magnet question

[Homerclese]

i'm gonna make a map table for heroclix, for my wood-work (in USA) or DT (in UK) project this year. (not going into detail) i'm doing a table with sides, into which a sheet of metal will go, than a map, and then a plastic sheet (about 2-5mm thick)
this is so i can stick magnets to objects and figures to stop them falling over/being accidently blown away.
so, finally :p , the questions is:
which metal, steel or aluminium, is the most magnetic, cheapest and lightest ('cause i want th table to be carry-able....not that a 3ft x 1.5ft table would fit easy on a bus!).
well thanks for any answers.

Homerclese.

[Homerclese]

aww come on guys...30 views and no replys? what did I do to you?

[OpalScion]

is aluminum magnetic? "aluminum" foil isn't, but i think that's made of tin. same goes for "aluminum" cans. if it is magnetic, it would be lighter and cheaper than steel

[HCannonFodder]

I dunno about the magnetic base - are you gonna be playing outside? There was an OLD link on here for a table that another guy made - it wasn't portable, but it had a a hole in the bottom so you could push up the plexiglass and get the map out. If I also remember, he said he was going to try to add cup holders, and a raised area to roll dice in.

As far a portability, I think pegboard might be your best bet for the base - fairly easy to cut, and if you screw 2 pieces together, I think it would easily be sturdy enough to stand up - with legs, of course.

You could possibly screw a hinge between the two pieces of pegboard, for the center of the table.

Of course, I'm no master woodworker - it might be a horrible idea...

Good luck, though!! Please post pics when you get done - if it's good enough, you might get some offers to build them for people!!

[Captain Bob]

No, aluminum is not magnetic. (that's why Magneto and Recycle Lad are always at odds)

Tin is magnetic, but I don't know if it is readily available in flat sheets. Thin steel is available in sheets where ever you buy your duct-work supplies.

Personally, I think the magnet idea is overkill. Not only will it make the table heavier, you then have to permanently affix magnets to all your figures and objects. Plus you have to find the right strength of magnet so that you don't destroy the figure trying to remove it from the board, while still being strong enough to go through your plexi.

If your figures truly are blowing away, the simplest solution is to move your games indoors. But, if that is not a option, instead of the magnets, have you considered a flexible transparent sheet to sit on top of the map? I'm not sure if such a thing even exists, but if it were somewhat rubbery it would provide a lateral grip on objects and figures, hence helping with the wind shear.

If you need to make things somewhat tricky to get class credit for it, why not design a table that creates a perfectly flat playing surface and can be folded into an easily portable size and shape?

[TheEnigma]

http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13887&highlight=gaming+table

Would be the link you're looking for.

Although my table idea always involved putting a hinge across the center of the table on the bottom, so it would break down and fold in half, then cuttin gthe plexi in half and mounting hinges on the outside edges of it. Then you could glue small clear plastic handles in the center where the split is and lift up and out on each side to release your map. Kinda like this:


X--------X
|...oo...|
|........|
|++++++++|
|........|
|...oo...|
X--------X


Hope that's not too confusing. The '+' are the central hinge that folds the table in half, towards the bottom, and the 'oo' are the smaller hinges that open up the two plexi halves. It would basically open like a china cabinet that had been laid flat.

[Homerclese]

thanks. the main problem i had was sentianal falls over if someone looks at 'im and the weapon 'discs' go flying if you breath too hard.
i am making this for a school project so no short cuts! meaning i have to make it from scratch, luckely the trees are already felled:p .
i was thinking of the magnetic idea becasue a basic table doesn't look too hard to make but the magnet thing will give it a bit of an edge. also none (I hope) of the markers/examiners play hewroclix so they will proberly not know the problems that arise *wink wink* during play.

in a perfect world i would mold about 20 clip things (10 for each player) with magnets on the bottom to clip on figures bases but still show rivals and fit old and new bases. but this would require so much work (mold designing and making, lots of prototypes and about a weeks worth of designing) i won't do it.

i haven't got a digital camera so any pics will have to be taken, scanned than posted. but i will try to at least scan the final designs and final product and post them. maybe i could get some space here at hcrealms *hint hint* to post it all up.

at risk of making an un-like me long post, i'll just say thanks guys for your help in this and other topics about my table.

