Resin Printing IS Killing You..!

Are we being silently poisoned by resin printing? I did some digging and the results were shocking! Join me as I uncover the unseen hazards in our fascinating resin printing hobby. I discover our little carbon filters might not be our best line of defense, and I share my own solution.
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[@wimwiddershins]

The thing about these resins is, they were designed to solve an engineering problem, not to be non-toxic.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

Yes, and nobody's talking about it? The orientation class I took covering resin 3d printing was pretty clear about the fact that the resin and the fumes are dangerous and you should do things like wear gloves and use ventilation to keep the air clear of fumes. And even without that, the smell is bad enough to give a really clear indication that this probably isn't something that you want to breathe in.

[@TOCZEKX]

@@SmallSpoonBrigade At work we have form 3L and when we bought it it was advise to use ABEK P3 filters and mask when changing resin in tank etc. and the most important when sanding or cutting resin prints - as dust is toxic

[@TuxraGamer]

​@@SmallSpoonBrigade This is correct, although, I've been having a hard timing finding good research about *how* bad they actually are.

[@7elemente]

@@TOCZEKX inded, ABEK P3 is the best degree of protection you can have for mask filters + very good air ventilation, we have this at work too =)

[@chrissinclair4442]

Yeah, can't wait for it come to light about cancer or other health risks, and dental resins.

[@RafS-vd3mz]

The safety aspect of 3D printing needs to be talked about more, thank you for your contribution.

[@Ballziggler]

Too many people have access to this product and aren't given the right information on this. I was one of them, I got a Resin printer as a gift, I had not looked into the dangers before I started printing in my house, in the living room, during the winter, with no windows open. This absolutely needs to be talked about with lower class folks who don't have the option to build a shed or live in apartments/condo's. It took this video almost 2 years later to realize I may have caused toxicity to my entire family.

[@Bustermachine]

@@Ballziggler Yeah, these things aren't, like, super dangerous so long as they're used properly i.e. wear protection, use in a well ventilated space. But they do out gas hazardous compounds that can be toxic in a confined area.

[@Zane-It]

Safety 3rd

[@Burbund]

Are fdl printers safer?

[@leblon712]

I feel cheated. I bought a resin printer and I was pretty excited about it until I started reading about the safety issues and all the work it requires to clean and dispose. I have my setup in the basement room. And it will be hard to ventilate and keep a good temperature I wish companies would tell buyers up front how dangerous and costly it really is, they make it sound so easy and safe. I might just sell my whole rig.

[@bebopsplat1347]

I refused to use my resin printer until I build an airtight enclosure that vents to the outside. Everyone told me it was overkill, but now I'm glad I did

[@William_Van_Landingham_III]

I'm with you on that. I'll also be investing in an air quality sensor.

[@djangofett4879]

if its airtight, how is it going to vent any air through it?

[@SoylentGamer]

Good on you! I feel like there are a lot of creators out there who gloss over or understate the dangers of resin printing.

[@samuraijackoff5354]

@@djangofett4879 There is a tube that leads outside, mine is to a window. The tube is sealed tight on both sides with a mesh.

[@Zanroff]

I'm thinking about getting into resin printing. What part(s) of the process needs venting?

[@SierraWater]

Particulate matter from liquid resin or ultra fine particles can be in the 100 nanometer size. This means you would need to utilize both a HEPA + activated carbon filter to trap both UFPs and VOCs. I have been in the thermoplastic and filtration industry for 40 years.. Everyone’s constitution is different, but safety should always be a significant variable in determining whether to work in certain environments.

[@AnimatorJuusoz]

Exactly my thoughts. I was wondering why he was not mentioning anything about HEPA filters. You need both HEPA and carbon to properly filter air.

[@u563rick6]

@@dinfernosevI looked up the device it is electrochemical!

[@revilosmoth1101]

"SLA 3D printers produce very little PM, even during the post-processing steps of washing and curing. A Chemical Insights study found that SLA particle emissions remain at or below background ambient particle concentrations."

[@Mello_me]

do enclosures work?

[@uncledeadhead3674]

in order to be that small it would have to be either boiled or blown in strands intot he air, or, sanded, so if you are pouring resin its impossible for you to get aliquid to 100 nanometer size in the air. you should know this, but you left that out to make people more concerned.

