Comment on Priming and sealing a painted print
otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 days ago
These are all valid concerns, and I’m happy to throw my 2¢ in, if it helps. I’ve been printing for a while now, (FDM, MSLA) and even went semi-pro for several years (9 printers, 40+ hrs/wk), but still take this with a grain of salt, of course. Every use case is unique, and there are a wide variety of products and methods out there, so don’t be afraid to experiment to find what works best for your project. 🫡
That said, I’ve had better than average success with Rust-Oleum spray varnishes for all but the most demanding/complicated projects. Be patient (don’t rush), keep the coats thin/light, always use PPE & proper ventilation (no joke), and test print whenever you feel the need to try a new tech/process out.
So, first off:
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What’s the PLA model going to be used for?
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How durable does the varnish itself need to be for the intended use of said model?
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Are there moving parts that need to be masked before spraying so the clear coat doesn’t gum up from friction?
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Indoor or outdoor use? (ie. Avg temps, weather, etc.)
🖖🏽🤓
nigel@piefed.social 6 days ago
Thank you for this. I’m actually trying a Rust-Oleum primer for this, so I’ll check out their varnish too. And I’ll get setup PPE wise.
Regarding the print, this one is a pirate chest to be used as a money box for my son. Other than the hinge there are no really moving parts, but I expect it’ll get banged around a bit, hence thinking I need the clear coat at all.
otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 days ago
No worries, that seems fairly straightforward overall in that the abutting hinge surfaces could go unvarnished (I’d use dot stickers) but sanded, followed by a light dusting of graphite (ie. shave some pencil lead into a creased post-it and then sift it onto them [and into the rod’s channel, for inc. smooth action]). The rest can be clear coated to your preference. (leave said masking on until this step is complete & dry cured, fyi [24+ hrs])
FWIW, gloss first and then matte for super durability as IIRC, the gloss particulate is torus-shaped whereas the matte is spheroid, and this method nests them neatly for a better bond. It’s how I’ve sealed my TTRPG pieces for decades, and while possibly anecdotal, the results are night & day in my experience. 🤘🏼