The goal of this post is to smooth FDM printed terrain.
This isn't the only way to smooth 3d printed parts, but it works well if the part is going to be painted.
- Cup With Water
- FDM 3d printer
- Filament
- Paper Towel
- Sandpaper
- Wood filler
- Throw away Paint Brush
- Nitrile Gloves
- Safety Glasses
Manufacturer Recommended Steps
- Squeeze a liberal amount of Minwax® Stainable Wood Filler into the area to be filled and press firmly into place, using a putty knife. Fill slightly above surface to allow for sanding while minimizing overspreading on surrounding areas. Remove excess.
- Allow the filler to dry completely. Dry time will vary depending on depth of area to be filled. Most common shallow repairs will dry within 2 hours. For deeper holes, fill in layers 1/4" at a time, which may require 2-6 hours to dry.
- Sand filler smooth and flush to the wood. Remove all sanding residue before staining, topcoating or painting.
- Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Wash hands after using.
- Keep container closed when not in use.
- Do not transfer contents to other containers for storage.
- FIRST AID: In case of eye contact, flush thoroughly with large amounts of water. Get medical attention if irritation persists. If swallowed, call Poison Control Center, hospital emergency room, or physician immediately.
- WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer. DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Safety Data Sheet
https://paintdocs.com/docs/webPDF.jsp?SITEID=MINWAX&lang=2&cntry=US&doctype=SDS&prodno=027426428546
This Gothic Bunker
was printed at 0.2mm layer height
I use the Nitrile gloves and an old paint brush to apply the wood filler making sure to fill in any gaps.
Then sand the model to desired finish.
The wood filler is good in particular for filling in gaps
Depending on the finish you can go light or heavy with the filler.
You may not want to do anymore processing on the model if you are happy enough with the sanding.
Model - Desert Sci-Fi Building
This is the bunker in rough stages of priming
Good enough to show that the walls are smooth
- Doesn't require exotic materials.
- Can modify the finish depending on the results you are looking for.
- Works well for models with flat surfaces.
- Takes time
- Wood Filler is very abrasive and you'll want to avoid skin contact by using gloves.
- Highly detailed models will pose a challenge