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Hey guys, just a few quick(potentially stupid) questions.

I'll get the silliest one out of the way first. It's about magnetic sheets for storing minis. Do they have polarity? As if, do I have to aim my magnets the "correct" direction when gluing them into the minis in order for them to stick to the sheet, or is it just like a flexible piece of metal?

Secondly, has anyone tried these magnets from GF9? - https://www.waylandgames.co.uk/gale-force-nine-magnets/42278-rare-earth-magnets-x-40-1mm-x-5mm

The price is a steal and they are supposedly n52s, but these are "rare earth" magnets as opposed to the "neodymium" magnets. I'm just wondering if the price doesn't reflect lower quality? I'd rather pay extra up front than have to replace them.

Finally, I picked up this lifetime supply of gravel for 2 pounds of Amazon(photo below), but I read that you are supposed to sterilize natural rocks/sand before using them. Does that apply to this as well, or is that only for things found outside? I don't feel entirely comfortable putting this stuff in the oven.

If you’re talking about putting magnets in the bases and then sticking them to a metal sheet, the no, polarity doesn’t matter. Just make sure your metal sheet is good ol’ steel and not aluminium (or some types of stainless).

I haven’t got experience with those particularly magnets, but neodymium is a rare earth and “rare earth” is easier to spell?! Both GF9 and Wayland are reputable companies, so I wouldn’t worry about being cheated.

Finally, I have never heard about needing to sterilise sand/soil/gravel (although that may be my ignorance), but you do need to dry it thoroughly. I put mine in an old baking tray on the “warming” setting in the oven for about an hour (that’s S on a gas oven, below mark 1 and 50 Celsius in an electric). Just make sure to put it out and leave it to cool for a decent amount of time; sand retains its heat for a loooong while.

The flexible magnetic sheets that I have used change polarity across their exposed face. They are also not the best to use with rare earth magnets. The flexible magnetic stuff relies on a big contact area to generate much force. As noted above you are better off getting a steel sheet.

As others have said, neodymium is a rare earth metal, the terms are usually used interchangeably for consumer products. Depending on your location and legislation, calling them spefically neodymium magnets may force you to at least match a certain standard of purity, but i can't imagine that slight impurities are of any consequence for modelling uses.

Sterilizing gravel is IMHO only necessary when using it for it's main intended use, i.e. in aquarium or terrarium decoration - especially aquaria become a hotbed of all sorts of algae, fungi or bacteria right quick and a lot of fish are both expensive and easy to kill with infections, so you usually need to make sure not to introduce aggressive microorganisms to the water if you can help it. For modelling uses, i think unsterilized is usually fine. If you want to make absolutely sure and don't want to use the oven, you can either give the gravel a good soak with any convenient, non-acidid household disinfectant, or pack it in a old pot with enough water and give it a thorough boil for ten minutes or so. If you do the latter, do it in batches and make sure not to overload the pot, you need to be able to stir it to prevent heat buildups and potentially dangerous flash-steaming.

Where do people get steel sheets and how do you cut them to size?

I’m in the process of setting up some boxes myself, and while the magnets work like a charm gripping to a steel ruler, they just are not secure on the flexible magnets that I picked up.

I did grab some bulk cheep metal rulers, but ironically they were the wrong size.

Baking trays are an easily available source. Easier to fit the container around the tray though. A local garage or school might be able to help you out if you need something like that cut to size.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I used metal angle as it give a handy gripping point. I cut it to length myself with a dremel.

 Flinty wrote:
Baking trays are an easily available source. Easier to fit the container around the tray though. A local garage or school might be able to help you out if you need something like that cut to size.

Second that - if you want to cut it to size just slip anybody in a auto-body shop or e.g. a shop class teacher a couple of bucks to do it right and put a finish on the edges, otherwise you'll sooner or later cut yourself.

 Flinty wrote:
Baking trays are an easily available source. Easier to fit the container around the tray though. A local garage or school might be able to help you out if you need something like that cut to size.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I used metal angle as it give a handy gripping point. I cut it to length myself with a dremel.

Which bit do you use on a rotary tool to cut metal?

Cutting discs. You buy them in packs of 20 or so. Same idea as larger angle grinders. You end up wearing them down quite quickly cutting steel but it does work.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
These ones

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-763600-Cutting-Disc-18-Piece/dp/B000T9UFG6/ref=asc_df_B000T9UFG6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=222086461140&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9275394121585719817&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007322&hvtargid=pla-420785540546&psc=1

Thank you for the responses, this is incredibly helpful.

I got my hands on the above-mentioned magnets and all of my doubts are gone. I can barely pull these things apart.x) I'm sure they can handle the zombies and skellies.

I should've definitely linked this in the original post, but this is the guide I'm thinking to follow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKg8oPF4xfk&ab_channel=DuncanRhodesPaintingAcademy

I would like to use my box for both storage and transport. So the much lighter magnetic sheet seems like a practical option. Plus, I would like to cover every wall inside with the stuff. If I counted correctly, one small, 4 litre box should be enough to house the entire 100+ mini VC army.

The sterilizing bit is just something I hear about a lot, but this may mainly apply to terrain/dioramas, since those use a lot more bulk, natural bits. I'll see what I can do to make sure there is no moisture left around before I glue any of it down. It's meant to prefent any plant or fungi growing under the paint.

I got started on magnetizing the zombies. It takes quite a bit of time and 4/5 different drill bits, but you can get a really nice, flush fit. Boy, am I looking forward to doing this on all 60+ of them!;_;

At least the skeletons an cav will have hollow bases...

I also used Duncan’s tutorial as a base



The sheet magnets are fine for hanging around. I’d not to take them on a car ride. Minis wobble and slide a bit. Much better grip on metal. I’m using magnets from Amazon (TRYMAG, 5x2mm 180 count for $9) and they are probably not the better N52 rating. But hard to go wrong at that price. Of course, if I sprung for the more expensive magnets, they might have actually gripped better on the sheet magnets. Who knows.

I’m using 5x2 and 3x2 mm magnets. The lip of the hollow GW base is a little deeper then that, and there are companies that make specifically sized magnets. I think they said they are 2.2mm, which seems right. For most bases I’m just mixing up a batch of GS, making a little ball, and squishing it down with the magnet on a flat surface so that the magnet is flush with the bottom. I tried to find a spacer that would fit and not require me to do GS work, but this is just easier in the end. For the GW bases that have the holes in the bottom already, a stack of 2 3x2mm magnets fit in there nicely. Just dropping a little superglue in and seating the magnets in.

I’ve used a dremel with cutting disks to take down the twisted scrap of a street signpost. Not the right tool for the job, but it worked. I’m sure they could do a number on thin sheets. A friend of mine actually works in the steel industry. If I wanted, I could order a sheet and have it cut to size. The problem is it would need to be a 4x8 foot sheet. And he had no idea what the cost would be, as they don’t usually work with anything thinner than 1/8th of an inch. Which is massive overkill for what we need, where even a millimeter thick sheet is excessive.