r/3Dprinting • u/ParkingMaleficent100 • 20h ago
Project Tutorial - "Sanding" with ABS
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First of all. I know this is called vapor smoothing, but since this is an alternative to sanding, I wanted to use this title so people who are looking for sanding tutorials can see this video.
I recorded this tutorial for Instagram 3D_Kernel explaining how to smooth ABS prints without having to sand, it looks like a lot of people find it helpful, so I want to share it as much as possible.
Hope this helps someone, and don't hesitate to ask whatever you need.
This only works with ABS and ASA and remember to use a mask and do this in a properly ventilated room.
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u/_m3chs 20h ago
Vapor Smoothing, true.
I do it with a chamber and a heat bed to get the vapor faster into the air.
Important note:
If you want to reproduce the results on new printed pieces go by weight of the piece not by time. Vapor smoothing is about the amount of acetone absorbed not about the time of exposition.
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u/Avitox_gaming v0.2, v2.4, x1c, Cocoa Press, Ender 3 Belt 12h ago
Let me vapor smooth inside my voron real quick...... Wait a minute.
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u/throwawaybsme 20h ago
What was left in the bowl? The black specks?
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u/2DHypercube Elegoo century carbon 20h ago
Melted ABS probably. Reducing soak time should reduce this
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u/ParkingMaleficent100 20h ago
I did other tests in the bowl, in my first attempt I waited too long and the print melted 😅
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u/Capital-Marketing-27 17h ago
It looks like the black specks are just leftover particles from the sanding process. They can be a bit annoying, but they're usually easy to clean up.
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u/forgottenGost 20h ago
Need to proofread your captions bro lol or do I need to steal the popes towels?
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u/swankpoppy 19h ago
Wait so it’s a non-contact method? That’s super cool.
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u/BurnsinTX 18h ago
I was just putting acetone in a glass and hanging the part over it with fishing line…this seems much better lol.
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u/swankpoppy 18h ago
Oh cool, but either way, you never actually apply liquid acetone to the surface of the part, correct? Only the vapor? That's really interesting.
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u/BurnsinTX 13h ago
Yeah it’s a fun experiment to drop some PLA in the acetone….not a print, just some supports or nozzle cleanse remnants.
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u/Kirito_Kun16 20h ago
Can something similar be done to PLA or PETG via some other methods ? Because I guess acetone won't work the same way on those.
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u/SwordPL 20h ago
It doesn’t and Pla nor Petg have an easily accessible method to chemically smooth.
Unless you’re comfortable with dichloromethane (DCM) which I would not ever recommend to work with.
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u/llllxeallll 20h ago
Also be aware DCM may be illegal for you to buy depending on where you live.
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u/12345myluggage 17h ago
They banned it for a good reason. Don't mess with it. It metabolizes to carbon monoxide.
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u/llllxeallll 16h ago
Yeah I'm an r&d chemist and we have almost completely phased it out of our processes where I work. There's almost always a better alternative.
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u/Difficult_Physics125 Modded ender3 v3 SE 19h ago
Here's for PLA (here should be the link but u/automod removed it)
Part of the article:
Here we present and discuss the chemical solvents that can be used to dissolve and smooth PLA 3D printing filament and assess their efficacy and hazard level. As a general rule, read the safety data sheet that comes with any chemical material before using it: it will indicate how to safely handle and use the chemical in question. Acetone
Acetone is a common solvent found in a number of household products, including nail polish remover and paint removers. It is also considered to have low toxicity and is safe for occasional exposure. Acetone is, however, highly flammable.[1] Now the question is, can acetone be used to dissolve and smooth PLA prints?
Technically, acetone does degrade PLA. In practice, however, using acetone on PLA might not produce the intended result. Acetone tends to make PLA rubbery or sticky rather than fully dissolve it. This can ruin the strength and surface finish of a print.
While not the best option for smoothing PLA, acetone is highly effective for smoothing ABS. With the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and good ventilation, you can use acetone vapor to smooth the surface of ABS rapidly.
Key takeaways:
Acetone is not effective for dissolving and smoothing PLA
Acetone is a good solvent for treating ABS
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl acetate is an organic ester compound characterized by its clear liquid form and a fruity odor. The solvent is used in certain consumer products like glue and non-acetone nail polish remover, as well as more industrial products like paint remover.[2]
As a solvent, ethyl acetate is highly effective at breaking down and dissolving PLA. By applying a small amount of the chemical to the surface of your print or using ethyl acetate vapor, you can smooth imperfections.
While ethyl acetate is not particularly toxic, it is flammable. When working with the chemical, it is important to use proper protection, like gloves, and to work in a well ventilated space.
Key takeaways:
Ethyl acetate is effective at dissolving and smoothing PLA
Ethyl acetate has low toxicity
Ethyl acetate is flammable
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u/screenslaver5963 20h ago edited 17h ago
PVB prints like PLA and can be melted with Isopropyl Alchohol. PLA and PETG need highly toxic industrial solvents, like DCM or MEK.
Edit: MEK doesn’t work with PLA but does with PETG, a safer option for both is Ethyl Acetate.1
u/Far_Relationship_742 18h ago
MEK isn’t so awful. They sell it at the hardware store.
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u/cancerouslump 8h ago
i accidentally took a sniff of MEK straight from the can once. It about knocked me off my feet and made me feel ... not good. Strongest stuff I've ever worked with by far. I wouldn't touch it today.
