"Last Magnetic Tray Question!" Topic

OK, I've decided on metal bases and magnetic trays. I've got both square and round metal bases and I'm mounting figs.

Next, I've got to make trays. For ease of moving units and switching game systems, I'm going to need tray variety. However, I've never done this before so will welcome input.

I envision the trays as having a lip that is 2-3mm high so that people can pick them up and move them. I was going to paint and flock the edges to make them look nicer, and have them match the bases in flocking style. The tray would be mostly flat magnet space with a light spray-paint coat of an earthy brown so they aren't black which stands out on the table. Does the paint ever affect the magnetism of the magnetic sheeting? I wouldn't think so, but who knows?

My plan right now is magnetic trays, but I want the magnets to exert a strong enough "pull" on the metal-based figs to keep them upright during normal gaming jostling. My understanding from perusing this forum is that thicker magnetic "sheets" exert a more powerful magnetic pull on figures – is that true?

I have a thin roll of magnetic sheet that is a bit like thick paper – but it doesn't seem very powerful. I have some 1" magnetic squares that are about 1-1.5mm thick and seem more powerful, but can't remember where I got them. Any advice for the USA shopper?

I get my magnetic sheet now from Magically Magnetic. A Google will pull them up.

I get their 60 mil and have been pleased with its holding power. It is greater than the thinner stuff I was using.

At one site it is claimed that thicker does not mean stronger and has nothing to do with strength. Maybe. But my 60 mil is a lot sronger than the thinner material.

Tom

With the thin stuff, you can always affix it to another sheet of metal – this gives you both a rigid base/tray and (usually) a more powerful magnetic attachment.

Doug

Thicker is better with magnets. If you're using plastic slotta-bases, rare earth magnets will give exceptionally strong grip.

One thing to be careful with is keeping the thickness of any paint you apply to the base as thin as possible. The thinner the better.

IIRC the inverse square law applies : double the distance between metal and magnet, quarter the strength.

What I've found is that the lip around the edge can just as easily be replaced by something under the bottom of the sheet of metal.

In my case, I use prepainted steel (scrap from work) with stick-on self adhesive felt underneath. This makes it thick enough to pick up and move easily and also gives it some grip on hilly terrain.

Also, it's easier to make.

As Mr.P says

Thicker is stronger.
Paint may have a noticeable effect if thick.

but I want the magnets to exert a strong enough "pull" on the metal-based figs to keep them upright during normal gaming jostling.

Doesn't need to be very strong to stand up to normal game jostling. Make sure it is not too strong else you risk damaging figures when removing them for casualties.

I had to search out specially thin mag sheets for my 15mm bases, otherwise it was too easy to bend spears and snap off shields when picking them up.

Yes, I believe thicker has more magnetic pull, or at least it does have it with the samples I'm using.

Am I right in assuming that 60-mil is 0.60 Millimeters thick? If so, then I have a few samples of that and I do believe it has better magnetic pull but not too much to cause damage to figures when they need to be removed. Also makes the base thicker and easier to pick up.

Magically Magnetic is here: lyt.com/servlet/StoreFront

You don't say what size figures you are working with.

I think "mil" is thousandths of an inch. So 60 mil is .060 inches which is about 1/16th of an inch (1/16 = .0625 = 62.5 mil).

That sounds similar to the magnetic strip I use. It has adhesive backing on one side and comes in different widths; I can't remember the brand but this ProMag on Dick Blick looks right: link

The roll has some curve and has to be bent backwards to flatten it out, but it works okay. By preference I get it as a flat card with 4x3" magnet pre-scored in 1/2x4" strips.

I've been doing this since the 70s for 25mm D&D figures and 25/28mm Warhammer armies. I find I far prefer magnet on the figure and steel in the trays (I get galvanized or "tin" roofing shingles and cut it to fit with tin snips). Seems to hold better and look better.

However I've tried gluing washers on the bottoms of some figures and laying strip magnet into their movement trays. I use standard (old-style) GW trays or copies I make from styrene. The tray plastic is 1/16" thick (.060 inches) and the tray edge lips are rise 3/16" high, so there is 1/8" (.125 inches) depth in the trays, same thickness as GW slot bases.

Heavy awkward figures, like 28mm metal standardbearers on 20mm bases, will topple if you tilt them funny but will still stay in the tray better than if there was no magnet. All plastic figures stay in fine. Any base larger than 20mm square probably has enough magnetic strength to hold any figure in fine, even metal.

Oh, avoid the thinner magnet sheet used for signmaking, business card magnets, etc. It doesn't have as much strength.