Jim has been having problems with the blog, so I am creating a test post. But while I'm at it I thought I would talk about my 3D printers, specifically my resin printer!
In summary, it is fantastic, and the biggest pain in the bum!
Why is it fantastic?
- I can print figures off with ease. I have printed 6mm figures (napoleonics), 15mm figures (Egyptians and Hittites) and 42mm figures (Arkham Horror). All have been beautiful!
- If you use the right resin, the figures are tough. After some playing around I settled on Siryatech Build resin -- but there are other equivalent brands. This is a reasonably tough and flexible resin. It costs twice as much as other resins. But the cost per figure is still measured in cents. And you lose more when a brittle figure breaks after you have painted it.
Why is it a pain in the bum?
- the resin is toxic, so you need to wear gloves until it is cured.
- you need to clean up with methylated spirits. You can get water washable resin, but all my stuff printed with water washable resin has warped over time as it absorbs humidity.
- you need a heated setup. Cold resin doesn't cure properly, and the miniature will eventually crumble.
- the combination of printer, washing station, chemicals etc. takes a LOT of space. Its like an old darkroom setup.
So how do I use my printer? I pick a subject, print the figures I need one day on a weekend, and then pack everything up and put the printer away. I can print in a weekend what will take me several months to paint.
My printer is an Elegoo Mars 5. But in truth all cheaper resin printers are much the same. If you want some good reviews of printers, try https://www.youtube.com/@FauxHammer
Here is a picture of my 3D printed Gauls.