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 folks,

I am trying to make a box into which I can put my models with magnets on their bases. I wasn't sure what to use as the base for the box, until someone at Warhammer Fest showed me their box with 'magnetic strip' stuck inside it.

I ordered what I thought was the right thing, but my magnets don't adhere to it! Why doesn't it work? Did I get the wrong thing? I am using 5mmx2mm neodymium magnets.

These are the magnetic strips:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magnetic-Sheet-Strips-Choice-of-Plain-Self-Adhesive-Spellbinders-Crafting/172364624899?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=471191304593&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Presumably some thin metal strips would be better. Or a couple of tin pencil cases if the magnetised bits would fit inside. Magnets love those things.

Yeah, those magnetic sheets don't do much. They are like refrigerator magnets, easy to take off and put back on.

I use rare earth metal magnets on the bases and strips of cut sheet metal in my carrying case. That way, I never have to worry about polarization.

Thanks for the replies. I was originally thinking of using metal on the base until I spoke to this person at Warhammer Fest, but my question, now I am returning to the idea of metal, is, how do I get metal onto the bottom. What do I buy? I can't exactly cut metal to fit the box!

(and no, a biscuit tin won't work - I need the box to be a certain height)

My current setup is the following:
- For models with a normal base, I put a steel washer under the base (flush with the bottom), and magnetic sheets (just like the ones you showed) in my boxes. I find it much better than magnets under the bases/metal in the box, because 1) it makes my models heavier (I have lots and lots of top heavy models) and 2) there is no risks of my models sticking to one another when I pick them up (had that issue with magnets under the bases)
- For models with flying stands, I drill the bottom clear base to put a few small magnets in it (I paint my clear bases so you can't see them), and put them in boxes with a metal sheet at the bottom (so basically what you want to do)

I now use the KR multicase cardboard boxes as my boxes, mostly because they have many sizes that fit very well together, and are easy to transport in their backpacks. Also, for some models (flyers, big stuff like WK) I couldn't find a way to make the magnetic setup work, so I just use their foam, and it therefore fits very well with my other boxes.

As for the metal sheets, I just bought some very thin steel sheets at a local hardware store, and cut them using a dremel. If you don't have one (or any bigger tool that would work even better), I'm not really sure how to go about it. A hacksaw probably won't work. Maybe the store can cut it for you?

fresus wrote:

As for the metal sheets, I just bought some very thin steel sheets at a local hardware store, and cut them using a dremel. If you don't have one (or any bigger tool that would work even better), I'm not really sure how to go about it. A hacksaw probably won't work. Maybe the store can cut it for you?

How do you cut metal with a dremel? It's a rotating tool...

 corpuschain wrote:

fresus wrote:

As for the metal sheets, I just bought some very thin steel sheets at a local hardware store, and cut them using a dremel. If you don't have one (or any bigger tool that would work even better), I'm not really sure how to go about it. A hacksaw probably won't work. Maybe the store can cut it for you?

How do you cut metal with a dremel? It's a rotating tool...

They sell metal cutting disks: https://www.dremeleurope.com/general/en/dremel%C2%AEezspeedclicmetalcuttingwheels5-pack-349-ocs-p/
It cuts thin steel pretty easily. Not the greatest setup as there's no guide (so the cut won't be perfectly straight), but it's good enough for the application.

Ah, okay, thanks for your advice. I might give that a try.

You can also buy a baking tray from the cooking aisle. The one i picked up was £1, made of some cheap ferrous material and came in a handy, pre-cut size. My actual difficulty at the moment is finding a cheap and cheerful box to put it in

 GeckoDragon wrote:
You can also buy a baking tray from the cooking aisle. The one i picked up was £1, made of some cheap ferrous material and came in a handy, pre-cut size. My actual difficulty at the moment is finding a cheap and cheerful box to put it in

Haha, I had the same idea! As you say though, the trouble is finding a box to fit it. For this project, I need the box to be tall enough to fit a hive tyrant on a scenic base, and most tall boxes are fairly odd proportions in terms of width and depth, so I'm having trouble. I thought I'd solved it with the magnetic strips but now I'm back to the drawing board. The annoying thing is I wasted £15 on magnetic strip and the box isn't even for me! LOL

Before you build something check out the off the rack solutions:

Cheap:
https://www.harborfreight.com/steel-toolbox-97532.html

Nice:
https://us.battlefoam.com/categories/Magna-Racks/