Plastic welding 3D prints | How to properly merge 3D prints & remove seams | Finishing 3D prints

Hope you guys enjoyed this one, it seems like I am CONSTANTLY seeing post on people struggling with proper merging of printed parts so this one should be a big help to everyone.
I've left a video index below of specific parts for reference as well as links for products to get when you're ready to merge your latest project!
Be sure to subscribe & comment if you have any questions. I always love hearing from everyone so be sure to drop me some feedback & let me know what you thought of the video!
Music credit @him
Video Index
Video intro- 00:40
Getting started some do's & dont's- 01:30
PLA gloop & why +tips & tricks when using 02:00
Plastic welding using a stapler - 03:00
Properly merging seams- 05:00
Sealing seams with pla gloop & soldering iron- 06:15
Eliminating larger gaps with extra material & why- 08:10
Smoothing the seam for extra reinforcement- 09:45
Seam removal with sanding & body filler- 11:00
Why use filler & plastic metal +- application tips 12:15
Sanding tips & when to use glazing putty - 16:00
Final sanding glazing putty + using filler primers to finish 18:15
Video final thoughts 20:20
Products used in video
@3dgloop
3D gloop
www.3dgloop.com/
Plastic welding gun
amzn.to/3TJxNyi
Soldering iron
amzn.to/3vyuMJe
Extra soldering iron tips
amzn.to/3xquGUm
Bondo plastic metal
amzn.to/3VCrIGF
Bondo glazing putty
amzn.to/3VEQrde
Filler primer
amzn.to/3VJwx0K
Black sandable primer
amzn.to/49dIXRG
Detail hand sander
amzn.to/49ehaRf
You can see more updates & progress by following me on social media & joining my
discord here linktr.ee/darkwing_dad
Don't forget to tag me or @ me social media to get a shout out in a future video!
#darkwingdad #dw
Time to finish up the combine soldier, that's the next video up! Until than....DW out!

Пікірлер: 49

  • @mattlott1113
    @mattlott11134 ай бұрын

    Awesome work, as always!

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    Well thank ya thank ya

  • @gehrkea
    @gehrkea4 ай бұрын

    You the man DWD!!

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    Appreciate it my man!

  • @StabbyMcStabwood
    @StabbyMcStabwood4 ай бұрын

    I dont know what that stuff consist of, but weld-on 4 is PLA chemical bonding/plastic welding on easy mode. I use a syringe with a blunt tip needle to apply it because its water thin and evaporates super fast. Its marketed for acrylics but it will bond/melt the PLA together in seconds. I like to appy to both surfaces and just stick/hold for 30 seconds. You can also tape your pieces together and use the syringe to run it into the seam since its so thin. There's one drawback to using the syringe, the plastic holding the needle isnt the same as the syringe and it will soften, just dont drop your needle in the can.

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    It’s pretty much the same stuff as gloop but it’s thinner. Same chemistry & nice results.

  • @TheMadmichel
    @TheMadmichel4 ай бұрын

    Sup bro nice vid I do something similar so mainly watching this for support lol keep it up

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks my dude! I appreciate the support!

  • @SuperDuperTango
    @SuperDuperTango3 ай бұрын

    This is great. Thanks again. I was wondering for some other vids, you were recommending the upol dolphin putty. Can you use that instead of the plastic metal or glazing putty?

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    3 ай бұрын

    You can, but the plastic metal definitely fills better. If that’s the only option you have the upol will suffice

  • @SuperDuperTango

    @SuperDuperTango

    3 ай бұрын

    Thanks. Got it! (both figuratively and literally as I just ran out to get a tube of plastic metal 😁)@@Darkwingdad

  • @TheRealMisterJ
    @TheRealMisterJ4 ай бұрын

    From my experience it's best to weld the staples long ways instead of the way you did it.. But another great video thanks!

  • @TheRealMisterJ

    @TheRealMisterJ

    4 ай бұрын

    Also instead of just going straight down with the staples, I like to go in at kind of an angle and then give it a little twist to make it straight.. Really gives a nice bond

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TheRealMisterJ I’ve had great luck using the “T” method of stapling on the seam but definitely appreciate others feedback. I’ll be sure to try it out on my next build! Thanks for watching!

  • @DarthFlan
    @DarthFlan4 ай бұрын

    DW, in one of your videos, I think it might’ve been this one you talk about the padding that you use for the inside of your helmets. I am finishing a storm trooper helmet and just wondering how are you make the padding look professional? Thx man!

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    Hey mike, your on my discord right?

  • @DarthFlan

    @DarthFlan

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad yep, I am. Is. It buried on there somewhere??

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    @@DarthFlan no I’ll send you a message with pics

  • @TC-xu7pp
    @TC-xu7pp3 ай бұрын

    So you don’t leave the staples in the PLA? From what the box the stapler came in it looks like you did?

