Smoothing PLA with TETRAHYDROFURAN or Dichloromethane

[Mayhem]

Intresting.
Maybe for support removal.

http://youtu.be/GP36vJh3-B0

[Mayhem]

Wow, loctite 7649 aktivator works really well, it makes pla really rubber like:)

[Hugues]

i could not look at the whole movie yet and no sound, i'm at work,
but does it make the layers disappear as well ??
Is this THE Magic bullet we're looking for , for PLA ?

[Mayhem]

No this is not the magic we are looking for, i dosent make smooth surface but whit this method i can make gaskets and sort of things i think:) I think DCM is THE magic:)

[Hugues]

...but whit this method i can make gaskets and sort of things i think:) ...

for a gasket you also want to check the compatibility of the liquid you are trying to contain (if it's a liquid) and PLA.

Have you tried Arnitel ? Guillaume sells it. It has this rubbery texture and was designed to resist oil and stuff like this. I've got some and seems easy to print.

Did you find your DCM yet ?

[Mayhem]

someone gave the link for ebay whit that stuff but since it is illegal to sell that here so i am not sure about ordering it

[Mayhem]

ill order some arnitel later since that aktivator is really nasty stuff

[gobi]

anyone tried this the same way as the acetone bath?
i bought some of this stuff, just before i try it i ask around (:

[Hugues]

anyone tried this the same way as the acetone bath?
i bought some of this stuff, just before i try it i ask around (:

you mean PLA in Acetone vapor ? -> does not work

tetrahydrofuran vapor ? i found only one account on internet saying it worked, others said it did not

dichloromethane vapor ? many people discourage from producing vapor because it's very nasty stuff even without vapor. Please be very careful if you try.

[gobi]

so the time came that i revisited this topic and tried tetrahydrofuran again.
i've been having problems lately with sanding pla objects. as you all know, pla loses its color after sanding and i've been looking for a solution. today it occured to me, what if i apply some alcohol on an object, what would that do? momentarily it gave back the original color but only for like... 30 seconds or so? maybe even less.

and than i tried - just a little - applying tetrahydrofuran, with a light brush. results? amazing.
left is what i brushed, right one is untouched.





the photos dont do justice, the results are like the original. even smooths the surface a bit.

altough i urge everyone - and this been said on the forum - it's a very strong acid and even makes breathing hard, so prepare and do it outside