1 Topic by heidkampn1

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Topic: Acetone question

So I printed out an object, and it looks great but there are maybe 4 or 5 spots where the layers didn't bond correctly. There are paper thin gaps between a few layers. Would an acetone vapor bath open the gaps further or seal them shut?

2 Reply by heidkampn1

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Re: Acetone question

My other option is to use some speckle to seal them and sand it by hand, but I'd rather have the nice polished finish than a flat smooth one

3 Reply by cckens

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Re: Acetone question

Try sanding the model a little to start.  Be sure to leave the dust on the model and try to get it into the cracks.  Then try acetone.  The ABS dust will melt to seal the crack and it should be pretty tight after it dries.

4 Reply by Ovrclck350

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Re: Acetone question

What was the object?  Can you post a pic of where it happened at?

5 Reply by tryersol

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Re: Acetone question

Usually an acetone vapor bath, or painting acetone onto the model will widen gaps slightly.

One method I use to close tiny gaps is to make some thick ABS juice (about 50ml acetone, and about 60cm of ABS. YMMV, but the idea is to get something nice and thick.

Apply a nice dose, let it settle for about a minute, then go over it with the paint brush to smooth it, and remove any drips that have formed.

Make sure to use the same color filament to make the ABS juice as the model you're applying it to.

if it isn't broken, you haven't modded it enough

6 Reply by heidkampn1

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Re: Acetone question

Cckens, that's a great idea.. I'll give that a try .. I'll post before and after pix

7 Reply by cckens

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Re: Acetone question

tryersol's idea also works, but if you're doing a vapor bath, then sanding will do the trick.

I don't tend to use a vapor bath except for smaller pieces that would be destroyed or lose details by an ABS slurry.  The slurry contains ABS, so it tends to fill in the cracks. It may take a few applications to fill larger cracks, but paper-thin ones would probably fill in quite nicely.  Keep it in mind for other possible applications.

As for using the same color filament, only if your finishing doesn't require painting.  If you're going to coat it in acrylic paint, the color difference won't matter.