"Smoothing edges of laser cut plywood bases? " Topic

I base my epic armies on laser cut ply bases from Fenris Games, I care a lot about the detail and finish of my models and don't use them to be cheap, but because they have a very wide selection of base shapes and sizes (I use dozens of different ones) and will custom make ones.

The bases are precisely cut vertically with the laser but have a slightly rough edge around the circumference. What would be the best way to make this completely smooth?

I wonder whether coat(s) of some kind of varnish could do it? Maybe liquid greenstuff or similar? (I don't currently have either but would hapilly pick some up). If I could fix it up by putting a coat or few on the edge that would be great, but I'll use extremely fine sand paper too if I have to. I thought I'd try asking here as others have probably dealt with this or similar.

This is a photo of the bases which might help =-

They're made of something called aeroply apperently.

Definitely not varnish until after you have smoothed them. I cut my own bases from a similar type of modellers' ply and then use fine sandpaper to smooth.

I use a file rather than sandpaper … works well with MDF

Phil

Is this not a job for the Dremel?

I tape a sheet of sandpaper to a table and sand down the edges. I use different grits depending on how rough the edge is, finishing with fine grit as steamingdave47 says. It usually only takes a few swipes back and forth.

A piece of sandpaper on a clipboard (or taped to a table) is an essential modeling tool. It's what I use to smooth edges of most any base, wall, etc.

And for those using the individual bases, an emery board (the kind for nails) works really well. But I recently discovered going around the base firmly pressing with a hard tool like sculpting spatula works almost as well (for those adverse to the dust the other way makes).