[@BunkerSquirrel]

When I was in college, our robotics lab got a huge grant and one of the things we were excited to buy and use was a resin printer. Unfortunately, our facilities coordinator didn’t allow us to use it because we didn’t have a fume hood. We are a bit miffed and thought she was being ridiculous. Turns out she made the right call Edit: I'm loving these goofy aaa suggestions on how we could've circumvented this. Like honestly you even suggesting them is proof they didn't work for you.

[@TheEtbetween]

No she didn’t! Just open windows! Also you could use a exhaust fan. This Guy is not good at understanding chemistry! Printing killing you is click bate

[@BunkerSquirrel]

@@TheEtbetween No she really didn’t. FDM plastics are fairly safe so we were allowed to use that. SLA material is extremely toxic. “Just opening a window” *might* work in a home setting but is unacceptable in a lab.

[@TheEtbetween]

@@BunkerSquirrel Did she read the MSDS? We can’t determine something toxic just by smell!!

[@BryceGoodson]

​​@@TheEtbetweenyou can just be around resin fumes and feel sick relatively quickly. That's all the evidence I'll ever need.

[@paladro]

@@TheEtbetween safety first, no?

[@tiobridge841]

Don't feel bad about making a safety warning, it's important to do so!

[@arowsmitt7693]

More people new to the hobby NEED to see stuff like this. Everyone should know the proper saftey measures, and eventually some more communication from 3d printer/resin companies on the risks involved.

[@ba_charles]

this stuff has been used in factories for over forty years. if there were even mild risks (like with bpa) you would have heard of them by now

[@joeperk24]

New to the hobby here. Can confirm. Acquiring isolation cabinet with a fan sufficient to suck all these nasties and send them out of my home. Getting a TVOC monitor too. Gotta make sure it's actually working.

[@jman44]

I had a feeling these carbon filters only removed smells. That's why I made a cabinet for my printer that vents outdoors.

[@mechminded2207]

Correct.

[@mandalorianknight7002]

Yup, they’re advertised that way too. However your average consumer will think no smell equals safe. It’s similar to the water washable resin.

[@kdeuler]

Yes, I was just going to suggest this.

[@HCG]

No. They don’t just remove smells, that’s not how activated carbon works. It removes most VOCs and harmful gases

[@enginerdy]

@@HCGyeah.. I think what is going on is that for it to really smell, the concentration is _waaay_ over 10 mg/m3 and it’s knocking it down without getting it to a “safe” level

[@tyotee4361]

Thank you for bringing attention to this! However seeing your printing room it's no surprise the levels are so high, it's basically airtight with no ventilation at all. Removing the tape from the windows and opening the door is an excellent first step. Even FDM printing in a room like that would be quite toxic.

[@K8Stuff]

I was thinking that. Heck in a room like that a taco fart can be lethal ...

[@AshT8524]

@K8Stuff Lmao 😂🤣

[@paladro]

keep sealed, add some ventilation ports... pretty simple.

[@InfernusdomniAZ]

Ventilation also removes heat which he is very concerned about. Thats why the room is all sealed up. It's why he got the heat exchanger.

[@pittpenguin1236]

he can have it heated with a in printer heater and still have a vent in that fan I have one in my set u and my air quality alot better this guy is acting really dumb in a sealed room with resin

[@Darker1208]

the fact that most 3d printers are poorly made junk that barely work will kill us through frustration long before the resin will.

[@ba_charles]

you're more likely to be blinded by a malfunctioning laser than anything else

[@TheLuggi84]

This video is definitely a must-watch. Especially for those people that use water-washable resin, touch it without any gloves and flush the used water down the drain. There has to be done way more to warn the customer base about the toxicity and harmful nature of any resin. Unfortunately there are a whole bunch of people out there that downplay the risks of resin exposure.

[@Commodore22345]

Because people like you have been crying wolf on the supposed dangers of resin since it became widely available about a decade or so ago, and there is no data to support the assertions you safety nuts are making. A decade is more than enough time for something to have popped up by now to corroborate your claims on how harmful resin can be, but there's nothing. No cancers, or other long term ailments have thus far been linked to normal exposure to resin that results from 3D printing. Now that's not saying the stuff is completely safe. Everyone understands there is certainly some danger. But that danger can be largely mitigated with just a little bit of common sense. Wear some gloves, make sure there's some airflow and don't drink the resin and you'll largely be fine.

