I wear out my respirator on every time my printer is running and it is also exposed. It gives off fumes that you shouldn’t breath. That’s why I also have my ventilation system running as well. But that is what I do to be as safe as possible.
It only releases the toxins when it cures so also the cure station is toxic too people don't talk about that because it takes more time to print but also why people submerge them in water now this helps the proccess and elimantes the vapors it releases. But yeah you should use ventalation if you can't you need very good filters talking like 80 buck a pop filter and it can only catch about 40-60% of the toxins...
Thanks for the tips. I am shocked how little the manufacturers inform about the toxicity of the resin. I got an Elegoo printer and there is ZERO safety info included.
You should start to paint everything pink/purple/blue, depending on whether it is sterile or not. That is who it works on hospitals, colours can never touch!
That’s is one of the best suggestions I’ve ever heard. Such a great idea. I’ve taken a few ideas from the medical field to how to handle a contaminated area but I love this idea. Thank you so much for your comment.
Thank you for this safety information, I just purchased a resin printer on Amazon yesterday, I have never owned or even seen one before, I want to make N scale buildings for my railway layout I just started. Purchased a 3 D resin building on ebay and was blown away with the detail, so I had to have one. I didn't realize all the steps you have to do and you have to wash and cure the pieces. I watched your other posting on washing and curing so I went back on Amazon and purchased a washing and curing station this morning. This posting is so valuable, I did not have a clue about the safety precautions that are needed to stay safe from the resin. I have a respirator already and going to get the gloves and safety glasses and make a work station just for the printer equipment. Not going to let my 13 year old grand son near the printer until he watches your videos and can answer all my questions on the safety. Subscribed to your channel and going to watch you postings on how to print with a resin printer.
You should not rely on one youtubers safety videos. You should watch several different informations you can find on the internet and then summerize it. What in this video here was not shown for ex. is how important ventilation is. Because the whole air in this room gets polluted. And doing one vent out, makes it worse. It have to be a light pressureized continous air flow of little fresh air into the room by a fan, and another one to blast air out but the out part should be way higher to create the pressure. And that display thingy he mentioned could be avoided. To get it not messy, it's just a matter of organisation. Getting a good system. Use a low box where everything get's done inside, so nothing outside and spills hit the wall of the box. Try to get longer hose type nitril gloves so you don't get the chance to get something onto your skin because something splashes behind your hand. Better off protect your whole body like in a lab. You never now if you get the stuff onto your daily clothing and if you don't notice it, you will burn your skin likely. Also don't use the tools the printer comes with. Better use methods that allows you to remove the print without any risk of splashes. And best case scenario, everything inside a grow tent which allows for efficient air control, no UV aka sun light risks and easy to control the "room temperature". There are also things like printing helpers on a FDM machine when trying to put the resin from the bed back into the bottle so you only have to use one hand. And don't use those paper coffee filters, get some metal kitchen funnel. It's all about getting a easy and safe workflow. What i said in this comment is all just a glimpse of information i got over researching this. Everything mostly from comments critizeing someones YT video about it. Because in the comment section a lot of people have more knowledge often.
Amazing safety concept bond with comoft, thank you for sharing! I bought MSLA printer yesterday and exploring safety protocols, and i think i need well vented garage😅
YES! I couldn’t agree more. I am overly cautious with this stuff. A lot of people don’t realize even if you don’t have reactions to it they can develop over time.
I found out from my first print that I have an instant reaction. My glove leaked and it was the uncured resin within the ipa that got into my glove. The next day the inbetween and side of my fingers were chemically burned and were itching like crazy! 🥴
Man I didn't use a respirator for about 2 months. Started doing research and now I'm very very careful with my safety when using it. I hope those 2 months of unsafe exposure don't impact my health in the future.
Thinking of getting into printing, and this was a helpful video. I do have a couple questions, why wouldn't you just make everything inside the print be "contaminated" is there a reason why you would want to touch anything inside with your hand? I mean you mention learning to do stuff with one hand, but you can't put on a second glove with only the non-contaminated hand, so why not just double glove for everything? Also why not clean down your contaminated surfaces after every use? The sides of curing station? Seems a paper towel with some IPA after every cure session could make it less gunky, I know you said you periodically clean your tools but unless you're trying to save on IPA you should clean everything all the time.