[Homerclese]

also, TheEnigma, i saw that thread. i have a post in there somewhere!
but that table was my main inspiration.
your table design is good but i was going to do (untill 5 mins ago, food really helps you think) four legs all fixed, but they cross over in the middle with a broom handle going through both crossovers, so it looks like the one in the other thread. but now i think i'll follow 'his way and maybe have screw in legs.

[drhyde2003]

the skeleton key games company uses magnetic tiles.

[Homerclese]

thanks but i on't think i'll do the magnet bit because it over complicates things. my teach. said it's okay so i'll post up some scans of my plans soon (just got to see how long it'll take)

[Miraclo]

Originally posted by TheEnigma
http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13887&highlight=gaming+table

Would be the link you're looking for.

An utter sidelight, but I followed that link and saw the wonderful work that Augiewan had done on that first gaming table, read it through to the end and then looked over to see about his auctions... only to find that he's just recently given up the game and sold off all his clix.

I don't know where I'm going with this, other than to note that some people who hurl themselves into a hobby with unusual vigor tend to burn through it much more quickly. I've seen some people do that with zine work in APAs, for instance. While it may be that they simply become bored, I tend to think it's that they reach a point where even they realize they've given a subject far more time, attention and money than it sanely deserves, and something comes up to smack them in the face over it. Then they do a 180 on the matter and have to leave it behind. Maybe it's as simple a thing as some personality types are either all the way In, or all the way Out when it comes to hobbies and activities.

As for me, I'm enjoying these threads. In looking them over I believe I'll aim to create a gaming surface similar to what Augiewan had done (wood base, plexiglass map cover, inset areas for clix that aren't on the board, recessed area for tokens, etc.) but leave it as a base with no leg attachments of any kind. I have a sturdy card table with folding legs, and it can easily be brought out and placed on that.

[jimmyjames234]

[QUOTE=Captain Bob]No, aluminum is not magnetic. (that's why Magneto and Recycle Lad are always at odds)

Tin is magnetic, but I don't know if it is readily available in flat sheets. Thin steel is available in sheets where ever you buy your duct-work supplies.

WRONG. Tin is NOT MAGNETIC. Nickel has magnetic properties, so does cobalt... and most magnetic of all is iron - the main ingredent in steel. So steel is magnetic... tin is not, silver is not, gold is not, copper isn't magnetic either...

Tin is hard to find, it's more expensive than iron or aluminum, and I found a hardware store with sheet labeled as "tin" but a magnet stuck to them so I knew they were not tin.

[GreenLantrn128]

No, aluminum is not magnetic. (that's why Magneto and Recycle Lad are always at odds)

Tin is magnetic, but I don't know if it is readily available in flat sheets. Thin steel is available in sheets where ever you buy your duct-work supplies.

WRONG. Tin is NOT MAGNETIC. Nickel has magnetic properties, so does cobalt... and most magnetic of all is iron - the main ingredent in steel. So steel is magnetic... tin is not, silver is not, gold is not, copper isn't magnetic either...

Tin is hard to find, it's more expensive than iron or aluminum, and I found a hardware store with sheet labeled as "tin" but a magnet stuck to them so I knew they were not tin.

You brought up a 4 year old thread to say that??

[Homerclese]

forgot about this thread. in the end i made the table with dice rolling areas and cup holds on all four sides, with cork in the middle of these areas. I also incorporated felt pockets in each side which looked sweet.

In the centrer was felt with plexi-glass to cover when playing games like monopoly, that wouldn't really use the felt. table was 4ft by 4ft and did not fold in half, but the legs were simple poles that could be pulled out.

I used MDF with an oak veneer for the main pieces.

Overall, with course work I got a B.

I since have lost interest in the hobby, unfortunitly :speechles but have yet to get to the stage of selling things off. may well do so in the near future however.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone's help in this.

[wintremute]

Well as long as this thread is alive again.....how about some pics of your table?

[HCannonFodder]

WOW!! One of my earliest posts above!!!

Yeah, where ARE the pics?!?

[tyroman]

hmm, seems to be a trend. build a heroclix table, then quit the game. :p

*note to self, don't build a table. or maybe I should, think of the money i'd save not buying clix and chase figs. :confused: