How To Smooth 3D Prints With Soldering Iron
Reading Time: 7 minutes Soldering iron is one of the most commonly used pieces of equipment for smoothing the rough edges of 3D prints. However, many people often experience difficulty during the process.
That’s why I decided to write an article on how to smooth 3D prints with soldering irons, so keep reading for more information.
How To Smooth 3D Prints With Soldering Iron
Here’s how to smooth a 3D print with a soldering iron:
- Get a Soldering Iron
- Heat the Soldering Iron
- Use a Wide Tip for Smoothing
- Gently Press Tip Against the 3D Object
1. Get a Soldering Iron
The first thing you want to do is get a soldering iron. They are relatively cheap, and you can get a good one from Amazon.
One of the most popular options is the Q-Ming Soldering Iron Kit. It features an 80W device that has a ceramic heater, a quick heat-up time of 20 seconds, and a flexible temperature range of 180 – 480°C.
A lot of users recommend it as it is very easy and simple to use, heats up quickly and the temperature gauge is fairly accurate.
One user recommends using flat soldering iron tips to smooth out every rough patch and give the object a shiny finish. Generally, both round tips and flat tips soldering iron work just fine.
You’ll be able to use it to smooth over 3D prints and use it for any other soldering needs. One of the main benefits is how you don’t get the same discoloration you get from sanding.
2. Heat The Soldering Iron
The next step is to heat the soldering iron, preferably between 180°C – 200°C, and adjust accordingly. When choosing the temperature you don’t want the iron to get too hot.
Setting the temperature to 180°C – 200°C will allow you to check the effect before changing it, depending on whether it’s too high or low. Before using the soldering iron, you should plug it in until it is hot enough.
However, the most important thing here is not to overheat the iron. If you do, it can work faster, but it will ruin the prints and create a messy joint.
One user stated that setting his soldering iron to 250°C to try to smooth the 3D prints, ended up creating an awful mess. It does also depend on how smoothly you are applying the soldering iron to the print.
3. Use a Wide Tip for Smoothing
Another significant step for smoothing a 3D print surface with a soldering iron is using a wide-tip soldering iron. A wide tip helps cover more print surfaces, thus reducing streaks and eradicating frustrating soldering attempts.
A lot of users recommend using wide and broad tips, as they help achieve better welding for your 3D printed parts.
You can find soldering kits available at Amazon for great prices, with different tip options. One of the most popular kits is the Soldering Iron Tips 12 Pcs Kit, which comes with 12 different sizes and shapes of replacement tips, allowing you to test which one works the best for your projects.
Users really recommend this soldering iron tips kit as it features great quality, with the tips being electroplated, meaning they won’t easily oxidize.
4. Gently Press Tip Against 3D Object
The next step is to brush the soldering iron tip over the 3D print surface gently. When you’re confident the soldering iron is hot enough without overheating, use the wide tip to delicately brush the surface of the 3D print in a specific direction to smooth it.
If you find it hard to smooth the 3D prints evenly without leaving marks, it could indicate that the iron is too hot. Reduce the temperature and try it on another surface. Make sure to be careful not to burn yourself.
You can reduce the temperature of the soldering iron if you can’t get a good amount of control on the smoothing process.
Check out the video below to understand more about this process.
How To Weld PLA With Soldering Iron
You can use a soldering iron to weld PLA plastic for repair or artistic purposes. The process is relatively straightforward, requiring minimal practice to attain a smooth weld.
Here’s how to weld PLA with a soldering iron:
- Clean the Plastic Thoroughly
- Heat the Soldering Iron
- Join the Pieces Together and Weld Them
- Strengthen the Weld
- Go Over the Seam
1. Clean The Plastic Thoroughly
The first step in welding PLA with a soldering iron is to clean the plastic thoroughly. This cleaning is essential even if the surface doesn’t look dirty. It helps in getting rid of impurities that could obstruct welding, cause resistance, and result in a weld splash.
You should clean the pieces if they are dirty, painted, or contain other contaminants. The surface may be cleaned with soap and a detergent. For more effectiveness, sand down the edges of the plastic you want to weld efficiently, so they aren’t jagged.
Check out the video below which talks about welding PLA 3D prints and the importance of sanding and cleaning your object.
2. Heat The Soldering Iron
The next step to weld PLA with a soldering iron is to heat the soldering iron. Plug the soldering iron and leave it to heat up.
It’s essential to be conscious of the soldering iron temperature to ensure it’s not overheated. If it is, it can ruin the surface of the plastic. Keep the temperature at a moderate level for a smooth welding session.
One user mentioned that they use a temperature around 320°C – 350°C for welding PLA.
3. Join The Pieces and Weld Them
The next step will be joining the pieces you want to weld together and beginning the welding process. Before you start, you should consider trying the soldering iron on scrap plastic to understand how long you should press the iron on different points.
Just be aware that every plastic type has different melting points, so this test will help you figure out where to press the iron and for how long.
Run the soldering iron tip back and forth or over the seam until you’re confident the pieces are partially melted. You can now adjust the two pieces while they are still soft and movable until they get into the proper form and fit together.
If it’s a part that broke into two pieces, join the pieces exactly the way they were before and run the soldering iron tip over the seam until they are partially melted.
You should know that soldering smells and can stink up the entire room, so it’s advisable to do the whole process outside while wearing a mask.
Check out the video below to see how one user joins both pieces of a 3D printed video game controller using a soldering iron.
4. Strengthen The Weld
After joining the pieces, you should reinforce the weld by laying small pieces of plastic, specifically thin strips, on the seam. Afterward, melt the pieces of plastic fully by using the tip of the soldering iron until they are melted.
One user also stated that running soldering irons down the seams and getting them even by melting a small piece of plastic on either side of them has also made it very strong.
Another user mentioned that if the parts are too large, you can just glide the hot edge of your soldering iron along the tip before dabbing raw PLA at the same time to give it more solidity.
5. Go Over the Seam
Finally, you’ll just need to use the soldering iron tip to spread the melted plastic evenly along the length of the seam.
The final steps require going over the seam with the soldering iron in a fast and smooth stroke. For this process, the result should be an even, properly welded surface.
Check out the video below that demonstrates the whole process of welding PLA with a soldering iron.
