BrassMag Gearloc Miniatures: Painting and Care Basics

By Chip Theory Games | Published: 2026-11-02

Category: Tips & Care

Keep your Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures looking sharp with a simple painting prep and maintenance routine that protects the finish and the magnets.

Quick answer

Treat your BrassMag miniatures as both painted figures and magnetic hardware: wash and prime before painting, keep paint out of the magnet recesses, and store them so the brass finish is not rubbing against other metal pieces.

Why the brass finish changes your normal miniature routine

Most painting guides assume a bare plastic or resin figure. The BrassMag miniatures are designed to snap onto heavy-duty Gearloc chips, so the part that touches the chip is not just decorative. Aggressive cleaning, thick primer, or paint built up around the base can interfere with that contact and dull the metallic sound and hold that make these figures distinctive.

That does not mean you should skip prep. Mold release and handling oils still prevent paint from sticking, so clean gently and prime thinly. The goal is to protect the magnet and brass surfaces while giving the visible figure a stable paint layer.

When a simple sealant is enough

If you only want to preserve the factory brass look, you do not need a full paint job. A thin coat of miniature varnish on the painted or handled areas can reduce wear from fingers, but avoid spraying directly into the magnet recess or the base contact point. For players who rarely paint, this is the lowest-risk maintenance step.

If you plan to paint the whole figure, accept that the brass finish will be covered on those surfaces. Decide before you start whether you want the metallic base to remain visible as a design feature or whether you are repainting the entire model.

Step-by-step painting and care routine

Clean gently before painting: Wash the miniature in lukewarm water with a drop of mild dish soap, use a soft brush around the base, and rinse thoroughly. Let it air-dry completely before handling. Skip harsh solvents or hot water, which can damage the finish or loosen glued components.
Mask the magnet and contact points: Cover the magnet recess and the base surface that meets the Gearloc chip with a small piece of painter's tape or a removable putty before priming or painting. Check the tape after priming; any primer that creeps into the recess should be removed before it cures.
Prime in thin coats: Apply a thin, even coat of miniature primer from a reasonable distance, rotating the figure to reach recesses. Let it dry fully before adding a second coat. Thick primer is the most common cause of lost detail and stuck magnets; two thin coats beat one heavy coat.
Paint in subassemblies or with a steady base: Mount the figure on a temporary handle or hold it by a taped base while painting. Work from the deepest areas outward and keep paint away from the taped contact points. If paint bridges the base edge, remove it with a toothpick while it is still wet rather than scraping later.
Seal only the painted surfaces: Apply a thin varnish to the painted figure, avoiding the magnet recess and the chip-contact surface. Use a brush-on varnish for control near the base. Spray sealant can drift into the magnet area; brush-on application is safer for these figures.
Store and transport with separation: Keep miniatures from rubbing against each other or against loose metal pieces. Use individual compartments or soft pouches, and avoid stacking heavy items on top. A quick check for paint wear and magnet debris before each session prevents small issues from becoming permanent.

Product facts

Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures: The BrassMag miniatures are metallic figures designed to snap onto heavy-duty Gearloc chips. Because the figures rely on magnetic contact, keeping paint and debris out of the base area matters as much as the visible paint job.
Too Many Bones: Gearloc BrassMag Miniatures