"Shim steel, thicknesses, working with ?" Topic

Salutations, gentlefolk,

OK, I've mounted my troops on cardboard bases with magnets on the bottom, usually store them in 'Christmas-cookie boxes'. Want to make movement trays, starting with some for the double-depth infantry in LADLG. Planning to get some shim steel. cut it to size, bend edges over twice (so sharp edge of metal will be at inside-bottom of 'lip'). Then smooth corners with emery paper, prime, paint green or brown.

Amazon sells 'shim steel' in thicknesses from 15/1000" to 3/1000". Has anyone worked with steel in those thicknesses ? Using hand tools ? Dremels ? Do I need metal that's thicker ? or thinner ?

Thanks, very much, for passing on your experiences and advice.

For my metal underbases out here on the frontier I use cookie box tin. Glue some card under that which is about 1mm shorter than the tin, on each side. This creates a tin overhang or "lip" which makes it much easier for fingers to grip the underbase while playing. Also raises the sharp metal corners so they don't catch on my felt cloth gaming surface. What sounds nice about the shim steel is that it sounds really thin? Wonder what those thicknesses are in mm.

JAFD26, I'd not suggest cutting your own metal stands unless you have the proper tools. Any hand tools will cause the metal to bend and warp and they will not be flat, plus as you say the edges are sharp. Based on the cost for the time and materials to self produce I'd highly suggest having the metal precessionally cut or simply order metal bases and line your boxes with magnetized sheets cut from a large roll to save money. Or buy the ready made stands with magnetic bottoms. As a metal smith and jeweler for many years in my past that's what I'd suggest.

Here's where I get my magnetized bases. B Company Bases ordered from Bill Moreno of Good Ground and Cracker Line Minis.
link

Cheers,
JB

How big are the figures?
If 15mm or smaller, you can use steel paper (stuck to card or plastic card if more rigidity needed). The figures should be light enough to stay on the bases.
Larger figures may be heavy enough that bases will dislodge more easily (though plastic figures may be light enough).

I've done the opposite – vinyl magnetic sheet for the movement tray and steel based 15mm figures. The bases are more for sliding than picking up in one go, tthough they are good enough for transfer from box to table.

Round (radius) your corners.