"Square washers for bases?" Topic

I was thinking of using square washers for bases – they are out there in various forms.

Wondering if anyone has experience with and likes a certain type of washer as opposed to any other one.

Also, from where did you buy them? Online seems the way to go…

Thanks!

I love the idea: strength, simplicity, heft. However, I could not locate 1" diameter square washers, easily. They also are quite expensive. I will continue to use laser-cut MDF squares. Cheers!

I sell Wargames Accessories bases. Thin steel in a variety of rectangular sizes, both metric and Imperial:

link

For robots maybe?

Extra Crispy, sheet metal bases would be fine, if not for the pointed corners. Even my MDF bases are better with rounded corners. The sharp corners snag my green carpet ground cover base.

I do appreciate your lower prices, though. I would buy from you, if not for the square corners. Cheers!

Sheet metal, tin snips, a file. ;-)

When making square bases, I always snip off the corners (just enough to remove the points), then take a file all around the edges to remove burs (more to keep it from snagging on my fingers than on terrain. ;-)
It's not hard to do, and not even tedious once you get the hang of it. And a LOT cheaper than washers (they get pretty expensive. :-o A piece of steel roof flashing is all you need.)

50 1" Fender Washers are $12.90 USD at Home Depot.

I guess the size of the project is most important to determine cost.

Laser-cut MDF is inexpensive, and amazingly accurate. I considered buying a 40 Watt CO2 Laser Cutter ($400+), but after I cut out several hundred bases for myself (likely 1,000, max), I would have little use for it anymore. Cheaper to buy them from folks selling them. I can buy 1,000 x 50mm square MDF bases, for $391.75 USD, today, off of e-Bay, and still spend less money than a Laser Cutter (MDF is extra, beyond the $400 USD laser price). I would need to employ more than 1,000 such bases to break even, and I doubt I will ever use 1,000 50mm square MDF bases.

I use rectangular bases so there is never a question as to front, flank, or rear. Round bases are not my cup of tea. Round metal washers are basically the least expensive basing option, if you want to use "round" bases.

Cutting rectangular sheet metal bases with a tin snips and then filing them, is acceptable for small quantities. I buy the perfectly rectangular, laser-cut MDF bases in lots of 20-100. Cutting even 20 bases out of sheet metal, with a tin snips, then filing the edges of each and every single base, is too tedious for my needs; I have bought 300+, MDF rectangular bases, 25mm squares, 25mm x 50mm, 25mm x 75mm, and 300+ 50mm square MDF bases, and I will likely buy another couple of hundred of the 50mm squares. My hobby time is limited, so I spend the cash on the pre-made MDF bases.

Economy is a multi-faceted thing, for me. My resources are finite, so I manage the trade-off's as best I can, to get the most fun out of my hobby monies and time. Cheers!

I use the Wargame accessory bases on my 15mm calvary and washers on infantry ( all fantasy). I like them, but I usually use magnetic sheet movement trays ( made myself) with them, but then I can use them for skirmish or unit removal also. I only wish they were a little cheaper! any discount codes? Extra Crispy?

edit:
Hmm are you cheaper then direct from wargames accessories, or larger packs then his for the same price? Im seeing the size I want from you as 40 per pack instead of 25 per pack from him! 1/2x 1 1/8.