[@Pelasomma]

Out of curiosity how should you dispose of the used water?

[@TheLuggi84]

@@Pelasomma The same way you'd dispose of used IPA: Bring it to a place that is able to dispose it for you in a legal manner. Junk yards or such. Most do it for free if you bring just a couple litres.

[@kornervoncuriem9048]

After buying my first resin printer and doing more research, I'm realizing that the cheapest thing is the printer itself. There are many things that they don't tell you or that come fairly soon after you started. If someone had told me that apart from the printer, I need to set up a mini laboratory so that not only the prints come out well, but also to be sure I don't get poisoned by the fumes, maybe I would have thought twice before buying it, I'm not saying that I regret it, it's just that this type of information would be appreciated if it came in the manual XD. Thank you very much for the video, very valuable information, keep it up :D

[@joeperk24]

Same. Now purchasing a metal cabinet and sealing every nook and cranny so the air gets sucked in and evacuated where I want. Buying one of these censors too. Any other things you think I should look out for in the coming months for maintenance or other issues you encountered?

[@gagz9k]

The PSA is super important. For an "average joe" using a cabinet or a closet with an extraction system could be more feasible of a project. Still time and space consuming, but more realistic than a room size conversion, and would work great for temp control!

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

If you got a half bath in a house it could work from the sound of what you said

[@bobobob1230]

you know you have a good point, there's another closet/exhaust system project I had in mind here down in southern california too 🤔🤔🤔 I'm a little worried about Jonathan in this video though, like I feel like the real thing he needs to do is put in some HVAC exhaust fans going out of that room first and foremost... also what about a particulate respirator?Got one from painting the roof of my car, they're not super expensive

[@wonderbread6100]

@@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus I was told you do not want it in your bathing area either.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

@@wonderbread6100 half baths are just a can and sink and a vent

[@NoeticSystem]

I did one single print without anything beyond having a fan blow into the room and opening a window for cross-ventilation. That one print was all it took for me to realize that the fumes coming off resin printers, the little drips of uncured resin on your workbench, and the smell from gloves and cleaning towels covered in uncured resin are totally unacceptable to have in your bedroom. My lungs actually hurt every time I took the cover off the machine. This was with an Anycubic Photon with their high-speed resin. I cleared out the walk-in closet to use as a resin print station and put a big ALORAIR air purifier in there, and I got a North half-face mask and some cartridges, like what I used when painting with two-part polyurethane on ship hulls. People should not be breathing this stuff casually or sitting next to these things while they're in operation, without either a fume hood or a very powerful, hospital-grade VOC-removing air purifier, like an IQAir. They should also be wearing half-face P100 respirators with vapor cartridges any time they're working with uncured resin, transferring the material into and out of the tank on the printer, et cetera. I have been exposed to everything on the planet. Diesel fumes and vapor, xylene, acetone, paint, paint stripper, you name it. UV resin is uniquely nauseating, insidious stuff, and people should not be so casual about exposing themselves to it.

[@x3tc1]

One thing you should definitely check when meassuring air quality is if you have recently used IPA or other types of alcohol. Du to their chemical make up they get cross-detected by many HCHO sensors and quite a bunch of TVOC sensors aren't calibrated for them. Best case you have absurdly high reading. Worst case they permanently desensitize your sensor. I have a large air purifier with carbon and HEPA filter in my workshop and when I print my TVOC and HCHO levels stay withing living room limits (0,08 for HCHO). But as soon as I as much as open a bottle of IPA those readings go through the roof and stay there for a long time despite the air purifier and at least one additional carbon filter in the printer. Only opening a window for an hour or so helps. Even used wipes with some cleaning alcohol on them still mess with your sensors.

[@blackdeath099]

This is my issue with this video. Good intention, but he seems to not be familiar about how to do an actual testing protocol.

[@dkaustin98]

I had thought about 3D resin printing, however I was not aware of the airborne toxins. Thanks for posting this video. Now I know.