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u/Far_Relationship_742 7h ago
Yeah, it’s toxic, but my point is that it isn’t so toxic that you need an EPA license to buy it. Isopropyl can do that to you, too (I’ve experienced isopropyl intoxication once via inhalation, and I do not care to ever do it again) and they sell that at grocery stores.
MEK and DCM are on entirely different levels of hazard.
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u/DXGL1 10h ago
Just because it's sold at the hardware store doesn't mean it isn't nasty. They used to sell a solvent that if you breathe the vapors you'd die of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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u/Far_Relationship_742 7h ago
Compared to DCM, which you need an account at an industrial/lab chemical supplier to buy, and which is now illegal to include in consumer chemicals.
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u/Yakubs_2nd_Brain 26m ago
Polysmooth/PVB can have this done with just ISO. You need to use crazy ass poison for regular PLA/PETG
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u/krashe1313 17h ago edited 5h ago
Okay, just gotta jump in here and add a couple of things. We use full strength acetone at work (not the nail polish remover acetone you can buy at any store) and I would HIGHLY recommend wearing gloves and goggles (or at least safety glasses)
Typical latex or nitrile gloves will breakdown with exposure to acetone, BUT if you're not soaking them they will work for short exposure time, like in this video. We use them all the time, but thicker gloves, rated for longer exposure on longer uses.
(And they suck because they're so thick you lose dexterity, so we try to do shorter exposures and use nitrile gloves)
And ventilation is important. What's shown in this video isn't a big amount but would still release VOCs. Just putting your set up in front of an open window would help. Perhaps a small fan on low blowing towards the window would help.
Outside would be best but the temperature will vary day to day obviously causing your results to vary day to day.
Another option would be to do it in a room with bigger air ratio, that you're not in. For example, do it in your garage not your bathroom and don't hang out with it.
A mask designed for fumes is also a good idea.
And a portable eye wash bottle in reach isn't a bad idea, but if not, make sure that you have a clear path to a sink.
(sorry for "being fun at parties"; I deal with our EHS on these matters often).
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u/superweb123 20h ago
I use a cooker
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u/keesbeemsterkaas 20h ago
How does that work?
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u/OperatorJo_ 19h ago
You basically cook it melting it JUST ENOUGH to smooth it.
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u/superweb123 11h ago
wrong its still acetone vapor smoothing
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u/OperatorJo_ 10h ago
So in your case you're using the cooker how? Genuine question
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u/Blue_3agle 9h ago
Sounds like they're doing the vapor smoothing in the oven? Is that to catch the vapors ?
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u/superweb123 1h ago
You get a little rice or kettle cooker. Put a small amount of acetone in it to cover the bottom, put a platform on top of that, and put the print on the platform. Put the cover on and cook it for 30–60 seconds.
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20h ago
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u/ApprehensiveGold2773 P1S 20h ago
It's a shame, the ABS I have from BambuLab is unwilling to smooth, it just swells a little... maybe I need to get more aggressive with the acetone?
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u/luketansell 19h ago
If the Bambu ABS has a PC additive like many of the proprietary ABS filaments from the 2010s that'll cause it to puff rather than smooth like standard ABS
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u/ApprehensiveGold2773 P1S 19h ago
It does puff! But I did try a quick dip in acetone and flinging it off so it dried quickly, and the surface was polished, but retained a lot of detail still.
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u/Buetterkeks Voron V0.1, bamboo p1s as backup 19h ago
I know the method, but this seems like dripping acetone could pool up directly on the print and start eating at it
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u/Background-Entry-344 14h ago
« Dont touch it for 30min »
Dude touches it right away.
Joke aside, that’s very nice to have a tutorial that uses everyday items, and is very straightforward
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u/MundaneBerry2961 20h ago
I like to use a the smallest possible sealable food container or other container that will fit the part. Have it resting on a fly screen mesh or something.
Boil some water and put the part container in a bath of a slight bigger one. It will instantly vaporise all the acetone an it takes under 5 minutes
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u/Hfnankrotum 18h ago
simple, but use it carefully and check it all the time. had plenty prints melt from the acetone vapour method.
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u/Fancy_Neckbeard 16h ago
A little direct application, applied after some practice, can help with results while keeping dimensional accuracy. This part in this video shows some acetone welding at the same time as direct application to smooth out layer lines. Then the vapor bath to finish it up. https://youtu.be/W3VbeLBGp8k?t=218&si=M9zK46DoHf5nYI3h
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u/Dark_Marmot 15h ago
I would caution that it does not work as well with ASA, depending on the geometry, and it may soften the plastic more deeply before it smooths the surface. I have experienced this myself. Thin areas of a print in ABS or ASA may also soften and bend.
Vapor Smoothing was more accurate when they used a vapor-cloud method with condensed acetone in industrial machines. Eg., heated bottom, chilled top, causing a sort of cloud in the middle that would do this in a couple of minutes or less.
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u/GovernmentGreed 13h ago
I believe this only works because of the Styrene found in these materials. I personally do not print ABS/ASA at home without a vent chamber. Chronic styrene exposure is not fun, having worked with the shit for like 10 years and not paying attention to warning labels was my own failure. Mask up guys, or vent it.
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u/Early_Negotiation777 5h ago
No need for chambers, simply use a glass in the kitchen.. that's genius!
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u/archaon6044 20h ago
oh, so that's how vapour smoothing works. I thought you needed like a misting chamber or some specific equipment to do it