How to make a custom pitch portable

[Saebelsultan]

Hey there!
I don't know where else to put my request, so if it fits better into one of the other categories please let me know.

I am planning on building a custom pitch for my Orc team. The pitch, including dug outs, is supposed to be 84 cm x 60 cm. Since this is rather big and I want to be able to a) stow it away for when I am not playing and b) also be able to transport it to differnt gaming venues, I am now wondering how I can break it down to more but smaller pieces and still have a stable pitch when put together.
I was thinking of dividing it into 4 equal pieces. That would be a handy size. But how do I make the pieces hold together wilst playing? Any ideas?

Thanks a lot up front!

[daloonieshaman]

1/4 " rare earth magnets be a bitch to pull apart

[Toffer]

I have been wrestling with the same issue. I have come up with the idea of having 4 equal parts that stack together for storage and transport. Then when they are laid out on a table the clip together with simple hooks and pins at each join something like this

http://woodworker.com/34-hook-mssu-882-581.asp

the other idea I had was magnets

[Saebelsultan]

That's already quite a good idea with the magnets. I will look into the kind of magnets I need. And I look into the hooksas well. Thanks daloonishaman and Toffer!

[daloonieshaman]

here is one magnet example

http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/p-33-nsn0617.aspx
20 of these for about $12 more than enough

[Fold]

I used rare earth magnets on my pitch too - four 10mm x 5mm discs (two per half) are adequate to hold the two halves of the pitch together. For comparison they have a 2.4kg pull.

[Saebelsultan]

Okay, magnets. But how do you sink them into the wooden board so you don't have space between the halves? Do you have any pictures, Fold?

[Saebelsultan]

I found self adhesive magnet bands (is that how you say it?) which are 10 mm wide (https://www.magnet-shop.net/magnetfolie ... :1114.html).
That would be about the thickness of the board I wanted to use. Then I wouldn't even have to do any drilling or such...

[Fold]

If they are disc magnets then it is a simple task to drill a hole of the right diameter and then glue the magnets in.

I wouldn't trust the strips, either the magnetism won't be strong enough, or the strips will come unstuck over time.

I'll post some photos later on. I used the same magnets to connect the two halves of the pitch during transit as well.

[jonno]

A friend of mine built his to be a suitcase. Works like a charm and looks awesome.

[Fold]

Here are some photos for what it's worth

Magnets in the end to connect the two halves of the pitch during play:



When the pitch is closed, the same magnets end up in each corner of the bottom of the case, where they mount the base panel to cover up the gap at the bottom:



The same size of magnets also connect the halves once closed. All closed up:



In total that's 12 of the 10mm x 5mm disc magnets used to keep everything together.

[Saebelsultan]

Very nice pictures. My compliments to you, sir! I now see what you mean. The pitch itself seems to be looking quite awesome too. Do you have some pics of that as well?

I myself had a somewhat more basic design in mind though and to be honest, I reckon I am somewhat more limited in my handy work abilities... Still, I should be able to drill some holes into a wooden board for the magnets. My plan is to start work next friday towards the weekend. I will post some pictures of the work.

[daloonieshaman]

be sure to drill just a smidge smaller so you can put in glue and whack the magnet in the hole (expanding the wood) just like any dowel

[Steam Ball]

Wacking rare earth magnets is not a good idea, they are brittle.

[daloonieshaman]

Wacking rare earth magnets is not a good idea, they are brittle.

okay how about some love taps