Improving the Maps???

[CoJoe]

What can I do to make my Heroclix maps better quality???...I was hoping for someing that i coudl write on and erase without permanant marking it, as well as making the map a lot sturider and damage resistant and get rid of those #### wrinkles and ridges

i was first thinking of having it laminated, but the onyl place I knwo that does that is kinkos, and they aid the map was too glossy (so it wouldnt stick) and that it was too wide to go though the machine (so i'd have to cut it into 3rds for it to work)

is there anyone out there with any good advice/ideas???

[TheEnigma]

Well, if you don't mind putting a small hole at the corners of your map, you can do what I did. It only sounds more expensive than it really is.... Go to Home Depot and purchase a 4' square of the thinnest plexiglass (i think 1/4", but maybe 1/8") you can get, then get a 4' square of cheap plywood. Drill a hole about 2-1/2" in from each corner of the plexi. Seal the smoothest side of the plywood with varnish to eliminate any snags, then from underneath run a 1/8" bolt through to match up with the plexi holes. Finally, put holes in the maps to match the bolts and reinforce the edges on both sides with those little adhesive circles they sell for 3-ring binders. Place your map over the bolts, then put the plexi on top. For added stability, pick up four small wingnuts to screw down and tighten the plexi in place.

It's actually a fairly simple project. Of course if you want something extremely cheap and simple, you can go to the toy section at any WalMart where they have puzzles, and buy this stuff called "puzzle glue". It's essentially a sealant/varnish so that you can frame jigsaw puzzles without the pieces falling out. You can "poor man's laminate" the maps with it.

As far as wrinkles go, I actually flattened my maps out on the floor and ironed then on low heat under a thin dishtowel. Worked pretty well.....

[CoJoe]

Enigma, that sounds like ti would work fairly cheaply...of course, you'd lose one side of the map (bummer) but if you had 2 starter sets (like me) you'd be in good shape...but maybe it'd work better if you mounted it on 2 sheets of plexiglass (1/8th thickness) and used clasps & a little model glue to keep it together

[PMMJ]

Originally posted by CoJoe
i was first thinking of having it laminated, but the onyl place I knwo that does that is kinkos, and they aid the map was too glossy (so it wouldnt stick) and that it was too wide to go though the machine (so i'd have to cut it into 3rds for it to work)


S'funny, the Kinkos near me did it and it all turned out just fine and in one piece. Maybe you just got the new clerk?

[Pseudotheist]

...or the backwater Kinkos.

[Melkoloran]

Most places can laminate posters, so I would think you could find one for your map...

[Doomtoy]

There is an alternative: home lamination. It's expensive, but not as expensive as Kinko's... but it's a lot of trouble.

What you want to do is get a couple rolls of clear strapping tape, the kind used to seal cartons. CLEAR strapping tape, NOT filament tape. Crystal clear tape, in rolls about three inches wide.

You also want to get a tape roller gun, the kind used by the guys who use strapping tape to seal cartons.

Spread the map out on a hard flat surface, preferably a largish table. Tape down the corners. Get it as flat as you can... and go over it, applying strips of that strapping tape. CAREFULLY, since you don't wanna deal with bubbles or wrinkles!

When all is said and done, you will have a home-laminated map.

I don't see why the Kinko's people gave you a hard time, though. I've known several people who got their maps laminated at Kinko's, and the only real hassle was the fact that you had to cut the maps up to fit through the laminator. I laminated my maps at the educational resource center attached to my school, and aside from having to cut them in half, it worked fine... and I was able to reconnect the halves with that strapping tape...

[TheEnigma]

I agree - any Kinko's should be able to do that, and if not Office Max has a decent copy center these days.

BTW, you wouldn't lose one side of the map with my plan, because the wingnuts easily unscrew to allow you to lift the plexi and flip the map over. In fact, Doomtoy's tape idea would be a great idea to accompany the map unit, making the map more rigid to fit better.

I actually posted my ideas for a homemade gaming table in another thread a couple months or so ago; you can prolly search for it. It's a somewhat more involved project, but still under $100 and easily converts to other uses. It even has velvet lined dice-rolling trays on each edge, along with figure and token storage and cup holders!

[sniksder]

If you cant get a Kinkos or such tyo laminate it, just find a Blueprinting company or other such printers that deal with Architeucrual plans, they usually can laminate a map such as these for less than 20 bucks

[Melkoloran]

Home lamination sounds like a recipe for disaster ;)

[augiewan]

Or just build a table... :)

http://www.augiewan.com/images/geek/gaming/heroclix/table01.jpg

http://www.augiewan.com/images/geek/gaming/heroclix/table05.jpg

augiewan

[monterey_29]

that table is too sweet!!

[augiewan]

Thanks!

It's been awsome having it. Though I don't ever get to leave home to play unless it's in a touney. We like playing on the table too much to play elsewhere. I still need to build a portable one. I was going to but then winter came and building stuff in the garage came to a screaching halt. Spring's almost here, so I'll be making a few things for my clix collection and gaming... :)

augiewan

[Melkoloran]

Wow, that table is fantastic. It's definitely too bad it's not portable, you'd be the star of the shop.