Der Alte Fritz | 12 Aug 2020 3:52 p.m. PST |
I've based some figures using white glue on MDF bases and want to remove the figures from the wood bases. I'm not having much luck trying to pry them off. Any suggestions? Is the freezer method the best way |
Florida Tory | 12 Aug 2020 4:03 p.m. PST |
White glue dissolves yes in water; soaking will do it. I have unbased thousands of figures based that way over the years. Just do not plan on reusing the bases. Rick |
Thresher01 | 12 Aug 2020 4:13 p.m. PST |
As mentioned, soaking in water is best. |
John Armatys | 12 Aug 2020 4:57 p.m. PST |
Stand the figures knee deep in a tray of water. Leave them for at least 24 hours (less and you may damage some of the the figures). Peel the figures off the bases and put them on newspaper to dry. Then remove any glue residue on the base of the figures by rubbing them on a large flat engineering file. As Rick says the original bases will be useless. This works with any organic bases whatever glue was used. |
Gray Bear | 12 Aug 2020 5:33 p.m. PST |
As above. Soak in the minimum amount of water to cover the base of the figures and let set overnight. I first use a small flexible metal art spatula to remove the flocking/basing material around the figures. With that done, carefully try to slip the spatula between the figure base and the wood. If successful, the figure will pop off. If not, continue soaking another hour or two. After the figures are all removed I give them a light rinse (to remove any water/glue residue that might have splashed on them) and lightly pat the figures dry with a towel. Very easy – which is why I base with white or wood glue. Good luck. |
John the OFM | 12 Aug 2020 6:38 p.m. PST |
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fredavner | 12 Aug 2020 7:18 p.m. PST |
Do u have electric stove? If so hold the stand over the lighted stove with pliers for Bout 20-30 seconds Glue melts…., Haven't tried it with gas though Works great Work glove helps too |
Florida Tory | 13 Aug 2020 3:47 a.m. PST |
"White glue dissolves in water". It looks like I have the spell-checking blues! Rick |
Col Durnford | 13 Aug 2020 5:56 a.m. PST |
I've done this with some rebasing and have run into some issues with a white residue showing up on the figure (mainly after getting the entire figure wet). My solution is to prep the figure with a coat of Future (with or without ink). I have not had any residue issues since. I'm not sure what caused the residue. It could be the white glue or some reaction to the water and dullcoat on the figure. |
Saber6 | 13 Aug 2020 6:18 a.m. PST |
I start with hot water, near boiling. and let sit overnight. |
rampantlion | 13 Aug 2020 8:02 a.m. PST |
I soak mine in water. I am doing some now. I just run the water up to the feet of the figure/top of the base. Overnight soaking does the trick. |
robert piepenbrink | 13 Aug 2020 12:08 p.m. PST |
I agree with the water soaking consensus, but if you need to salvage the bases, I've had pretty good luck prying the castings off with a good sharp X-acto knife then sanding the wooden bases prior to reuse. Remember you have to get the blade edge through the glue and lower than, though not necessarily under, the metal base of the figure. And be careful. |
rvandusen | 14 Aug 2020 6:03 a.m. PST |
About 20 years ago I decided to sell off my largeish collection of 15 mm WW2. All well-painted and mainly based individually on #10 steel washers and flocked with a mix of white glue and model railway ballast. The guy who bought them had a heck of a time re-basing them and kept asking me what I based them with. I explained: First, I glued the figures down with super glue(removable with un-cure), and second mixed the flock (ballast) with white glue and "painted it on the base, and finally painted the texture with acrylic paints. This method proved very tough to change! Soaking didn't work because the acrylic paint made the bases waterproof. I think he ultimately opted to chip the basing material off with a pick of some kind, being careful not to damage the figures. I feel a little bad about since we are talking about several hundred figures from most nationalities. |
La Belle Ruffian | 14 Aug 2020 5:04 p.m. PST |
rvandusen, I think I'd be tempted to build a number of sabot bases instead. That sounds less time consuming than chipping them all clear. |
altfritz | 15 Aug 2020 8:37 a.m. PST |
I always heard that the bond from white glue was stronger than the material b/c the glue went into the pores of the wood. |
AICUSV | 17 Aug 2020 5:03 p.m. PST |
I've been using white glue for years and removed the figures with an X-acto knife. The only problem Ive had has been a result of the basing material. Card board tended to peal off the top layer and balsa wood will some time splinter, resulting in small pieces of wood sticking to the figure. But MDF hasn't presented an issue. |
Bobgnar | 17 Aug 2020 5:24 p.m. PST |
soak in water, but just over the shoes to no impact the paint. Mostly I like to use very sharp snippers such as here link link |