Using salt as basing

[David Mullis]

I have used various grains of salt to base minis. It really looks great when painted and is extremely cheap. I do however worry about it affecting the mini over time. I'm sure I'm not the only person to experiment with this substrate---was just wondering if anyone has had a bad experience with salt and minis. I have a few on the shelf that are around 5 years old and show no sign of decay......but would like to hear from the more experienced before I start basing other peoples minis with salt. Thanks.

 

[Chris S]

Hi

The salt would have to be totaly sealed away from the outside air etc, as it will absorb any moisture in the air.

If as you say you have minis that have been based with salt and show no sign decay then maybe your climate
is very dry and is not damp at all, pretty sure salt would not work here in the UK.

Personally if the minis were a commission or for friends I would use sand grit cork etc as is the norm.

 

[airhead]

I have used various grains of salt to base minis. ...---was just wondering if anyone has had a bad experience with salt...

I have a boat that gets regularly dunked in salt water. Let me tell you that stuff will corrode anything. Aluminum, zinc, steel, stainless, copper, etc.
I would hate to be carrying around a bunch of salt and packing it next to metal minis and tanks. Great recipe for lead cancer. (I know they have very little lead in them now, but they have lots of zinc. And zinc is the sacrificial metal on most boats.)

Bring those bases down to FL and you'll find where you don't have your bases sealed. There is enough moisture in the air to melt the salt.

 

[David Mullis]

Thanks, thats all I needed to hear. I seal it pretty good and take time to not get any on the model but, yeah better safe than sorry. Actually I'm on the east coast U.S. and the humidity isn't great so I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Thanks for the input.

 

[airhead]

Thinking of optional materials:

1. Grind up some clear plastic bits to make your salt marines.
2. Find some small quartz or similar stone to use.
3. A couple of base casters make a crystal base. Salt will make a large crystal if given the right conditions.

 

[David Mullis]

Thanks airhead! I do love me some DIY