Very good safety information. The PPE is VERY important (learned that the hard way in the aviation and automotive industry). I've had my SLA printer for a year now, haven't used it yet, and have been learning the do's and don'ts before I start. I FDM printed 2 handles for the printer and wash station hoods after watching a different video in which he described the same thing you talked about on resin on the sides of them. Maybe after I watch ALL of your SLA 101 videos I'll get the nerve to try the printer out!! LOL. Thank you for the informative videos, keep them coming.
I like the idea of contaminated/not contaminated areas, but why not simply cleaning them with IPA? I have an IPA spray I use to wipe around the 3D Printer cover for example if I touched with gloves on. I would also recommend covering your arms and wearing a long sleeve painter or lab coat, I don't want resin on my clothes or arms in case of a spill. I am actually still looking for a respirator with cartridges that doesn't cost a fortune on this side of the pond, but I have no idea what to pick, as Volatile Organic Compounds can mean pretty much anything. edit: went with one with a 3M cartridge 6059 which should provide top protection against organic vapors.
You could clean it all with IPA. I do that with all my areas regularly but what if something splashes and you don’t know it then you get resin on you. That is why I designate the area as contaminated. Just an extra step to be safe. VOC’s are definitely the big danger glad you were able to get a good respirator. Thanks for the comment! And happy and safe printing!
Love this idea, just got my own tent and extraction fan with hoses. What’s your recommendation for the space heater? I’ve gotten the same one and I’m worried it’ll be too much for the power strip the printer, fan, and wash station will be on too. Do you only have the heater on prior to printing to get the enclosure warm? I’m limited to my current electrical plugs in my space and don’t want to risk a fire (based in the UK)
Awesome video! I noticed you just put your flex plate back on without wiping anything. No concerns that the resin on the magnetic surface will reduce the flex plates adhesion? I used to clean the whole build plate and flex plate. Now I just clean the flex plate and the magnetic surface really well but looks like I might not need to do that unless I'm changing colours - usually using gray although I have a bit of white too for special prints which I don't want to paint.
definitely a reason I bought some cheap handles and installed them on my lids so that only the handle is ever contaminated, and makes it nearly impossible to drop.
So i was thinking to get a resin printer but i don't have a seperate room to put it. now my question is i saw videos where people put them in grow tents with a little heater so it stays a certain temperature and a ventilator that pull the fumes out through a pipe out of the window, is that safe enough or not?
I’m really worried about having a resin printer in an apartment complex I live in.. I just don’t know how or if it would be safe for us and the people in the complex..
Great video! One question, if you are in the room with the printer not in use, but it does have resin in the vat, would you consider it necessary to have a respirator on?
You need to read the warning label but when I have used it in the past I treat it exactly like regular resin. It’s water based but still has a lot of chemicals in it. But I would do your own research as well.
Same deal, the only difference is Water based you can wash with water, still super toxic and the same precautions should be taken. Also you should not pour the water that you used to wash your stuff on your sink or toilet.
I'm reminded of a comment I read on a healthy eating forum: "If it tastes good, spit it out." In chemical manufacturing, the more durable and beautiful the result, the more dangerous the process : ) ...btw, do you use an air quality sensor with VTOC capability?
There are only 3 items at my printing station that i dont consider contaminated, the lid of the printer, the screen and the box of gloves. I never touch those three things with dirty gloves. Every other item i wont touch without them.
When you say "cured" models, are you talking about cured with washing in alcohol or cured with UV light? I'm going to have my first resin printer but I cannot afford UV curing station and I want to know if I can touch it without UV curing. Thank you.
Curing with with UV light. The prints after they are washed are only partially cured. They are still not safe to touch. If you can’t get a UV light you can use the sun. Set them outside in direct light for a few hours. What ever you do don’t touch your prints with your bare hands until they have been cured with UV light.
i don't have a room that can be ventilated that's why I'm thinking of buying Xiaomi Air Purifier 3C along with the one it came with my elegoo 3 pro mars, what do u think? is it safe enough?
