$ave a Buck?

[Larsen E. Whipsnade]

Make your own display plinths and save a few $'s with a minimum of woodworking skill and effort. Cut 'em to length, finish 'em and there ya go! Found on Amazon, turning squares, each piece is 2"x2"x6". 4 pieces for $13.00:: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Walnut-Lumber-Turning-Squares/dp/B07DY56L1J/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2KIP09GCXJG9S&keywords=turning+blanks&qid=1704815720&sprefix=turning+blanks,aps,3308&sr=8-11&th=1
Rick

 

[theBaron]

Given the topic, would that be saving yourself a....sawbuck?

If you have a woodworking show near you, you can make bases for even less of an initial investment-except for the tools, of course.
There is an outfit that stages shows around the country-aptly named The Woodworking Shows. They just staged their Baltimore show last week. I used to visit their show in Jersey, and there are always some sawmills who attend. They invariable have bins of scraps of some really nice exotic wood, from Africa and South America, as well as domestic hardwood. And the pieces are cheap. The outlay is in the tools you need to do the job right, especially a surface planer. Of course, you can true them up and smooth them out Miyagi-style. "Show me, 'sand floor'!"
I thought about it but decided it was a little too much effort.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Larsen E. Whipsnade]

Sawbuck or a Sears and .... ?

Judging from the pic (admittedly an iffy thing) it looks like all that is going to be needed is a little sanding. The cut end will form the bottom of the plinth so won't have to be finish sanded just so it's square and the plinth sits squarely upright. Fortunately I have a chop saw so that shouldn't be an issue.

Rick

 

[Wayneb]

I have to say, I make my own bases and have a home shop with everything I need ; and I'm at point in my life where that's my least favorite thing to do when it comes to finishing a painted piece. I have enough trouble just trying to kick myself in the ass to finish a painted piece....So good luck with the chop saw.

Wayne

 

[Blind Pew]

I've been doing this for a little while using wood turning pen blanks bought on ebay. It's okay if you're prepared to put the work in to get it to the standard of a professional base. You have to invest in an accurate wood-cutting setup, proper sanding kit and be ready to use several, and I do mean several, coats of stain and varnish to get the finish you want. I've been doing it as a side thing if I'm caught between projects and I don't know which figure to do next. Much of the stuff needed I have anyway as a competent DIYer.
Is my stuff as good as a base I've bought? I'd say about half of it. Much of it's down to how good you want the base to be. We've all seen figures that have been outshone by the base they're stuck to... But my own are good enough, and that's good enough.

 

[Nap]

Hi Rick

Great idea but the thought of me with power tools is frightening!

I take a safer option ..lol

Nap

 

[David Spencer]

Home made bases here, too. Admittedly not perfect quality, but good enough to stand a figure or vignette on.
Plywood off-cut, laminate strips and 3 coats of yacht varnish.

 

[Wayneb]

Take one base at a time and make it a masterpiece.