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Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 15th, 2012, 3:29 am
by Sjeng
Hi! I have some warhammer ogres that were glues to their rather large bases, and I want to rebase them on HQ size bases, but they're really glued on there.
How can you get them off? I tried alcohol, and a sharp knife, but no luck. I'm afraid to damage the models if I force it.

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 15th, 2012, 4:49 am
by Ethica
I usually heat up a craft knife with a lighter and melt through. You do lose a little bit of material this way but at least the cut is more controlable.

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 15th, 2012, 7:39 am
by el_flesh
Butane lighter? Would it cause any dmg to the xacto blade? Like make it more brittle?

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 15th, 2012, 2:51 pm
by Daedalus
Craft knives are available on soldering irons. I believe X-acto makes one. Be careful not to cut with too much pressure, or it will bend, like mine. :(

Another tact could be to use clippers to cut away the plastic bases, then trim around the feet with a craft knife and files. Remove the base that remains under the feet by sanding it off with sandpaper that is mounted on a flat block. Hold the figure in your hand and push it back and forth across the sandpaper, checking occasionally until the unwanted base material is removed.

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 15th, 2012, 4:06 pm
by cynthialee
how about rough cuting it out then ussing a dremel to do the fine details?

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 16th, 2012, 1:03 am
by Sjeng
That might also work, but I don't have those tools... Maybe I can borrow some. Thanks!

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 16th, 2012, 4:31 am
by Goblin-King
This is how I've done it. Don't know if it's the easiest way I did it, but I did it...
Using only items found in a common crafting room

Start by using a cutting plier to gnaw away as much base as possible as close to the feet as you dare.
Then use a crafting knife to cut as close to the SIDES of the feet as possible. Using knives can be dangerous - Ask an adult to help you
Finally use a file to plane the "soles" of the feet.
Done

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 16th, 2012, 9:06 am
by el_flesh
That's alot more clever.

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 16th, 2012, 10:52 am
by Nerrad72
I used to chop away the bases then sand them down.

I moved on to a very cheap Stanley Blade heated with a lighter. You dont have to heat the blade all the time , simply do the four sides of each foot as a guide, lie down the figure and use the Stanley (with some pressure and a slight sawing action) gradually cutting through keeping the blade flat to the base. This should result in you lining up you guide cuts.

This is my new method as I used to hack my HQ figures bases off, this way I could save my HQ bases and send them to Ethica who was very greatful

Re: Removing mini's from their base

PostPosted: April 16th, 2012, 11:20 am
by Ethica
Nerrad72 wrote:This is my new method as I used to hack my HQ figures bases off, this way I could save my HQ bases and send them to Ethica who was very greatful


And if anyone else wants to get rid of HQ bases I need them bad. Will swap for cash or actual figures