[Workshop] Magnets

Last Updated: December 4, 2017. I attached magnets underneath the bases of miniatures for the purpose of storage and transport of miniatures. I plan to make trays and shelves with a metal surface - 28 gauge galvanized steel sheet. Here is just a list of the different type of magnets I used.

Magnetic Tape or Sheets

I use magnetic tape that is 1/16" thickness for majority of the plastic figures with bases that have a cavity underneath. I use gorilla glue and apply enough water that the glue expands pushing the magnet strip closer to the bottom of the base giving it a stronger pull to the metal surface.

1/16" thick magnetic tape is slightly thicker than the Dungeons & Dragons plastic miniature base. For these models. I use very thin (less than 1/16" or 1 mm) thick magnetic sheets. The ones that I have been using is very thin such that I sometimes put two layers of the very thin magnet sheets to get good adhesion to metal surfaces.

Rare Earth Disc Magnets

For heavier models and metal figures I have chosen to use rare earth disc magnets made by Magcraft. Two 1/8" by 1/16" (3.175 mm x 1.5875 mm) disc magnets are what I usually used for metal human miniatures. For wooden bases, I have to chipped the bottom of the base to fit the disc magnets underneath. I used super glue and sometimes putty to fix the magnets under base.

So far, I used one 1/16" by 1/32" (1.5875 mm x 0.79375 mm) disc magnet for the standard Zombicide plastic miniatures. I drilled a cavity with drill vice and 1.9 mm pin.

I also purchased 1/4" by 1/16" (6.35 mm x 1.5875 mm) disc magnets in anticipation to use it for larger metal models.

Pull Force

1/16" by 1/32" (1.5875 mm x 0.79375 mm) disc - 0.17 lbs (77 g)

1/8" by 1/16" (3.175 mm x 1.5875 mm) disc - 0.67 lbs (304 g)

1/4" by 1/16" (6.35 mm x 1.5875 mm) disc - 1.35 lbs (612 g)