I can’t say. Resin is dangerous to have in confined spaces with no ventilation I personally use my respirator when messing with resin while my ventilation is going. This is one topic that isn’t covered enough because there can be long term effects to health when breathing it for prolonged periods.
There’s so much different information out there about proper ventilation, ranging from simply wearing a mask or have a window open, to setting the printer up with a grow tent with a extractor fan and tubing set up. What do you think is the right approach?
I have mine in my garage, the door is 1/3-1/2 of the way open, and I have a box fan constantly blowing air toward the printer that then blows out of the garage door. When I'm done printing for the day I open the door the rest of the way as I'm not longer concerned about excessive sunlight.
Safety Note: The N95 style masks have been shown to protect you from someone coughing at you. Those cloth masks are sorely lacking in effectiveness (lotta TV People have egg on their face for claiming that they are). Remember to listen to a trusted medical professional and not talking heads on the TV and internet (myself included).
Good little puppet. You're still coping. If you would turn off your TV for once you would know that N95 only protects others from your cough and yourself only when it comes to large droplets getting into your mouth. You tried.
Two major things. Cancer is an unknown, but a possibility. Some Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are known carcinogens and the resin, when uncured, is a compound liquid of a several VOCs. The second thing is that the resin is a sensitizing allergen. Meaning the more you are exposed to it over time, the more likely you are to having an eventual allergic reaction to touching it. So best to not touch it, or at least as little as humanly possible. Respirator (p95 and up) gloves (nitrile only) and eye protection are absolutely MANDATORY.
I get it on my hands and just wash it off with soap, try to use gloves when I can though. Given I dont have a bad reaction to resin. It's just gotten itchy for me
I would strongly encourage you to wear the proper protection. The resin is caustic and you may not have a reaction now but Long-term exposure to resin fumes or contact with uncured resin can lead to allergic reactions as well as severe respiratory issues. Additionally, studies have discovered that 3D printing resins can release carcinogenic particles, meaning that exposure may increase the risk of cancer. Please be careful over time it has the potential to do a lot of health risks.
My early career in engineering had me working as an installation tech in the plastics industry in the early '90s. I do not smell styrene anymore, nor pretty much any other plastic. Working in plastics, specifically extrusion, you will burn out nasal receptors. For years later, I did not have greater finger prints because gloves often resulted in you getting caught in machinery with the hot plastics that wrap around your glove.
Stuff happens and safety is important but I've never even gotten milk in my eye in all my years of pouring it. With something so thick and viscus, it would be hard to get it to splash but I get where you're coming from. Better safe than sorry
Do you only need the resperator while the machine is running or is it any time that the resin will be exposed to the air (like in the vat)?
I wear out my respirator on every time my printer is running and it is also exposed. It gives off fumes that you shouldn’t breath. That’s why I also have my ventilation system running as well. But that is what I do to be as safe as possible.
@@ItsMeaDMaDe same here brother.
Not really viable for my house then. I want to print a 40k titan. The fdm printer I've got it good but...
It only releases the toxins when it cures so also the cure station is toxic too people don't talk about that because it takes more time to print but also why people submerge them in water now this helps the proccess and elimantes the vapors it releases. But yeah you should use ventalation if you can't you need very good filters talking like 80 buck a pop filter and it can only catch about 40-60% of the toxins...
@HouseSalix fdm is still bad but resin is alot worse, not giving medical advise but I don't use ventilation for fdm printing
Thanks for the tips. I am shocked how little the manufacturers inform about the toxicity of the resin. I got an Elegoo printer and there is ZERO safety info included.
With the resin itself there is a data sheet you can watch explaining how it should be treated.
You should start to paint everything pink/purple/blue, depending on whether it is sterile or not. That is who it works on hospitals, colours can never touch!
That’s is one of the best suggestions I’ve ever heard. Such a great idea. I’ve taken a few ideas from the medical field to how to handle a contaminated area but I love this idea. Thank you so much for your comment.
I'd 100% rather be to safe than not safe enough
Absolutely!
