What paints and glues can be used in 3D printed models ?

[Freight Train]

Hope this is the proper forum to ask this question but what paints and glues can be used on 3D printed models ? I just purchase a couple of kits from Outland who makes 3D printed kits out of China. With that said and not working with 3D printed parts before makes me question which glues and paints would work and not work with this new type of medium ?

[peteski]

For any non-polystyrene hobby materials the universal go-to adhesives are CA (super-glue) and Epoxy.  Contact cements and silicone adhesives would also owork, but those aren't really useful in most cases.  That's how I see it.

[Mark W]

That will really depend on the print material. 

For UV resins, I've had great results with regular CA, though it will take a few seconds longer to fully set.
I've also had great results with acrylic paints (even without primer) and alcohol based ink (Sharpie). 

[peteski]

That will really depend on the print material. 

For UV resins, I've had great results with regular CA, though it will take a few seconds longer to fully set.
I've also had great results with acrylic paints (even without primer) and alcohol based ink (Sharpie).

Use the accelerator Luke!    I could not be in this hobby anymore without using CA accelerators (Specifically BSI brand). It is an addiction!

[MK]

BSI makes good stuff.  Zap/Pacer is another good one.  We use that stuff all the time for our R/C planes.

[peteski]

BSI makes good stuff.  Zap/Pacer is another good one.  We use that stuff all the time for our R/C planes.

CA adhesives themselves are very similar across brands. But accelerators - no so much.  I specifically mentioned BSI because their accelerator is very mild (will not attack styrene or styrofoam) and it is low-odor.  Other brands of accelerator use much stronger solvent (like acetone) which attacks styrene.  That is why I specifically prefer BSI accelerator.

[MK]

There are two types of accelerators (matching the two types of CA), regular and foam-safe.  Now that a lot of R/C planes are foam, we have to watch out which ones to use.  Of course there are types of foam out there like EPP and EPO that are impervious to solvents.

[peteski]

There are two types of accelerators (matching the two types of CA), regular and foam-safe.  Now that a lot of R/C planes are foam, we have to watch out which ones to use.  Of course there are types of foam out there like EPP and EPO that are impervious to solvents.

I guess I started using BSI accelerator (after trying other brands) before there were foam-specific CA adhesives and accelerators.  Good to know there is a choice - thanks.

[Mark W]

When I say it may take a few seconds longer, I mean like 2 or 3 seconds compared to 1 second.   

I've never experienced a reason to use CA accelerator...     

[MK]

Accelerators are like zero seconds. 

[peteski]

When I say it may take a few seconds longer, I mean like 2 or 3 seconds compared to 1 second.   

I've never experienced a reason to use CA accelerator...     

Once you go "accelerator", you will never go back. 

[Freight Train]

Thanks for the info guys 

[wazzou]

When I say it may take a few seconds longer, I mean like 2 or 3 seconds compared to 1 second.   

I've never experienced a reason to use CA accelerator...     

There's always a bond to be made that an accelerator is a great tool.

[robert3985]

I remember a test concerning "new" CA adhesives that was (if I remember correctly) done by the Model Railroader staff.  One of the surprise benefits of using accelerator was that it increased the strength of the adhesive noticeably, both with runny and gap-filling CA's.

So, along with the benefit of much quicker curing for your CA joints, using accelerator also makes the bond much stronger.

I always use it.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Mark W]

I remember a test concerning "new" CA adhesives that was (if I remember correctly) done by the Model Railroader staff.  One of the surprise benefits of using accelerator was that it increased the strength of the adhesive noticeably, both with runny and gap-filling CA's.

So, along with the benefit of much quicker curing for your CA joints, using accelerator also makes the bond much stronger.

I always use it.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

If it improves strength of the bond, that has more appeal to me than a faster set, unless I'm just doing things wrong.  I feel like it would take longer to apply CA, put it down, pick up accelerator, put it back down, then join the parts, than to just apply CA, put it down, join the parts and wait 1 second.   


I think a classic "Railwire Trials" may be in order to do some benchmarking of our own! 

I can test below for several different brands/thicknesses.  Perhaps on UV Resin to UV Resin, UV Resin to Styrene, and UV Resin to Metal.
Time to Cure - CA
Time to Cure - CA + Accelerator
Strength - CA
Strength - CA + Accelerator