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Ok, so last night while playing a game, I noticed on some of my models that my bases were peeling up.

Basicaly what I mean, is that the PVA glue is seperating from the top of the base. The sand and everything is just trying to peel up.

On a couple models I was able to get some super glue and apply it between the layer of PVA and the base (which seemed to hold OK), but on some other parts I basicaly just had to peel the top of the base off and I will have to rebase them later.

My process for basing my miniatures is this :
Spread elmers PVA glue down on the base
Dip the base in sand
Let sit for 24 hours
Paint

Anyone have any clue what causes this? I have been playing miniatures games (and painting), quite some time now, and I have never had this happen before. Only thing I can think to do to help prevent this would be to use some sandpaper to rough up the top of the base before applying glue.

I havent had the issue yet but I rough up the top of the base with a file before I glue to give more surface area for it to stick to.

Yeah, I will have to start doing that for sure. I might also start washing my bases with some soap and water. Maybe there was some mold release or something.

I've had this happen to some of my larger bases. It's a right pain.

The best way round it I've found is to prime your base with a spraypaint before gluing on the sand.

Once the sand has had a chance to dry, but before you paint it, dip the base in scenic cement. This will solve your problems.

I've had this issue when I use elmers white glue, but PVA glue hasn't disappointed me yet, so I can't say..

After the dip in sand, layer on some thinned out PVA again on top. ive got models 7+years old and arent peeling.

High humidity for long periods of time will cause that.

Did you varnish the models and then base them?

I don't bother with PVA for basing.

I use superglue for my basing because:

1. It dries quicker.

2. It isn't coming off unless you use explosives.

I've had this happen sometimes, but rarely. Seems to be no rhyme or reason to it, totally random, few and far between.

usually I can just rip off the piece that's peeling and then just glue it back down.

I use watered down white glue (like a 50/50 mix, I just eyeball it) for my bases. first I paint it onto the base, then add the ballast/sand stuff, then when it dries I go back over it with the same glue mix to seal it in, then I paint it whatever color I'm doing and add bitz of grass if I need it. I always figured the parts that peel are from where the glue didn't stick to the base good enough.

White glue will do that.

My process for basing my miniatures is this :
Spread paint (GW or craft paint) down on the base
Dip the base in sand
Let sit for 24 hours
Flood the base with a mix of Future floor polish and paint
Let sit for 24 hours
Paint

I used to use GW inks for the flood the base part, but switched to Future when GW stopped making inks. I have several hundred figures based using this method. Works like a charm and no peeling.

CT GAMER wrote:I don't bother with PVA for basing.

I use superglue for my basing because:

1. It dries quicker.

2. It isn't coming off unless you use explosives.

Made me lol.

Anyway, I do the same, although I tend to sprinkle the sand on, rather than dip the base in the sand pot, because it usually comes out clumpy (you can control the amount when sprinkling .

It's also a lot better when sticking slate and similar things down.

Samus_aran115 wrote:I've had this issue when I use Elmer's white glue, but PVA glue hasn't disappointed me yet, so I can't say..

Elmer's white glue is PVA glue. Same thing, just a brand name.

For the record, thinning your glue too much with water will also have this effect down the road.



Ghidorah

CT GAMER wrote:I don't bother with PVA for basing.

I use superglue for my basing because:

1. It dries quicker.

2. It isn't coming off unless you use explosives.

WIN.

I used superglue as well. As for the clumping, I give the base a few hard knocks against my table right after dipping it in whatever flock base I am using (right now it's tiny little rocks) and whatever falls off, falls off. It is the whim of the Chaos Gods as to what stays and goes. But once it is on there, explosives indeed.

You can band-aid your current issue by using superglue to re-attach the flap that is coming off your bases currently.

Vandil wrote:High humidity for long periods of time will cause that.

Did you varnish the models and then base them?

Actualy, I do use a dip of wood varnish (Polyshades by Minwax I think) on my Nids. But I let the varnish dry for 48 hours before I actualy base the models. My Nids are the only thing this has happened too yet. All my other armies I paint the ol fashioned way.

Thanks for the tips guys....I have some scenic cement leftover from when I built my game table. I will have to give that a shot from now on. Maybe washing the bases, roughing them up with some sandpaper, and dipping bases in scenic cement will help with the problem.

Jburch wrote:

Vandil wrote:High humidity for long periods of time will cause that.

Did you varnish the models and then base them?

Actualy, I do use a dip of wood varnish (Polyshades by Minwax I think) on my Nids. But I let the varnish dry for 48 hours before I actualy base the models. My Nids are the only thing this has happened too yet. All my other armies I paint the ol fashioned way.

48hrs should be plenty.

I asked because people will varnish, then base, and then not seal the base because they varnished already, workflow.