Thank you for this safety information, I just purchased a resin printer on Amazon yesterday, I have never owned or even seen one before, I want to make N scale buildings for my railway layout I just started. Purchased a 3 D resin building on ebay and was blown away with the detail, so I had to have one.
I didn't realize all the steps you have to do and you have to wash and cure the pieces.
I watched your other posting on washing and curing so I went back on Amazon and purchased a washing and curing station this morning.
This posting is so valuable, I did not have a clue about the safety precautions that are needed to stay safe from the resin. I have a respirator already and going to get the gloves and safety glasses and make a work station just for the printer equipment.
Not going to let my 13 year old grand son near the printer until he watches your videos and can answer all my questions on the safety.
Subscribed to your channel and going to watch you postings on how to print with a resin printer.
You should not rely on one youtubers safety videos. You should watch several different informations you can find on the internet and then summerize it. What in this video here was not shown for ex. is how important ventilation is. Because the whole air in this room gets polluted. And doing one vent out, makes it worse. It have to be a light pressureized continous air flow of little fresh air into the room by a fan, and another one to blast air out but the out part should be way higher to create the pressure. And that display thingy he mentioned could be avoided. To get it not messy, it's just a matter of organisation. Getting a good system. Use a low box where everything get's done inside, so nothing outside and spills hit the wall of the box. Try to get longer hose type nitril gloves so you don't get the chance to get something onto your skin because something splashes behind your hand. Better off protect your whole body like in a lab. You never now if you get the stuff onto your daily clothing and if you don't notice it, you will burn your skin likely. Also don't use the tools the printer comes with. Better use methods that allows you to remove the print without any risk of splashes. And best case scenario, everything inside a grow tent which allows for efficient air control, no UV aka sun light risks and easy to control the "room temperature". There are also things like printing helpers on a FDM machine when trying to put the resin from the bed back into the bottle so you only have to use one hand. And don't use those paper coffee filters, get some metal kitchen funnel. It's all about getting a easy and safe workflow. What i said in this comment is all just a glimpse of information i got over researching this. Everything mostly from comments critizeing someones YT video about it. Because in the comment section a lot of people have more knowledge often.
My first resin 3D print is still in the box and this video was very timely. Thanx
Great hope you enjoy it. Hope this helps you be safe! Happy printing.
Great tips for a beginner (like me). I’m just getting started and there sure is a lot to learn!
Amazing safety concept bond with comoft, thank you for sharing! I bought MSLA printer yesterday and exploring safety protocols, and i think i need well vented garage😅
Great tips! There are so many videos out there that give me anxiety because the people are so careless with this stuff
YES! I couldn’t agree more. I am overly cautious with this stuff. A lot of people don’t realize even if you don’t have reactions to it they can develop over time.
I found out from my first print that I have an instant reaction. My glove leaked and it was the uncured resin within the ipa that got into my glove. The next day the inbetween and side of my fingers were chemically burned and were itching like crazy! 🥴
This needs to be front and center before you can even add these items to your cart for the first time
Totally agreed
Man I didn't use a respirator for about 2 months. Started doing research and now I'm very very careful with my safety when using it. I hope those 2 months of unsafe exposure don't impact my health in the future.
Thinking of getting into printing, and this was a helpful video. I do have a couple questions, why wouldn't you just make everything inside the print be "contaminated" is there a reason why you would want to touch anything inside with your hand? I mean you mention learning to do stuff with one hand, but you can't put on a second glove with only the non-contaminated hand, so why not just double glove for everything? Also why not clean down your contaminated surfaces after every use? The sides of curing station? Seems a paper towel with some IPA after every cure session could make it less gunky, I know you said you periodically clean your tools but unless you're trying to save on IPA you should clean everything all the time.
I have been contemplating getting a resin printer but I'm lazy and everything I seen looks non lazy
Yeah it’s involved. It’s one of those things you have to be very safe with it or down the road you could develop health issues.
Well said.
Very good safety information. The PPE is VERY important (learned that the hard way in the aviation and automotive industry). I've had my SLA printer for a year now, haven't used it yet, and have been learning the do's and don'ts before I start. I FDM printed 2 handles for the printer and wash station hoods after watching a different video in which he described the same thing you talked about on resin on the sides of them. Maybe after I watch ALL of your SLA 101 videos I'll get the nerve to try the printer out!! LOL. Thank you for the informative videos, keep them coming.
