Shapeways polishing

aledromo · 07-20-2012, 08:51 PM

I just got my first Shapeways order in. I'm sanding down all the rough fuzzy bits, but has anyone found a nice way to get that factory plastic finish to it? Or should I just clear coat after painting to take away that rough look? Thanks!

iDarkDesign · 07-21-2012, 04:39 PM

I've tried sanding them down, but I have such small details that it will get lost. Dipping it in future for a million times might smooth it out a bit... It's why I stopped ordering at Shapeways. The product quality just isn't up to my standards yet.

iDD

Zildjian · 07-21-2012, 07:45 PM

VERY light passes with watered down acetone helps smooth it a bit, but the best way to guarantee a smooth finish is to buy the frosted ultra detail.

Cax6ton · 07-23-2012, 09:51 AM

You can try a filler primer from the auto parts store, and polish with fine steel wool. It's difficult to polish everything and you might lose detail depending on the piece. After doing this with a few pieces I stopped buying WSF.

aledromo · 07-23-2012, 10:59 AM

Yes, I'm think I'm off the shapeways bandwagon for now. Good enough for my fe Starscream's blasters and crest, but some of the bigger, more tantalizing projects just won't work. Thanks for the ideas, though.

hthrun · 07-23-2012, 11:18 AM

Someone I know suggested using liquid green stuff and then sanding...

Cax6ton · 07-23-2012, 02:20 PM

Attached are the results in successive stages of fill/polish with filler primer and #0000 steel wool, and the final paint coat, before the silver details and clear coats are done. It's a lot of work, and something I wouldn't bother doing again.

Molina00 · 07-23-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cax6ton

Attached are the results in successive stages of fill/polish with filler primer and #0000 steel wool, and the final paint coat, before the silver details and clear coats are done. It's a lot of work, and something I wouldn't bother doing again.

Those do look nice though. Love the metallic blue paint. I just painted mine right out of the bag. It doesn't look as good as it could if it were smooth, obviously, but I didn't mind the grainy too much.

aledromo, clear coating didn't take away the graininess for me. Maybe if I coated it a few more times, but I didn't want to do that.

bellpeppers · 07-23-2012, 04:30 PM

Jeez... just how rough is Shapeways stuff?

iDarkDesign · 07-24-2012, 04:33 AM

Because we use it on such a small scale it looks really rough. Too rough actually. If you would use it on another scale the roughness wouldn't be as bad for the eye...

It's why I stopped ordering from them.

iDD

07-20-2012, 08:51 PM	#1
aledromo Decepticon at the Gate Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,708 Collection Count: So...many...	Shapeways polishing I just got my first Shapeways order in. I'm sanding down all the rough fuzzy bits, but has anyone found a nice way to get that factory plastic finish to it? Or should I just clear coat after painting to take away that rough look? Thanks! My Feedback - Minus a few I forgot to solicit.

07-21-2012, 04:39 PM	#2
iDarkDesign Rodeo Lawyer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,823 Location: Amsterdam Collection Count: Too many.. a room full News Credits: 2	I've tried sanding them down, but I have such small details that it will get lost. Dipping it in future for a million times might smooth it out a bit... It's why I stopped ordering at Shapeways. The product quality just isn't up to my standards yet. iDD Sig pictures are to be no larger than 40KB in file size and should be no larger than 300 pixels in height and 500 pixels wide - 2005 Staff

07-21-2012, 07:45 PM	#3
Zildjian TFW2005 Supporter Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,729 News Credits: 3	VERY light passes with watered down acetone helps smooth it a bit, but the best way to guarantee a smooth finish is to buy the frosted ultra detail. VISIT ME ON FACEBOOK!

07-23-2012, 09:51 AM	#4
Cax6ton Insufferable Smartass Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,364 Location: DFW Collection Count: ∞ + 1	You can try a filler primer from the auto parts store, and polish with fine steel wool. It's difficult to polish everything and you might lose detail depending on the piece. After doing this with a few pieces I stopped buying WSF. DFW Area collectors: Join The Metroplex Sales Thread Twitter TF Legends: Cax6ton TF Legends Guide/FAQ: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...oLtvm2wuNRprkk

07-23-2012, 10:59 AM	#5
aledromo Decepticon at the Gate Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,708 Collection Count: So...many...	Yes, I'm think I'm off the shapeways bandwagon for now. Good enough for my fe Starscream's blasters and crest, but some of the bigger, more tantalizing projects just won't work. Thanks for the ideas, though. My Feedback - Minus a few I forgot to solicit.

07-23-2012, 11:18 AM	#6
hthrun Show accuracy's overrated Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3,396 Location: Maple Grove, MN Collection Count: Ever changing...	Someone I know suggested using liquid green stuff and then sanding... LOOKING FOR A '07 MOVIE INCINERATOR LOWER LEFT LEG. My Feedback My Facebook

07-23-2012, 02:20 PM	#7
Cax6ton Insufferable Smartass Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,364 Location: DFW Collection Count: ∞ + 1	Attached are the results in successive stages of fill/polish with filler primer and #0000 steel wool, and the final paint coat, before the silver details and clear coats are done. It's a lot of work, and something I wouldn't bother doing again. Attached Thumbnails DFW Area collectors: Join The Metroplex Sales Thread Twitter TF Legends: Cax6ton TF Legends Guide/FAQ: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...oLtvm2wuNRprkk

07-23-2012, 04:30 PM	#9
bellpeppers A Meat Popsicle Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,212 News Credits: 1	Jeez... just how rough is Shapeways stuff? Sig pictures are to be no larger than 40KB in file size and should be no larger than 300 pixels in height and 500 pixels wide - 2005 Staff A Christmas present from G60Force. Thanks.

07-24-2012, 04:33 AM	#10
iDarkDesign Rodeo Lawyer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,823 Location: Amsterdam Collection Count: Too many.. a room full News Credits: 2	Because we use it on such a small scale it looks really rough. Too rough actually. If you would use it on another scale the roughness wouldn't be as bad for the eye... It's why I stopped ordering from them. iDD Sig pictures are to be no larger than 40KB in file size and should be no larger than 300 pixels in height and 500 pixels wide - 2005 Staff