"How Do You Cut Your Wooden Bases?" Topic

Sort of a continuation from an earlier question. Some options from the former discussion:

laser cutter
sax/miter box
miniature table saw
miniature bandsaw
box cutter
razor saw
hole saw
drill press

more ideas?

I use a box cutter, and I am totally dissatisfied with the results. Hopefully I can pick up some good tips here!

No, I buy them from Litko or Georgo Bases.

If it's thin enough, I've cut them with an X-Acto knife and a metal ruler.

It works, but it's kinda time-consuming. At this point, I buy 'em from Litko in bulk, or get 'em from Micheal's when they've got the pre-cut stuff in the size and shape I need.

If either thin or soft enough, a box cutter and a steel ruler works best for me.

I let that nice Ian Brumby at Fenris cut 'em for me with his laserification device.

I use a laser but then again I have one 2 feet from my computer and not everyone has that available :)

I score with a ball point pen along a straight edge when I cut bases from 3/32" basswood.
I then cut with a very sharp box cutter. Dull ones just crunch the wood, rather than cutting it.

1/8" Masonite or 1/4" ply, cut on a table saw using a crosscut sled with a stop block.

I use balsa wood so a craft knife is fine. However, I have recently brought laser cut mdf bases. Found a cheap supplier here in NZ.

All my 15mm miniatures are based on 1.5 mm Basswood cut with an X-acto knife and steel edge ruler.

The basswood serves not only for miniature figure bases, but for terrain pieces; houses, vegetation, woods, etc as well.

1/8" Baltic birch plywood cut on a Shop Fox 14-Inch bandsaw.

People still cut their own bases? Good Lord this is so last century.

I use Safari and a Credit Card.

Firefox and Paypal for me…..

I also go through Ian at Fenris, he has done several custom jobs for me and I heartily recommend him.

I base on thin ply. Craft knife and steel ruler for long cuts, tin snips for short ones.

Yes I use Litko and Magister Militum bases, except,

Nobody, but nobody, seems to do 65x55mm cav bases, so I am reduced to cutting these out, badly, with a jigsaw from 4mm mdf…It ain't pretty, and theres plenty of nautical language when I try to find at least 6 pieces from alitter of pieces on the workshop floor for a regiment that are, more or less, the same size!

Utility knife and square. Also besides bass or balsa I've cut and thickness planed my own cedar and I'm trying poplar.

X-Acto knife, X-Acto micro saw, and several good steel rules (short ones and long ones).

Full size table saw and miter saw.

Delta table saw with an after market miter gauge and fence.

@ Sparker: We can laser that size up for you if you like, either in 2 or 3mm MDF? Pop me an email through the website: minibits.net

I used to use a band saw. Now I just buy Litko bases.

With email ;).

I use a laser cutter. Litko happens to own it…and wood…so I pay them to cut the bases, package them, and ship them. ;-)

I have a buddy with a Laser cutter who does bases for all our group. Shipping is cheap, I go to his place and pick them up.

I let Litko do it.

Wood Saw – only for large movement bases. Individual bases I use fender washers for

If God had meant for me to cut my own fingers to shreds, he would have never allowed Litko to exist. Thank you, God (and Litko)

Bandsaw with a homemade fence. The fence uses angle iron from Home Depot and clamps to hold it at the right width. I run either bass wood or thin hardboard through it and make stips at the proper width. I then cut the strips to final size.

The above mentioned table saw method can work. Recommend using a thin kerf blade and a homemade insert for the saw though. You don't want the blade to extend much over the surface of the wood so as to avoid chipping.

The best method is probably laser, however. The only negative is cost and the burned edges. I find the burned edges great as you don't have to paint them if you like your bases to have dark edges ;-)

Back in the 1990s I did with a pencil a small ruler and a exacto knife. But started using metal bases from Wargame Accessories and never looked back. Thin metal is the way to go. I want my bases to disappear.

i've used a Bandsaw, lost @ i inch in 24 due to cut width. I too prefer to let Litko do it

Buy ready-made. Don't cost all that much and much more convenient.

A sheet or 2 of 24" x 4" x 3/32" basswood and my trusty cutting mat, steel rule and box cutter means that I never run out of the right size.
How's that for convenient?

From my industrial background, it saves on inventory, and the tool setup time is negligible!

Plywood blade on a table saw.

Hi Leon – Rgr – On the waaaay!

"Thin metal is the way to go. I want my bases to disappear."

For reasons unknown to myself, all my figures from 1700 on are based on thin metal, and most of those earlier on wooden bases. I guess that way, even with my fading eyesight I can tell what period we're playing at a glance.

Band saw.

DM

I base mine on thick card and heaps of them on the guillotine at work.

Table saw using paneling blade or bandsaw

Love all the comments here. Glad we could help.

Ken – litko.net

I don't – I let Litko do it.

Thanks for a great company Ken!

I use to cut wood and plastic with a x-acto or hobby knife. Now I use per-cut metal bases only.

I tried putting figures on thin metal bases but they caught on the table felt. Now I base on 3/32 plywood.