16 must-have 3D printing accessories for use with resin printers

Thanks to the fantastic 3D printing community, we have this gem. This little pickle container has a strainer that is perfect for cleaning your models. Just fill-up the container with Isopropyl alcohol and put your model in the strainer. You can then use the strainer to lift it out of the bath when it's ready.

It might seem strange to have something like gloves as one of the leading picks, but trust me, you do not want to get resin on your skin. Nitrile gloves are the most critical thing on this list, and having a good supply will save you from some severe chemical burns. Resin printing is a lot of fun and rewarding, but I had a nasty reaction just from some splashing on me. Be safe.

Essentially, this is just a pallet knife or paint scraper, but it's essential to remove the print from the build plate to your resin bath without damaging it. I like to use this extra-wide knife, which allows me to get the most purchase on the model without stressing it.

I have yet to find a better cleaning material than a paper towel for cleaning up resin, and you'll need a good supply since resin is messy and stains if you don't clean it quickly. Paper towels you find in drug stores aren't as absorbent, and the resin doesn't mop up well.

Cleaning resin can be messy. After you've printed the model and before it is fully cured, you need to wash it in a bath of Isopropyl Alcohol. This removes any excess resin so your model can look it's very best. You will use quite a lot, so keep it handy and keep it safe.

Not every print is a winner. Sometimes your print doesn't stay on the print bed, and you need to remove it from your FEP sheet in the vat. Using a metal scraper will ruin the FEP almost straight away, so use a plastic scraper instead.

When you have detailed prints, you need to get rid of the excess resin from all the lines. Using these soft-bristled toothbrushes works excellent, but you need to be as gentle as possible. If you scrub at them too hard, you could damage the print.

You will often have to change resins when 3D printing, and it's essential you don't get cured resin mixed in. These nylon filters are perfect for filtering resin, and the included funnel is a godsend.

The Wash and Cure Box from Anycubic is cheap and, frankly, amazing for finishing off the resin printing process, and you would be doing yourself a disservice by not owning one. It washes and cures your prints all in one handy machine.

All 3D printing parts break at some point. Be prepared for the worst, and keep a spare FEP film handy. This isn't the cheapest option out there, but it's good quality and will last a long while in most DLP printers.

The last step in finishing a resin print is curing, which is done in bright sunlight or by using a UV lamp. This lamp is powerful and can be used to make a cool UV curing station with a little elbow grease.

Just last week, I didn't wear my goggles. Some resin mixed with alcohol splashed onto my eyelid. I had a red chemical burn there for four days. This stuff is no joke people; wear all the protection you can.

This may look like overkill, but resin gives off noxious fumes. If you don't have a great ventilation system, then a respirator is essential. If you're planning on spray-painting your prints, you'll want one of these anyway.

An alternative to the pickle jar, this ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is perfect for automatically cleaning your prints. All you need to do is put your print in, add Isopropyl alcohol, then set the timer for 3-5 minutes and walk away. The cleaner will do the rest. This one even has a handy basket for easy removal.

Normally these little turntables are for displaying pretty things. Happily, they also work for curing prints. If you put the print on the turntable then use a UV light, the model will rotate, making sure it cures evenly on all sides.

While resin printing isn't carcinogenic, it can be smelly, and the fumes can irritate your eyes and nose. You should always use resin 3D printers in a well-ventilated room, but having an air purifier certainly doesn't hurt. It will clear any significant irritants out of the air. It works on any mold or smoke from your workshop as well.