Yes I’m a big proponent for PPE always. The hobby isn’t worth your health. Best of luck with your printing and stay safe.
I like the idea of contaminated/not contaminated areas, but why not simply cleaning them with IPA? I have an IPA spray I use to wipe around the 3D Printer cover for example if I touched with gloves on.
I would also recommend covering your arms and wearing a long sleeve painter or lab coat, I don't want resin on my clothes or arms in case of a spill.
I am actually still looking for a respirator with cartridges that doesn't cost a fortune on this side of the pond, but I have no idea what to pick, as Volatile Organic Compounds can mean pretty much anything. edit: went with one with a 3M cartridge 6059 which should provide top protection against organic vapors.
You could clean it all with IPA. I do that with all my areas regularly but what if something splashes and you don’t know it then you get resin on you. That is why I designate the area as contaminated. Just an extra step to be safe.
VOC’s are definitely the big danger glad you were able to get a good respirator.
Thanks for the comment! And happy and safe printing!
Looks like sell mine. Only have my small office on my desk or my attic with no windows... damn
Love this idea, just got my own tent and extraction fan with hoses. What’s your recommendation for the space heater? I’ve gotten the same one and I’m worried it’ll be too much for the power strip the printer, fan, and wash station will be on too. Do you only have the heater on prior to printing to get the enclosure warm? I’m limited to my current electrical plugs in my space and don’t want to risk a fire (based in the UK)
Awesome video! I noticed you just put your flex plate back on without wiping anything. No concerns that the resin on the magnetic surface will reduce the flex plates adhesion? I used to clean the whole build plate and flex plate. Now I just clean the flex plate and the magnetic surface really well but looks like I might not need to do that unless I'm changing colours - usually using gray although I have a bit of white too for special prints which I don't want to paint.
definitely a reason I bought some cheap handles and installed them on my lids so that only the handle is ever contaminated, and makes it nearly impossible to drop.
So i was thinking to get a resin printer but i don't have a seperate room to put it. now my question is i saw videos where people put them in grow tents with a little heater so it stays a certain temperature and a ventilator that pull the fumes out through a pipe out of the window, is that safe enough or not?
I’m really worried about having a resin printer in an apartment complex I live in.. I just don’t know how or if it would be safe for us and the people in the complex..
I understand the concern. I have mine venting to the outside and once it gets into the open air I can never smell it outside.
@@ItsMeaDMaDe open window I assume?
I actually have a ventilation system that draws air out of the room to the outside. I also wear a mask when using resin due to the fumes.
Washing all at once is the way to go and always use warm water to make supports brittle right?
What type of ventilation system are you using? Do you use one?
another question, how do u take you gloves off once u are finished with them?
That’s a good question I can make a short showing that. To answer your question. I’ll try to make it tonight for you and I’ll post it.
Great video! One question, if you are in the room with the printer not in use, but it does have resin in the vat, would you consider it necessary to have a respirator on?
I'd also like to know the answer to this question!
What about water based resin? Still same rules?
You need to read the warning label but when I have used it in the past I treat it exactly like regular resin. It’s water based but still has a lot of chemicals in it. But I would do your own research as well.
Same deal, the only difference is Water based you can wash with water, still super toxic and the same precautions should be taken. Also you should not pour the water that you used to wash your stuff on your sink or toilet.
I'm reminded of a comment I read on a healthy eating forum: "If it tastes good, spit it out." In chemical manufacturing, the more durable and beautiful the result, the more dangerous the process : ) ...btw, do you use an air quality sensor with VTOC capability?
There are only 3 items at my printing station that i dont consider contaminated, the lid of the printer, the screen and the box of gloves. I never touch those three things with dirty gloves. Every other item i wont touch without them.
When you say "cured" models, are you talking about cured with washing in alcohol or cured with UV light? I'm going to have my first resin printer but I cannot afford UV curing station and I want to know if I can touch it without UV curing. Thank you.
