Magnetizing Warhammer Movement Trays

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Tengumaster89

New member
Hi everyone,

I was planning on magnetizing my warhammer fantasy army to their movement trays. What magnets do you guys typically use for this? I have seen some people use small magnets that were too thick to fit under the bases so they came out looking awful. If anyone knows a good site with affordable prices for magnets that are compatible with warhammer bases that would be super helpful. Thanks!
 
Hoodoo_Hermit

Hoodoo_Hermit

New member
Tengumaster89 said:
Hi everyone,

I was planning on magnetizing my warhammer fantasy army to their movement trays. What magnets do you guys typically use for this? I have seen some people use small magnets that were too thick to fit under the bases so they came out looking awful. If anyone knows a good site with affordable prices for magnets that are compatible with warhammer bases that would be super helpful. Thanks!
Click to expand...

First I must say that I have not actually magnetized anything yet but I have bought the magnets to do so. I have found the best prices at Ben Franklin's craft store for a medium size ones and for larger ones you can get a great price at Harbor Freight tools. http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-rare-earth-magnets-67488.html

I bought some very small ones at my local hobby store but they weren't very economical. The type most people will use are called rare earth magnets (neodymium magnets). I'm sure a more knowledgeable hobbyist can give you more info but I hope this gets you started.

Also, this link from miniwargaming has a list of which sizes you might need for certain jobs :) http://store.miniwargaming.com/category/rare-earth-magnets/
 
freakinacage

freakinacage

Well-known member
I use stuff from this guy:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140628229029

Dunno how much p+p is to the states though. I have 3 sorts of neodymium magnets that I use:
Big 25x2mm ones for busts and larger pieces
Just one 10x1 is enough to hold most 28mm metal minis (they fit nicely in the larger section on the bottom of slotta bases) . For larger ones I add a small one as well
Small 5x1mm ones. These are great for moulded bases that are solid resin as it's easy enough to drill a few 5mm holes

The great thing about all this is that you can transport easily in biscuit/choccy tins which are bountiful this time of your! Also, you can glue a ferromagnetic coin (2ps over here are great but I'm not sure if you have anything suitable) to a paint cap or something large and it'll hold the mini comfortably while painting
 
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QuietiManes

QuietiManes

New member
I've used K&J a couple times, I'd recommend them. Price, service, bulk discounts, random surprises found as a "thank you" in larger orders, just good stuff all round.

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/

I've also heard similar good things about Indigo but haven't used them myself.

http://www.indigo.com/


Generally, you'll pay way more (per magnet) if you buy from Lee Valley, MiniWarGaming, HarbourFreight, random hobby/art shops, etc. But they can be cheaper when you factor in the shipping if you're only getting a few magnets (and can walk in to the store or you're ordering something else from the online shop), so make sure to weigh your options well.

I think the rare earth magnets should be used instead of the black magnetic sheets you get from art shops. They're just easier and the price is right. Plus larger models, top heavy models, odd position models like many 'Nid gaunts, will never tip over or slide around because the magnet fails.

If you do go with indigo or k&j, check out their clearance/overstock/special offers. You might save even more, can almost always find suitable "base size" magnets, at least when I've looked.
 
freakinacage

freakinacage

Well-known member
Am pretty sure those bases won't have the strength of the neodymium ones. May be ok for placcy stuff though
 
QuietiManes

QuietiManes

New member
Plus you'd have to re-base anything that was built already.

I've seen some "inserts" for bases too but similar to the GF9 magnetic bases, the cost was more than just a rare earth magnet. The price of those bases is pretty low though. If they've any pull strength and durability to them, looks like a good option. Haven't seen them so thanks for the link.
 
RuneBrush

RuneBrush

New member
This place does an insane range of magnets, all reasonably priced. I believe the GF9 stuff is the "roll" of magnetic material that you can buy which does have a fairly low strength (the above place sells it too). I cut some into strips at one point and it held bacofoil into my bbq quite happily. Wouldn't have thought it would suspend a miniature upside-down though.

When I finally get round to doing a Warhammer army I'm planning on lining my movement tray with a piece of thin steel and then gluing a magnet into the base. The benefit of doing this rather than a pair of magnets is that you'll be able to move the miniatures about on the tray. Don't forget rare-earth magnets also have a polarity, so using a pair, they will have to both point in the same way else they'll repel.
 
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Oldskool454

New member
I am having trouble finding the right THICKNESS to do this also.
1/16th is too thick for "slota" bases and I haven't been able to find any of my varied thickness magnets to fit "just right", they eitehr make the mini wobbly or aren't thick enough to attach to a metal tray.

3mm or maybe 3.5 LOOK like they would be about right but I don't want to buy another pack of the wrong size. What has been right for you guys?
 
kndboyle

kndboyle

New member
Quote: "I believe the GF9 stuff is the "roll" of magnetic material that you can buy which does have a fairly low strength (the above place sells it too). I cut some into strips at one point and it held bacofoil into my bbq quite happily. Wouldn't have thought it would suspend a miniature upside-down though."


Just to clarify what the GF9 stuff really is. Believe me, I'm not pushing the product but it does work well for me.

GF9 sells thin sheets of flexible "metal" that can be cut to any size or shape. These sheets, themselves are not magnetic. They come with a peel off ahdesive backing for installing on a movement tray, wooden base, or whatever. The individual bases they sell are a sandwich of a hard plastic top and a 1/16th inch magnetic sheet on the bottom. While similar to the magnetic rolls of material mentioned above they seem to be considerably stronger. I doubt they are as stong as earth magnets, but for the purpose of holding figures to a movement tray they are more than adequate. However, if you have an existing collection they will not help much as you don't want to rebase everything as was mentioned earlier.

I am more a painter than a gamer, but do a little of both. I put a piece of the metal sheet on a wooden display base and use the magnetized bases so I can display my figures but also have the option of gaming with them.
 
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