"Rebasing Conundrum" Topic

I have a rebasing problem that has me flummoxed. I bought some painted figures that I would like to rebase. The bases are nicely done but just won't work with the game system for which I bought them.

The figures are mounted on 3mm plywood bases. My first attempt to get them off was to put the figures in a plastic tub with warm water just up to the top of the base which I have generally found to be effective for figures affixed to the base with PVA. I let them soak overnight. The next day they was no loosening to either the figures or the texture.

So, I decided to put the figures in the freezer overnight in case the adhesive was some type of CA glue. Once again, there was no loosening at all nor even a crack in the texture.

I am now thinking that the figures were glued on with epoxy and that this was used to cover the base as well before painting, etc.

Does anyone know of other things I can try to get these figures off the bases? I know I could carve the epoxy away but that is my last resort…

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Super Glue remover may help, but it will melt plastic and could take off paint. Maybe try scoring the figure base where it meets the scenic base and then put in a shallow tub of water and freeze that. The frozen water will expand and could loosen things up. Scoring it could allow water to get in the connection point.

A dremel tool works wonders if you have to go the aggressive route of cutting.

Epoxy on plywood is rough. My first thought is that big Xacto blade which seems to have been designed for chopping up lumber. Dig into the plywood just outside the metal figure base, and twist. Odds are you'll get the figure off with a little plywood still attached, but nothing two passes with a serious file won't take off.

But if anyone comes up with a better way, I'd like to know about it too.

This method works with CA glue and might with epoxy: Try using a sharp wood chisel. With the base on its side, place the chisel blade as close as possible to the bottom of the figure base. Angle the direction of the blade slightly toward the wood base rather than the figure base. Give the end of the chisel a good rap (or three) with a hammer.

Editorial note: it is absolutely inconceivable why any thinking adult would use anything other than white or wood glue to affix figures. Epoxy adds nothing to the practical strength of the bond but does immensely complicate any effort to rebase. And rebasing is quite common.

I used to base all my figures with epoxy back in the 1970s and early 80s. The only way to get them off is a stiff bladed knife or chisel, and on one occasion I had to use a razor saw to cut across the bottom of the bases. These days I use something a bit less solid.

Try scoring the bottom of the bases with a knife (to let water soak in), then stand the figues knee deep in water for _at least_ 24 hours. You want the wood be thoroughly soaked and to swell.

Once the base if off rub the bottom of the figrue on an engineering file to remove residual glue.

Once off, I would suggest using a dremel with a sanding wheel to remove any excess. I use it to file down bases for clean up. While I have about a half dozen heavy duty files at the work bench, I will get out the dremel if needed for even a single figure.

As a bonus to the dremel method, I get a nice pile of metal shaving to use as filler in conversation work (like head swaps).

Thanks, everyone, for the thoughts. I am hoping to avoid the hammer and chisel approach or the sharp blade… if I go either route, I think I will be getting a butcher's glove (basically a mail glove) to save my hands.

One thing that has made this even more complicated id that the epoxy was not only used to affix the miniature but also to serve blend the figure's base onto the plywood so it makes it difficult to find a place to insert the blade or chisel. I may use an X-Acto saw to score the epoxy and then try the hot water/freezing method a couple of more times. By the way, I used an electric kettle to get the water up to a higher temp than I could from the tap.

Thanks again for all the help!

You could also try using two pairs of pliers, putting one on each side of the base (on the 'lip' between the figure's base and the lower base you want to remove) then flexing the lower base off (or at least part of it.) I would set up a 'soft landing area' in case the figure pops off. At the least, it should break up the base for easier soaking…

I take wire snips and cut with the grain on wooden bases. Most of it will come off and then I use an exacto to cut off the rest. Not the quickest process but it works for me on tough glue.

Thanks, Zephyr and rampantlion, for the alternative. I will try the to cut and/or flexing methods as well if the heating and freezing methods (which allow me to do a lot of bases at once) don't help.