Curing with with UV light. The prints after they are washed are only partially cured. They are still not safe to touch. If you can’t get a UV light you can use the sun. Set them outside in direct light for a few hours. What ever you do don’t touch your prints with your bare hands until they have been cured with UV light.
@@ItsMeaDMaDe Thank you very much!
i don't have a room that can be ventilated that's why I'm thinking of buying Xiaomi Air Purifier 3C along with the one it came with my elegoo 3 pro mars, what do u think? is it safe enough?
I can’t say. Resin is dangerous to have in confined spaces with no ventilation I personally use my respirator when messing with resin while my ventilation is going. This is one topic that isn’t covered enough because there can be long term effects to health when breathing it for prolonged periods.
@@ItsMeaDMaDe oh yeah i also got a respirator, looks like I'll have to do a budget ventilation. thanks!
There’s so much different information out there about proper ventilation, ranging from simply wearing a mask or have a window open, to setting the printer up with a grow tent with a extractor fan and tubing set up. What do you think is the right approach?
Here, I put in a tent with fan sending it out my room. My two printers are located on an unfinished room down on the basement.
I have mine in my garage, the door is 1/3-1/2 of the way open, and I have a box fan constantly blowing air toward the printer that then blows out of the garage door. When I'm done printing for the day I open the door the rest of the way as I'm not longer concerned about excessive sunlight.
Safety Note:
The N95 style masks have been shown to protect you from someone coughing at you.
Those cloth masks are sorely lacking in effectiveness (lotta TV People have egg on their face for claiming that they are).
Remember to listen to a trusted medical professional and not talking heads on the TV and internet (myself included).
Good little puppet. You're still coping. If you would turn off your TV for once you would know that N95 only protects others from your cough and yourself only when it comes to large droplets getting into your mouth. You tried.
Is safety as large of a concern with plant based resins?
There are a few videos around, but generally yes it's the same but just not as bad for the environment since they are made from soy.
Just to clarify.. touching printed items on a regular basis after they have been cleaned etc can cause skin cancer or other ailments?
Two major things. Cancer is an unknown, but a possibility. Some Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are known carcinogens and the resin, when uncured, is a compound liquid of a several VOCs. The second thing is that the resin is a sensitizing allergen. Meaning the more you are exposed to it over time, the more likely you are to having an eventual allergic reaction to touching it. So best to not touch it, or at least as little as humanly possible. Respirator (p95 and up) gloves (nitrile only) and eye protection are absolutely MANDATORY.
Why does it matter which type of gloves l use
You have to use nitrile gloves because other types can break down from the resin.
8:25 idk why but turning a cap on and off sounds weird lol
resin is both caustic and costic
I get it on my hands and just wash it off with soap, try to use gloves when I can though. Given I dont have a bad reaction to resin. It's just gotten itchy for me
I would strongly encourage you to wear the proper protection. The resin is caustic and you may not have a reaction now but Long-term exposure to resin fumes or contact with uncured resin can lead to allergic reactions as well as severe respiratory issues. Additionally, studies have discovered that 3D printing resins can release carcinogenic particles, meaning that exposure may increase the risk of cancer. Please be careful over time it has the potential to do a lot of health risks.
Why not take the case outside so it cures?
My God he's from Portland
Would be useful to know what to do *when* you actually do spill some on yourself.
Wait wait wait, What is wrong with latex gloves?
Resin eats away at latex gloves and leaked through them that’s why you have to use nitrile gloves.
Aw damn good to know, thank you
anecdotal youtuber evidence of health concerns is not the most reliable
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you may to be entitled to financial compensation
As always another amazing video my man!!!!
Thanks so much man.
I love safety
Thank you 😊
My early career in engineering had me working as an installation tech in the plastics industry in the early '90s. I do not smell styrene anymore, nor pretty much any other plastic. Working in plastics, specifically extrusion, you will burn out nasal receptors. For years later, I did not have greater finger prints because gloves often resulted in you getting caught in machinery with the hot plastics that wrap around your glove.
Stuff happens and safety is important but I've never even gotten milk in my eye in all my years of pouring it. With something so thick and viscus, it would be hard to get it to splash but I get where you're coming from. Better safe than sorry