Personal Protective Equipment for Resin Printing

Most UV resins do NOT "dry" even if left out long term; they require UV to cure.  That drop that splashed behind a table will still be wet the next time a ball rolls behind the same table.

This is the stuff that keeps me and everyone else safe.

Gloves

• Disposable Nitrile gloves are extremely convenient

  • Always New, Always clean
  • Seems wasteful if using them often (maybe 4-5 pairs for a single print)

• Re-Usable Nitrile gloves can be a good choice for higher volumes

  • Washable in the same solvent being used for the prints
  • Much less convenient, but more cost effective
    

Towels

• Disposable Select-A-Size style Paper Towels

  • These are half length paper towels that I tear in half or thirds, for smaller wipes on smaller drops and spills

• Kimtech Science Wipes

  • Completely lint free, these are awesome for wiping the glass and FEP/Non-FEP print surfaces

Silicone Dog Food Mats

• These can be a cost effective way to protect work surfaces
  • Best thing ever for resin, use UV light to cure any spilled resin then peel it off the silicone mat into the trash can
• Textured bottom is better for items that should be able to slide; smooth silicone can often feel sticky
• Mats containing a significant lip along the edges are desirable, just to ensure no resin runs off onto the floor
• I have one that covers my entire surface (32"x24"), one on top for just the printer (24"x16"), one on top for the bottle stand/funnel/filter (24"x16"), and extras to lay out elsewhere as needed (19"x12")

Plastic Drop Cloth

• Very cheap insurance when using resin in a home
  • Resin + LivingThings = BAD
• Stretching out a drop cloth over the whole path from work area to outside takes maybe 30 seconds
  • Rolling it back up and stuffing it in a bag takes closer to a minute
• Most affordable plastic sheet material is acceptable, but 3 mill thickness is recommended for repeated use
  • I reuse mine until a spill is found, then it goes outside to cure and ultimately to the trash
  • Sharp edges on bits of hardened resin can poke holes in any drop cloth, and holes are also bad
• Cleaning a soiled drop cloth is not recommended
  • Too much risk; if there is residue left on the top and it gets rolled up, worst case it gets put out upside down next use... now the residue is on the floor