[@Marcus-xl9kr]

There are the filament printers that use spools of plastic that are way more office friendly than these little resin printers. Plus the filament printers are usually cheaper for a same sized printer than a resin printer

[@drew4252]

​@@Marcus-xl9krhe knows

[@janezpetergrom4731]

Great video. Nobody speaks about this. I had huge problems with my printing and nobody told me the resin was so toxic!! I have 3 printer running 24/7 in a separate room, but I can see this is not enough. I will install recuperator like you did! Thank you

[@Gumball_Watterson1997]

Rip

[@ChacUayabXoc]

I was actually in the process of thinking about what kind of 3D-Printer I want to get. Resin is so tempting, because of the quality you can get in small scales. But I don't have an extra room to use this in and it would need to be in the room I sleep and live in. This makes me seriously rethink. So thanks for the warning.

[@sandplasma]

You can hookup a vent directly from the printer exhaust to the window and have an extra carbon filter inside just in case.

[@KentHambrock]

This is brilliant, thanks for making sure more people know the dangers of resin printing and even showing a solution. I'm super tired of seeing people on youtube handling uncured prints with barehands and not wearing masks.

[@MantisRay861]

This is a big issue in other arts as well and often gets overlooked for a long time due to the absence of any immediate effect. Thank you for making this video! Remember that a window doesn't do much without a way for air to flow, like having the door cracked or another window open as well. Another option instead of the heat exchanger would be to wrap the printer in a thermal blanket, heated blanket perhaps. I think this would be a less expensive option.

[@Mavranel]

Thanks for this. Was thinking about getting into Resin Printing, but it's clear I need to put more thought into how I'm going to stay safe while doing it.

[@Guttalaser]

Tons and tons of 3d printing videos about every technical p.o.v. (resolution, slicing, supporting, curing, cleaning, post-processing, painting.. etc...) and at the end the max safe hints are: wear a mask, eyes protection glasses and nitrile gloves! And now YOU Man! Thank you so much!

[@pcliftonjr]

Bottom line is you need ventilation and should be wearing gloves when using chemicals. This goes for Resin, Epoxy , CA glues, Polyurethane etc... You can get away with it "for a while", but as you said eventually it catches up with you. Sadly, I lot of people take safety for granted.

[@tetrahed]

I made my own filter for a portable fume extractor for soldering or airbrushing. I discovered it works great for all the resin fumes and odors. I leave it working every time i print or cure parts. Is made of a few layers of nonwooven fabric in different sizes/gauges up to a hydrophobic 25grs layer.

[@randomnickify]

Yes, this, I'm sick of youtubers talking about "bad" smell of printing. That "smell" is effing toxic :/

[@Allegheny500]

Yeah, they don't mention this aspect other than the "use in a well ventilated area" warning, skipping over just how toxic the stuff is. Good information, thanks.

[@DarkAlkaiser]

It's not like they are keeping this secret, they are very clear that you need to be doing this in a well ventilated space.

[@hellotouchbot]

I use a 8x4 ft grow tent for my resin printers and cleaning. Its already got built in ducting so its real easy to basically make a walk in fume hood. I strongly recommend it!

[@mattmackenzie4636]

I know I suffer from health anxiety and take precautions too far for some things but I see all these youtubers who are being soo cavalier with their attitudes towards resin printing. In fact I don't have a resin printer because honestly I am scared despite wanting to do so. I do wish I would see more youtubers like you giving out solid advice on safety. I appreciate this video a lot.

[@vindik8or]

I don't mean to minimise your anxiety, but I think one thing to keep in mind is that you will get pretty clear indications that you shouldn't continue with resin printing before you suffer serious health consequences. The rashes from sensitisation that Jonathan mentioned will be pretty obvious and will go away when you stop handling resin. Yes, it will be annoying to have to divest yourself of all your equipment and give up 3D printing, but consider that you're already currently in that situation just with more money. All of the precautions and PPE recommended in this video are feasible (except maybe the heat exchange), but you should be confident that the health effects of resin aren't going to sneak up on you and ruin your life. You will get clear warning signs before that happens.

[@ty-wrap8184]

I'm glad to know I'm not alone. I to suffer from health anxiety. My 3d printing setup in my basement would make many roll their eyes, but my UFP extraction setup i built cost 3x more than the prusa mini I bought, but it allows me to enjoy the hobby and still sleep at night without worrying.

