Removing mini's from their base

[Sjeng]

Hi! I have some warhammer ogres that were glues to their rather large bases, and I want to rebase them on HQ size bases, but they're really glued on there.
How can you get them off? I tried alcohol, and a sharp knife, but no luck. I'm afraid to damage the models if I force it.

[Ethica]

I usually heat up a craft knife with a lighter and melt through. You do lose a little bit of material this way but at least the cut is more controlable.

[el_flesh]

Butane lighter? Would it cause any dmg to the xacto blade? Like make it more brittle?

[Daedalus]

Craft knives are available on soldering irons. I believe X-acto makes one. Be careful not to cut with too much pressure, or it will bend, like mine.

Another tact could be to use clippers to cut away the plastic bases, then trim around the feet with a craft knife and files. Remove the base that remains under the feet by sanding it off with sandpaper that is mounted on a flat block. Hold the figure in your hand and push it back and forth across the sandpaper, checking occasionally until the unwanted base material is removed.

[cynthialee]

how about rough cuting it out then ussing a dremel to do the fine details?

[Sjeng]

That might also work, but I don't have those tools... Maybe I can borrow some. Thanks!

[Goblin-King]

This is how I've done it. Don't know if it's the easiest way I did it, but I did it...
Using only items found in a common crafting room

Start by using a cutting plier to gnaw away as much base as possible as close to the feet as you dare.
Then use a crafting knife to cut as close to the SIDES of the feet as possible. Using knives can be dangerous - Ask an adult to help you
Finally use a file to plane the "soles" of the feet.
Done

[el_flesh]

That's alot more clever.

[Nerrad72]

I used to chop away the bases then sand them down.

I moved on to a very cheap Stanley Blade heated with a lighter. You dont have to heat the blade all the time , simply do the four sides of each foot as a guide, lie down the figure and use the Stanley (with some pressure and a slight sawing action) gradually cutting through keeping the blade flat to the base. This should result in you lining up you guide cuts.

This is my new method as I used to hack my HQ figures bases off, this way I could save my HQ bases and send them to Ethica who was very greatful

[Ethica]

This is my new method as I used to hack my HQ figures bases off, this way I could save my HQ bases and send them to Ethica who was very greatful

And if anyone else wants to get rid of HQ bases I need them bad. Will swap for cash or actual figures