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Source of exotic wood figure bases

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  • Member since
    April 2004
Source of exotic wood figure bases
Posted by jvkx on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 7:01 PM

Years ago S&T Products was making really nice exotic wood figure bases, and I could get them at SCAHMS meeting here in Orange County.  I called them up today and was told they no longer make those.

Anyone know any other places that make turned bases with nice woods?

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Playing in the foothills of NY
Posted by CDNTanker25 on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 7:34 PM
Andrea Miniuatures makes some nice ones! HTH, you can get them from Squadron...
James on the bench: Merkava II With MCRS-20% Merkava IID 75% IDF Magach Batash
  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: LaValle, Wisconsin
Posted by Hermesminiatures on Sunday, October 7, 2007 10:08 AM

I just order 2" turning stock online and make my own, but I don't suppose that would work for you if you don't have a tablesaw...

IMO the Andrea ones are some of the best commercially-produced bases... 

Jonathan

For every modeling technique that works, I have three that don't.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Essex, UK
Posted by FingersEddie on Sunday, October 7, 2007 1:27 PM

I made a mistake of buyin' an Andrea base and they're not very good quality, they're not even made out of wood and jus' spray painted to boot.

This is the dude I use for my bases here in the UK: http://www.woodenbases.co.uk/index.php  

He makes them for you as and when you want them, he doesn't have any sittin' on the shelf collectin' dust.  

"Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country is doin' to you!" "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." "Say 'NO' to censorship, it leads to a dictatorship!" http://public.fotki.com/paulyrichard/
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 15, 2007 9:53 PM

There are dozens of places to get the turning squares, online or checking ads in magazines like Fine Woodworking.  As for getting them turned on a lathe I would suggest looking for a local woodworking club.  Your profile doesn't say where you live but there are stores, like one called Woodcraft, that sell tools and usually have many people that they can connect you with that can turn a base.  Very often the folks you might run into through a connection like this are not pros so pricing would be very reasonable.  Chances are they would be flattered that someone would buy their work.  Oh, by the way, Woodcraft also sells turning squares, but not at the cheapest prices...they also sell lathes if you want a new hobby.

Good luck,

John 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:57 AM
If you can find a way to attend a figure show, there will certainly be base vendors there, ranging from economical to high end. Unfortunately, the three who vend at MFCA do not have web sites.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: San Francisco, CA
Posted by telsono on Monday, October 22, 2007 1:52 PM

If possible, buy the wood prodcuts locally as you will not run into certain problems with endangered species regulations. There have been changes in CITES regulations in the last year. True Mahogany (Swietena macrophylla) also called Big Leaf or Caribbean is now covered by CITES II regulations. That means that international trade of wood products made from it will require cetification, this includes from Canada. Philippine (Shorea) and African (Khaya) mahoganies are not true mahoganies and are not effected by this.

Other woods to watch out for are Ramin and Brazilian Rosewood.

I deal with this at work all the time.

Mike T.

Beware the hobby that eats.  - Ben Franklin

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out. - Ben Franklin

The U.S. Constitution  doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. - Ben Franklin

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:31 PM

Here's a discussion of bases. Thomas Arts was the supplier for this base:

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Portland, Oregon
Posted by fantacmet on Saturday, October 27, 2007 4:23 PM
I am getting my wood bases at Michaels crafts.  They are cheap, and made of pine, but with some smooth sanding and some staining and varnish you can make them look real good.  I am using a Minwax wood finish stain marker in Red Mahogany to do the edges up on mine.

    

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: US
Posted by hunterw450 on Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:39 PM
I have found some good bases at Home Depot in the stairs section.  The various peices for the bases of stair rails, and also the stair rails themselves are often square at the top and bottom for about 5"-6" which make great bases for single figures. The peices are usualy made of oak and a few other types of wood and are completly finished except for the staining.  I wander around Home Depot and Lowes and find all kinds of useful base marerial. 
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