Post processing resin prints

The trouble with the cleaning process for resin prints is that it means exposure to isopropyl alcohol (IPA) fumes and handling uncured resin. Wearing nitrile gloves is enough to solve the uncured resin risk but the fumes are more difficult. I could wear a mask while handling the models but despite having extraction the smell was obvious in the workshop for an hour after finishing.

Taking some advice from articles and YouTube videos I have now changed how I handle the process. I've almost completely eliminated the IPA smell and significantly reduced the need to handle the models before the resin is cured.

My 3D print area August 2026

I bought a wash station from Heygears. I liked the look of the double canister arrangement so that one box can easily drain the IPA into the other without any exposure to the IPA. What I hadn't expected was how much more efficient the agitating platform was at cleaning the models.

One 4 minute session in the Heygears Wash setup and the prints are completely clean. 

Tip: An important bit of the process is that the prints have to be supports downwards in the IPA, so that any drips of resin end up on the supports, not the models.

My Process Summary

• Put on Nitrile gloves.
• Turn on the extractor and position it over the wash area.
• Fill a wash box to the max marker with IPA. This is only necessary when the IPA gets too contaminated and needs a refresh.
• Put the build plate with the prints still attached into that wash box. The build plate should be upside down at the bottom of the tank so the models are facing upwards. (a.)
• Seal and wash for 4 minutes.
• Put the full wash box on top of an empty wash box and drain the IPA.
• Remove the build plate with the prints.
• Separate the prints from the build plate.
• Leave to dry. I only wait enough time for them not to be messy for the next stage.
• Cure the prints, with the supports still attached.
• While the prints are curing I usually do any cleaning, such as residue from the emptied wash box.

With the prints now cured, they can be handled and cleaned up without gloves.

I have read that cured supports are harder to remove and leave a more noticeable mark, I have not really noticed either of those but I keep in the back of my mind that the supports could be softened with the model soaked in warm water, if that ever became an issue.

I find that as the models are clean and dry and I am not wearing gloves, the support removal, overall, is easier.

All done with very little exposure to uncured resin or IPA and no lingering smell.

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(a.) This part of the process could be further improved to remove the short exposure to IPA while loading the prints into the wash box. The prints could be loaded into the empty wash box and the IPA drained from the other wash box onto the prints.

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