Noelvh | 21 Jun 2014 4:09 a.m. PST |
Hello All, I have wanted a game mat for years and now have made a test mat. Here is my post on it with photos.
My blog Link. link |
boudin noir | 21 Jun 2014 4:40 a.m. PST |
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Noelvh | 21 Jun 2014 5:00 a.m. PST |
Did I make it my self? Yes! |
Noelvh | 21 Jun 2014 5:02 a.m. PST |
Opps the title is wrong. DIY dame dyslexia. |
skipper John | 21 Jun 2014 5:23 a.m. PST |
This is great! I've been thinking about doing one of these myself. Thanks for the info. |
Dave L | 21 Jun 2014 5:30 a.m. PST |
Yoda speak. Nice job. Used tea leaves and paint? How do you do that? Dry, apply and paint or do you paint it before application? |
Soldado | 21 Jun 2014 5:49 a.m. PST |
Dave I was thinking the same thing but a quick google produced this link seems drying it first isn't needed. I'm off to get some cheap craft paint. Great stuff Noel very inspiring |
Early morning writer | 21 Jun 2014 7:49 a.m. PST |
For all who read this, especially those doing a larger mat, avoid the craft paint and get the cheapest gallon of paint you can at a Big Box store – cost about $10 USD-$12 US. Even with the super cheapest craft paint, you'd need 50-100 bottles to get the same area coverage. Save the craft paints for the dry brushing step. Very nice. I've found using artist's canvas painted very effective. The canvas texture allows dry brushing technique and it ends up weighing less per square foot. But this technique does give a very nice effect – suspect only practical up to a certain size. Mine are near 6' x 24'. |
gweirda | 21 Jun 2014 8:07 a.m. PST |
"
the cheapest gallon of paint you can at a Big Box store
"
can often be had from their 'oops!' pile of mixing mistakes. It's not often showcased (understandably) so ask at the mixing counter. (such stock can also be found at hardware stores that mix/sell paint) |
Noelvh | 21 Jun 2014 8:37 a.m. PST |
The box store paint is the right idea for doing this cheap. Supper easy to make. I have also seen cheap tea in $1 USD stores. As for the tea leaves here is what I posted on a G+ post. This was not my idea, so I have just copied what I have seen on youtube. In a foam coffee cup I put a bit of water, and a big blob of paint, about a 1/4 inch. then slowly mix in the tea leaves till it is nice and lumpy. Then I spread it out on a paper plate. put in a microwave for 10 sec, move around plate squish the clumps. I do that about 5 or 6 times. I will mix three batches at a time so every 10 seconds I have a plate in the micro. The batched are different colors. Once I have done that I let them dry for a few hours. Next I push the colored leaved though a double layer of window screen to break it all up. I will have free time now that my kids are out of soccer, so I will make a video. |
Skeptic | 21 Jun 2014 8:50 a.m. PST |
I think that, even custom-mixed, big box store paint is cheaper than hobby paint. Nice mat, by the way! |
War Artisan | 21 Jun 2014 7:19 p.m. PST |
Old tablecloths (I've found useable ones at yard sales) and canvas drop cloths (from the same store where you get paint) both give the same effect as artist's canvas, and they're cheaper. |
Early morning writer | 21 Jun 2014 10:39 p.m. PST |
War Artisan is right as far as getting the same effect with canvas drop cloths – but not necessarily so on cost. There is a limit to there size and I don't think they get close to the 6' x 75' roll I bought – on sale with free shipping. I figure the canvass cost of each 6' by 24' (appx) piece was about $40.00 USD Very important note – the canvas Will SHRINK, especially on the longer dimension, once it is painted – I lost 18" on the 24' length! For most, however, you should be able to find a suitable sized piece of canvas at the Big Box stores. |
Noelvh | 22 Jun 2014 5:06 a.m. PST |
Now for this mat I did not paint it, I covered it with vinyl calk, mixed with paint. The cloth is really just a binder for the calk. The calk is also the glue to hold the flock, and grit to the cloth. So in the end the mat is very much like a rubber mat. Yes a painted cloth is also a great idea for a mat, I just wanted more texture and depth to my mat. Over all it is super easy, you just ave to take your time. Also I will have to work in areas when I do the big mat. |
War Artisan | 22 Jun 2014 1:32 p.m. PST |
That's a pretty good price, EMW. I remember paying about $15.00 USD for a room-size cloth at Home Depot (about 9' x 12'), but it was a while ago so they may be more now. I got two terrain mats out of it, each big enough to generously cover my table. The one I made from a tablecloth picked up at a yard sale was $2.00 USD. Artists canvas comes without seams, which saves you the trouble of trying to disguise them on the finished cloth. Another advantage to using caulk instead of paint is the greater flexibility and better adhesive properties. Flock sticks to caulk better than to paint unless the paint is quite thick, but then the paint will be brittle and may crack when the cloth is rolled up. Caulk also does not shrink, but on the other hand it's easier to create subtle effects with paint alone than with caulk-and-flock. There are advantages to both. |
138SquadronRAF | 22 Jun 2014 3:54 p.m. PST |
I'm with War Artisan, I've always used caulk on mine and have built 3 so far. I'm satisfied with all the results. One thing you should never do with any of the canvas for gaming purposes is treat it with gesso as you would for painting. I knew someone who ignored War Artisan's advice and did this, the result was that he rolled up the canvas then could not flatten it properly again. |
firstvarty1979 | 22 Jun 2014 8:27 p.m. PST |
I use regular old felt. It's cheap and once painted it stays very flexible and still doesn't weigh too much. You can fold it or roll it, and it comes out fine. The material itself has enough texture that you don't really need to add any additional flocking, ballast, or other substance. |
Itlerion | 22 Jun 2014 10:58 p.m. PST |
that nice! i tired my self too, it wasnet that bad, i am actually tring o improve tecnics and building a "hoven" to acelerate the vulcanizing process (organic pre-vulcanized latex, this was m y first atempt
I painted with normal acrilics, kind of dry painting yes, avoiding "fat" layers so it doesnt "crack". |
Noelvh | 23 Jun 2014 5:05 a.m. PST |
ltlevion very cool looking test mat. I hope to start tonight to make my tea flock video. I hope to post it by the weekend. |