Allen |
| The Dread Pirate GeorgeD | 19 Aug 2009 8:44 p.m. PST |
I have been using those for a number of years now. They work great. Unfortunately I had never thought to mention this to anyone else. So kudos to you Allen. Cheers.
GeorgeD. |
 mmitchell  | 19 Aug 2009 9:53 p.m. PST |
So, ummmm. You, errrr, put your figures on giant hearts?  Heh. I've used these for a while now, but not for magnetic tape. I just mainly use the various hole punches (1, 1.25, 1.5) for cardstock tokens and things like that. But you are right: the Uchiba brand handles thicker stock (including wood). However, the "Whale of a Punch" has the advantage that you can hold it in your hand and look at the paper while you're punching it, thus making it possible to line up perfectly with preprinted cardstock counters. I make those on my inkjet printer. |
| aecurtis | 19 Aug 2009 10:07 p.m. PST |
Yes, Mike: I "heart" wargaming. Good tip on the punch for counters, though. I haven't needed that… yet. I print on round labels and stick them on blank poker chips! EK Success makes them, it looks like: link I will keep an eye out! Allen |
| aecurtis | 19 Aug 2009 10:28 p.m. PST |
Are you using the Whale punch upside down to "register" the circle placement? Looks like the Uchiba will do that, too; just remove the lower catch tray. Allen |
| PygmaelionAgain | 20 Aug 2009 11:55 a.m. PST |
You are correct that the Fiskars models don't have enough clearance to fit the magnetic sticker material in their mighty jaws. I'm "brand loyal" to Fiskars ever since I was old enough to give myself terrible haircuts without parental supervision, and while their presses cut paper and thick cardstock like a champ, magnets are simply not on the menu. |
| ElGrego | 20 Aug 2009 2:52 p.m. PST |
I suppose I ought to do up an article someday on my El Cheapo movement tray and multiple base construction techniques. Please do, Allen. BTW, I believe the brand is actually Uchida.
Now, I just need to remount some of my figs – only the first dozen – from 7/8" washers…
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| aecurtis | 20 Aug 2009 9:52 p.m. PST |
"BTW, I believe the brand is actually Uchida." Could be. It *is* what the package says! |
| mmitchell | 20 Aug 2009 11:19 p.m. PST |
The other punch I bought really worked best when it was sitting on a flat surface. It didn't work well in my hand. And yes, I hold the Whale of a Punch upside down so I can see how it registers with my printed sheet. |
| ElGrego | 21 Aug 2009 8:40 a.m. PST |
If the idea intrigues you, and you go by Michael's, look for the Uchiba brand. Just me being pedantic, but I know that there will be some people who can not figure out that a 'b' was accidentally transposed from a 'd'. Accuracy is of course paramount on this site… |
| aecurtis | 21 Aug 2009 9:07 a.m. PST |
Some think so! Others: not so much. |
| Skeptic | 15 May 2010 8:11 p.m. PST |
Argh! The local craft shop only had 1" and 5/8" in stock! |
| Skeptic | 30 May 2010 11:47 a.m. PST |
Another had 3/4", though, so I am getting there, but will need to find 1 3/4" next. I think that these punches may also be useful for cutting plasticard. |
