Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey everyone,
So with my new tau models I want to magnetize them so I can swap out the weapons.
From my research I have come up with using 1/32 x 1/16 inch magnets for the XV8 suits.

My main question is what size of drill bit should I use?
Also should I use 2 magnets or 1 for the weapons on the XV8's?

I was also thinking about magnetizing the Piranha and the Stealth suits I have, will the magnet size work or should I get different sizes?

Also is there another type of cheaper green stuff you can get?

Thanks

I use the dremel drill bits and my hand drill. When I get my riptide in he is going to be magnatived till next week!

I use 1/8" magnets, and thus a 1/8" drill bit.

I find it gives a good strong hold.

Also, on the green stuff replacement - search for it, there are TONS of alternatives for it.

I personally use apoxie sculpt - its economical and dries rock hard.

best of luck

Should I use 1/8 inch magnets instead then?
I'm just kind of worried that the 1/16 inch magnets will be to small to handle.

miniwargaming also recommends 1/8 for everything.

I happen to agree with that opinion for what non-Tau stuff I've done.

Thanks guys I've just ordered 1/8 diameter by 1/16 inch magnets 200 of them for 9 bucks haha.

I can't find a good hand drill though, should I just use a power drill?

chiefbigredman wrote:
Thanks guys I've just ordered 1/8 diameter by 1/16 inch magnets 200 of them for 9 bucks haha.

I can't find a good hand drill though, should I just use a power drill?

You can get cheap dremel drills off of Amazon and Ebay.

I use a normal hand drill and I've never had a problem. Also, what I did was drill a hole for the magnet, and then use my pin vice to make a smaller hole next to it. On the weapons I added a magnet hole, then drilled a smaller hole with the pin vice, and glued in a metal peg (honestly, I just snip pieces of a small paperclip). The magnets keep the weapon on, but the peg/hole keeps the weapon straight. This saves you from using two magnets and prevents the weapon from rotating around on a single magnet.

Personally I use 3x3x0.5mm square magnets on all my battlesuits. This allows me to surface mount the magnets both on the arm/shoulder and on the weapon, so no fiddly drilling. They are thin enough that the join isn't particularly obvious when fitted, and when there are no weapons on the mount point it looks jsut like a raised bit of armour. The smoothed off square nature of the magnet also fits with the Tau aesthetic rather well, although I guess the round magnets will as well.

I have finished magnetizing my riptide, and used a single magnet for all the support weapons and the shield, and 2 magnets for the main gun.
For all my crisis suits, I am only gonig to use 1 magnet each. There really isnt a lot of room for 2 magnets, although it would stop gun rotation on the tabletop. For jump pack mounted guns it might be possible to use 2 magnets (especially if they are missiles) but you risk drilling too many holes in the others, and having them either visable or not having them line up properly when you want to swap them out.

Regarding crisis suits, if you use stronger magnets on the weapons, you don't have to worry about rotation as much.

I use 1/8" n42 or n52 (strength of the magnet) rare earth magnets from k&j magnetics.

I put the magnets basically on the wrists, and shoulders of the models.

Now, for broadsides (or the old metal CIB) railguns, this is not quite enough, so I used small rectangular magnets for them. The 1/8"x1/4" - this is for the railgun on old school broadsides on the shoulder, seekers on tanks, and hunter killers one chimeras/rhinos/ironclad dreds (once painted, looks like a part of the hull).

A lot of this is personal preference - so, while my methods work great for me, and others for others ....you will have to find what works best for you.

Have fun, and remeber - always check polairty

I use 2mm x 1mm magnets with a 2mm drill bit for all my magnets. To drill the holes I use a small hand drill and the magnets hold amazingly. Depending on how you do it, you should be fine without adding any small pins too, but they can't hurt if you want