📌 Smoothing PLA 3D Prints using Nail Polish and Ethyl Acetate - Will it Work?

PLA 3D Print Smoothing Test with Nail Polish and Ethyl Acetate plus a homemade Vapour Bath.
The Nail Polish really didn't do much as I could still feel the print lines with my finger nail.
I also made a simple vapour bath using a Glass jar, and Boiling water as the heat source.
The Ethyl Acetate did have a chemical reaction to the PLA, but not in a good way, it turned the print white, and also softened it considerably, to the state it completely destroyed the part of the print that was sitting on the floor of the jar.
My 3D printer is set to 0.20 mm height for all my printing tests, to make it easy to see the results of the various methods and products I have used.
I will keep testing a few more products, before I revert to body filler and primer, to get the layers of my 3D prints smooth.
My Conclusion.
Don't waste your money, the smoothing results on the PLA are rather dismal.
📌 Checkout other videos from Garry Purcells TH-cam Channel: / garrypurcell

[@GarryPurcell]

Be sure to check out the price of Creality 3D Printers at Banggood
📌 www.banggood.com/custlink/KDmG6LPufd

[@larsrc]

I think it was supposed to be nail polish _remover_, which is ethyl acetate and possibly other things. Nail polish ought to work like any other paint.

[@GarryPurcell]

Unfortunately nail polish remover (ethyl acetate) doesn't work to smooth the PLA.

[@Entity404]

Thanks for the video, I wish I had researched *before* buying that solvent! Some random 3d print page said it worked, and obviously.. It doesn't. Just discolors and weakens. It also caused one of my test prints that had an underextruded layer to curl up and split at the layer! And even if it worked, it ruins the print. Permanently brittle and faded.

[@GarryPurcell]

I did eventually find a method of smoothing PLA prints which seems to work OK.
My videos below.
th-cam.com/video/lhFCnAH87AI/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/AB9UACS5Pbs/w-d-xo.html

[@apprentice2101]

The part where it becomes gooey after sitting in the liquid is actually great news! Could you please try dipping and maybe baking the part until it's solid again? Maybe then it will smooth.

[@GarryPurcell]

The problem with the Ethyl Acetate, is it leaves the printed finish soft, and also discoloured.
I did find a cheap working method for smoothing PLA prints below using Polyurethane
th-cam.com/video/lhFCnAH87AI/w-d-xo.html

[@Omarqp]

Thx for the description of the video

[@GarryPurcell]

Thanks for commenting.
P.S. I did find a good product for smoothing prints "Polyurethane"
My th-cam.com/video/lhFCnAH87AI/w-d-xo.html

[@JAYTEEAU]

Thanks for the experiment and results Garry. Not too unexpected. Cheers, JAYTEE

[@GarryPurcell]

True.
I'll keep exploring the easy way until I run out of options.
I have a few more I want to look at, before I temporarily give up, and buy sandpaper and filler.

[@theremay]

Thanks for the video!

[@GarryPurcell]

Thanks for commenting on one of my videos.
Feel free to ask questions, I always do my best to answer them