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.

Hi all,

Has anyone had any experience of using cork tiles for basing scenery? I want to make a DIY zone mortalis board and I'm thinking of making my rooms 1ftx1ft or roughly 300mm x 300mm

I've noticed on places like Wickes or amazon here in the UK that you can get Cork Tiles reasonably cheap. But I'm obviously concerned about how sturdy they will be. In terms of what would go on them as terrain pieces, in the main it would be foamboard and styrofoam. So they would be quite light other than when models are on them (in which case they would be rested on the table. I would have a piece of styrofoam pva glued to each piece as well, so this could help (though some of the styrofoam might have gaps in it, hence the need for another base)

I thought about using MDF, but unfortunately I don't have the capabilities to cut it to size where I am which is why I was looking at cork.

Wickes offering is quite cheap and is sealed already in an acrylic coating..
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Sealed-Cork-Flooring-Tile-305-x-305mm-Pack-9/p/620950

I've seen others before recommend the tiled exercise mats you can get as well but again I'm not sure how flimsy they can be

thoughts?

Cork has natural faults in it where it will come apart. You'd need something sturdy underneath.

Yeah that was one of my immediate concerns, but this does seem to be treated and is used for flooring, perhaps I'll head to the store and see what it's like

You need the MDF underneath. Cork stands up pretty well, better than foam anyway, especially when you seal with PVA/water, but you'll still need the wood underneath it.

TommyBs wrote:
Yeah that was one of my immediate concerns, but this does seem to be treated and is used for flooring, perhaps I'll head to the store and see what it's like

It' durable, but only when fully supported underneath. It won't support anything on its own.

you could use hardboard instead of mdf, the kind that usually goes on the back of cupboards etc. I expect wickes sells that, too.

It's cheaper and far easier to cut (a sharp hobby knife will do it)

If you're in the uk you must be somewhat near a B&Q.
They have an in store cutting service. It'll be more accurate than you could do at home without specialist tools.
Ask for your selected 8x4ft sheet of mdf to be cut to whatever sizes you require, I think the first 2 cuts are free then it's pence per cut after that.
Remember to allow for the blade width otherwise you'll end up with uneven sized tiles that won't tessellate correctly. You'll only lose a few mm each cut so it'll have very little in game concequence.
Once the sheet is cut then you'll be just fine carrying it home in the car or on a bus, train, taxi or even on a bike pannier. Bring some duct tape or packing tape to hold the bits together or even a large suitcase.
It's going to be fairly heavy depending on the thickness so hit the gym if you're not in great shape or ask a friend to come and help.

https://www.diy.com/find-a-store

What thickness would you recommend for an mdf base? 3mm seems to thin, then it ranges from 6mm/9mm/12mm - 6 feels like it should be ok, but maybe 9 for safety?

Cork tiles are great for basing, but not the base itself it's always worth making it out of a more durable wood.

Yeah I'm, looking at a wood base now, but not sure how thick to make it bearing in mind when i use it will be on a table and the hopefully the inside of the terrain will be mainly foamboard and styrofoam - perhaps with some plastic/resin bits scattered around. I think I might go 9mm wood to be safe

Cork tiles, it is a really cool material. Have a look here:

http://trujsson.blogspot.co.uk/

Regards.

@boredbeard I think the difference is there that those tiles are mounted onto mdf for the board? I'm talking about using 1ftx1ft cork tiles with scenery on them that can then be combined to make a board - like zone mortalis. To be honest there's not much difference in the price between 2 packs of cork (required for a 4x4) and 1 sheet of MDF - and apparently B&Q cut to size for free when purchasing.

I think cork would be useful for scenic aspects such as a road in the example given but I think in my instance it would need to be mounted

Ok. I know what you mean now, and also - I did something like that for someone, namely Imperial Sector buildings.

You don't have to worry about MDF underneath, lamination, thickness (it is about 3 to 4 mm) and building itself adds to rigidity of the cork.

I strongly suggest to consider cutting the tiles to 0.5x0.5 feet. Not only they will be more rigid, but it will add more options to your table:

4x4 table with 1x1 tiles - 4 spaces
4x4 table with 0.5x0.5 tiles - 12 spaces

6x6 inch tile is still big enough to place scenery or building on it.

Regards,

A 4x4 table would be 16 tiles with 1x1 and 0.5 would be 64. Not sure what you mean by spaces?

I could combine the 2 sizes as ideally I'd like to create some larger spaces. I'm thinking of creating rooms rather then an open space so building walls etc. Which might help add to the sturdiness of a cork base. However as I say getting wood is roughly the same price, and wood for the walls and bases would probably be sturdier, especially in terms of stacking (I don't have a dedicated gaming table unfortunately :( )

I might get some of the cork squares anyway. There's 9 in a pack so in theory I would need 2 packs which would leave 2 spare tiles for testing purposes

Ok - got it now.

I admit, I had a couple of blond moments today...

Good luck, and share some pics of finished board!

Regards,