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    3 ай бұрын

    You definitely can, this is actually a welder used for repair bumpers on cars that are urethane, they have more flex & are thinner so the staple is a must. But for 3D prints the 3D gloop & welding has been bulletproof.

  • @TC-xu7pp

    @TC-xu7pp

    3 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad thanks again! just got my 3d gloop and tested it on some parts of my Helldivers helmet i’m making!!! that stuff is amazing!!!!

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    3 ай бұрын

    @@TC-xu7pp anytime! Always here to help

  • @mattyice2271
    @mattyice22713 ай бұрын

    Hey man, big fan been following you for a while. Just wondering what your favorite method/product is to smooth out prints, regardless if that means Bondo in an airbrush gun or a filler primer or resin.

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    3 ай бұрын

    I appreciate the support! On the combine helmet I sprayed dolphin 1k & it’s a game changer! I also really love using the raptor 1k. Video is in the works on spraying a few of my favs including my new go to filler primer! Stay tuned!

  • @mattyice2271

    @mattyice2271

    3 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad thx! And for the dolphin/rapotor 1k it’s the same process with acetone and an airbrush?

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    3 ай бұрын

    @@mattyice2271 so raptor is a premixed aerosol available at autozone I did a whole helmet (video already up) using that and upol filler primer. Very simple. The 1k putty same idea as bondo, mix & spray!

  • @randallbourque1321
    @randallbourque13214 ай бұрын

    Awesome video, if you can, try and improve where your focus is. When you were welding, it was out of of focus. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to all the new content coming.

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    Yea it was fuzzy when I was closing the gap, luckily it’s pretty self explanatory, I love/hate shooting in cinematic sometimes, grrrrr

  • @JoshuaRilliet
    @JoshuaRilliet4 ай бұрын

    Hi, this "glue" is interesting, but unfortunately I can't find it in my country and getting it from the US or Canada would be far too expensive for what it is. So apart from this product, what other viable solutions do you think exist for gluing PLA printed parts correctly?

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    Where are you located?

  • @JoshuaRilliet

    @JoshuaRilliet

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad In France.

  • @bryanm1094
    @bryanm10942 ай бұрын

    When you print do u use supports or which direction do you print it?

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    2 ай бұрын

    Yes always use supports if needed. As far as direction what do you mean? Like how it’s orienated?

  • @bryanm1094

    @bryanm1094

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad yeah the orienated. To get the best results

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    2 ай бұрын

    @@bryanm1094 it depends, if you plan on sanding it, print it upside down. If you don’t want to sand or as much clean up print it at a 90* and use support blocker in the middle to cut down on time

  • @prodeous
    @prodeous4 ай бұрын

    What about using the "3d pens", especially for filing in the void?

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    If you have a large gap like I did those work great. But as far as welding it they’re not gonna cut it. A majority of the material is going to be above the seam & be sanded off in post processing. Not the best way to merge vs what’s shown here.

  • @Arpehem

    @Arpehem

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad I use 3d pens to weld and it works great! It's all about the technique. If you dig in a bit with the head of the pen, you melt the plastic on the sides as well as steadily applying filling material in between. It's like welding with a filler rod! After you use the flat welder just like you did in your video and if you're careful enough, you barely need any sanding and don't get drops! 3D pen also saved me a print I over sanded. All I did was fill the hole, flatten it with an iron and sand a bit. It gives even better results I hope for when I first purchased it and now I'm wondering why it took me so long to get one!

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Arpehem awesome to hear. Might hafta try it, my daughter has one, might disappear lol

  • @Arpehem

    @Arpehem

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad Looking forward to that video!

  • @sage5483
    @sage54832 ай бұрын

    Do you still use the upol primer??..

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    2 ай бұрын

    Yes upol is my new go to!

  • @sage5483

    @sage5483

    2 ай бұрын

    @Darkwingdad awesome thanks for making all these videos. It really helps to navigate all the ways to finish 3d prints..you're like my 1 stop shop haha..

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    2 ай бұрын

    @@sage5483 I appreciate the support! I’ll have a video up soon on my go to method!

  • @goatelope7539
    @goatelope75394 ай бұрын

    Marko file!!!!!

  • @Phantomshell
    @PhantomshellАй бұрын

    dope shirt

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks man, they need to bring back the old members and get a revival going. Miss the early/mid 2000s HIM

  • @Phantomshell

    @Phantomshell

    Ай бұрын

    @@Darkwingdad I was lucky to see them on their farewell tour in ny a while ago, still have them in my daily rotation

  • @Darkwingdad

    @Darkwingdad

    Ай бұрын

    @@Phantomshell sadly never got to see them, spent my HS & college years blasting deep shadows & brilliant highlights,razorblade romance & love metal. Valo’s new stuff just isn’t the same….I need a Time Machine.