How to Paint 3D Printed Pieces & Armor
Reading Time: 8 minutes Painting 3D printed armor can really bring out the amazing details the model, especially when you know some of the best techniques on how to do it. This article will take you through the process of painting 3D printed armor like a pro.
To paint 3D printed pieces and armor, you want to prepare the surfaces by removing imperfections and layer lines with sanding & filling in cracks with filler or specialized primer. After the surface is smooth and primed, you can spray paint the 3D printed models with something like a Rust-Oleum Spray Paint.
Keep on reading through this article for more in-depth information about painting 3D printed armor & 3D prints.
How Do You Smooth Out 3D Printed Armor & 3D Prints?
You can smooth out 3D printed armor by priming with a good primer and sanding with waterproof sandpaper for a smooth finish.
You can also get a smooth print just by removing the supports and other materials used from the model and giving the print a decent sanding. You don’t even have to add other products such as primer to get a good-looking print.
However, if you want to achieve the best results and have your armor looking smooth, you can follow these steps that I have put together below;
- Take off supports from your armor pieces
- Sand the prints with a low grit sandpaper
- Use a filler to fill in cracks
- Use primer for imperfections on the print
- Sand the prints again
Take Off Supports From Your Armor Pieces
After getting your 3D printed armor out of the printer, the first and basic step you want to take is to remove the support materials from your print.
You can use a needle nose pliers, palette, or putty knife to remove supports from your prints. However, the most popular tool that is used in removing supports from prints is the X-Acto Knife so you want to check it out on Amazon.
This tool will make it easy to reach small areas and supports from there. It goes for about $6 on Amazon and it is very easy to handle and has a safety cap for storage and portability.
It is often recommended to start from the top left to the bottom for good effect.
Sand the Prints with a Low Grit Sandpaper
After you have carefully removed the supports, the next step you want to take is to smooth out your 3D printed armor with sandpaper. You can start sanding with a low grit like 120 grit sandpaper. You can then work your way up depending on the needs of the armor print.
It is also advisable to get waterproof sandpaper with a low grit for more effect and safe sanding. This is because waterproof sandpaper will help prevent the plastic from deforming.
You can check out the AUSTOR 102 Pcs 60-3,000 Grit Sandpaper Assortment on Amazon.
Check out the video below for a great visual on how to sand 3D printed armor and other objects.
Use a Filler to Fill in Cracks
The next step here is using a filler to fill in any cracks or dents on your armor print. If you don’t have cracks or holes in your print, you may skip this step and move on to the next step.
Please note that you can use a filler to fill in cracks on the print if you’ll end up painting the print to prevent any discoloration.
This is because using a filler on your print can discolor it so it’ll be great if you’ll paint the print afterward to cover the discoloration caused by the filler.
A user mentioned that they enjoy using Bondo Glazing Putty to fill in cracks or dents on their 3D prints. It has a 3-minute working time and is fast drying so it can be sanded in just 30 minutes. It has very little shrinkage and ensures lasting repairs without needing to work on it again.
However, please note that when using a Bondo, you want to take it outside and use a respirator as the fumes are toxic so you have to take necessary precautions with it.
Cover Imperfections with Primer
The next step involves spraying with a filler primer to fill in visible layer lines. At this time, the surface looks smoother than it was but it still needs some little touch. You can also use a primer to cover any imperfections on your armor print.
You will have to spray it carefully on the parts that need to be filled up and wait for it to dry before sanding the parts if there is a top layer formed above the crack.
It is often advised to apply two coats of primer to prints for more effect before the next step. You should also use short angled sprays while moving the primer can over the print.
A highly recommended product that you can get is the Dupli-Color Scratch Filler & Primer from Amazon.
One user who said they needed some primer to fill their 3D printed plastic parts and the layer lines used this product. He was thoroughly impressed by the results that he got. They were better than he had hoped and at the end of it, you couldn’t even tell the parts came off a 3D printer.
The primer sprays evenly without drips or blotches as long as you follow the instructions. You can also use this primer for other home projects so it’s multi-purpose.
Another user said it’s a great product to get around hours of sanding, but make sure to use it outside, along with a spray paint rated ventilator since the vapors are strong.
For any medium or large 3D prints, this is going to work really well. You’ll need to sand a lot less and someone mentioned how it coats more evenly than another regular primer they used. They only had to use one coat rather than two.
Sand the Prints Again
After the primer has dried up, you may need to sand your prints again to get rid of any top layer formed above the print or defect. You will need to select the sandpaper grit according to the needs of your print.
Usually you start with a low grit, then move higher to get a smoother and shiny surface.
Someone made their kid a Captain America Shield for Halloween printed with a 0.8mm nozzle using the Bondo, sanding, and primer path and the prints came out nicely.
Again, you can use the AUSTOR 102 Pcs 60-3,000 Grit Sandpaper Assortment on Amazon.
A user also suggested using UV resin which is a photopolymer resin that hardens to a certain wavelength of light and painting it on the model, then using a UV light to cure it. They’ve done this many times and it works out perfectly for them every time.
You can try this out also if you’d like a faster process to smooth out your prints.
How to Paint 3D Printed Armor
After you have finished smoothing out your print, the next thing you want to do is paint the print.
To paint 3D printed armor, you want to get rid of physical imperfections by cutting excess material and sanding. When the armor is smooth and clean, spray it with a few coats of primer, then paint the model. You can use a nice base color then finish with a matte or glossy paint.
Check out the video below for a great visual on how to paint 3D printed parts.
As mentioned earlier, you should first remove the support and clean up your prints.
During painting, it is important to paint your armor pieces with a base color to have an even color on the pieces especially if you have applied a filler that can discolor the print. This serves as a good base for the actual color with which you’d like to paint your armor.
It also serves as an under paint and can also help block the color of the PLA or filament used in printing the armor if you don’t want it showing up.
It takes about 2-3 thin paint layers to fully cover a print’s surface, especially one as large as armor with many pieces to be painted.
Since you’ll be covering the armor with more than one paint layer, you may want to spray thin coats on the print parts.
When spray-painting your model, move the model quickly to ensure an even spread on all parts of the print and to make a thin coat.
You want to wait to ensure that each paint layer dries up before spraying the next one.
An important tip to note in painting 3D printed armor is to paint the armor pieces apart and not after joining them. This is to ensure that you adequately reach all the surfaces of the armor pieces since there are different turns and corners on most pieces.
After painting, it is essential to give the armor pieces some time to dry up before joining them. If you have to move the print before the paint dries up, you should use a glove and handle lightly to avoid damage to the print since the paints are not fully dried up.
Although this is not a rule of thumb, it is advisable to let the print rest for at least a week to allow the paint to toughen up.