[@WGAJeremy]

I watched some KZbinr once rubbing UNCURED UV RESIN all over a FDM printed part to smooth out layer lines WITH HIS BARE HANDS and then CURING it with a handheld UV lamp while still holding it with his bare hands. Complete insanity.

[@mattmackenzie4636]

@vindik8or oh yeah, I've seen pictures of people with serious rashes. I always think a healthy level of concern over health and safety is beneficial and I am fully aware that my anxiety is often irrational, to rhe point where it hinders me from enjoying life and attempting things. My biggest concern is just how damn clumsy i am too, like if had a similar setup as Jonathan, I'd be fine but I always worry I'm going to knock something over, get it on me somehow and then I'd freak out. A bit of thought in set up and placement of items would mitigate that. Therapy has helped but I've been like this since childhood so changing my brains way of thinking takes some time. Though I appreciate your response. Sorry for the late reply.

[@mattmackenzie4636]

@ty-wrap8184 exactly, I hope one day to be able to afford a decent setup to print all the many, many purchases I've made of STL's (I'd rather £8 for 5 items now than £15 for one of them later ha) I don't think people understand that just because something is now able to be used at home doesn't make it any safer. The resin being used is still the resin being used by industries and the same levels of safety are required, not always on the same scale, for a small garage room you probably don't need 10 massive extractors but you still need something. Same thing with cleaning products, if you even read the labels on some spray varnishes they require being outdoors and using respirators. The bug thing also is when I see people on KZbin saying wear a mask guys and then sporting full beards. Like you now have no protection (unless you have those helmet ones). These particles are way smaller than the width of your beard hair, they are going to get through.

[@enginepy]

The first year I was in resin printing it was affecting me. Lots of fumes and headaches and eye pain. Eventually I figured out my techniques and was much more safe and reduced how much I was breathing and touching. Also, switching to water washable resin made a huge difference

[@ReallyBigBadAndy76]

That’s because all of the irritation you describe is from the isopropanol, not from the resin.

[@enginepy]

@@ReallyBigBadAndy76 I do agree that was a big one. I did also get a resin my eyes (from residue on my hands and often in little cuts on my fingers. I was just anxious and careless

[@javaguru7141]

Sure hope you're properly disposing of the water you're washing your resin with

[@raconianmoon]

It should be noted that water washable resin is actually significantly more toxic than the isopropanol soluble stuff due to the fact that it's vastly more permeable into the body (humans are mostly water, after all). You also really, really need to make sure you're treating your waste water from the washing step like chemical waste. Photopolymer resin is apocalyptically bad for aquatic environments (the only way to tell if the amounts in a body of water are lethal to fish is to literally put fish in it and see if they die because the threshold is so small it can't be effectively measured). Additionally, wastewater treatment plants cannot properly treat resin-contaminated water, so improper disposal may unintentionally result in poisoning your own local water supply

[@AlexM-iq3nh]

@Raconianmoon you have a source that states water washable is more toxic? I wash my water washable resin with alcohol still but I had read that this resin didn't have VOCs.

[@pn98lim72]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm a total beginner to start using resin printer and this video really helps me to understand about the risk and how to take precaution to protect ourselves.

[@Salaundre]

Thanks for making this. I’m thinking of getting into resin printing. This is definitely something I was concerned about with both types of printing.

[@charmio]

Just be aware those cheap TVOC meters are ludicrously sensitive. I once used deodorant in the same room as one and the alarm didn't shut off for an entire hour. Perhaps we should be avoiding deodorant too but you have to draw the line somewhere.

[@Woodledude]

You make a good point, so let's dig into this just a touch more. A: Clearly the video does not represent a scientifically rigorous study on what's actually happening here; it's just a PSA advising heightened levels of caution, which I can get behind regardless. B: Not all VOCs are harmful; "volatile" just means "enters the air easily", and many common and perfectly safe fragrances are VOCs just by their nature. So your point is good; a device that just measures how many VOCS in general are in the air doesn't give us a ton of precise data to work with on how dangerous this is. C: We could probably use a follow-up of some kind, from somewhere, measuring specific known harmful VOCs present in resin printing, and how different management strategies mitigate them or fail to. Will we get that? I don't know. But erring on the side of caution is sensible until we have more evidence to work with. Overall, I find it hard to disagree with the main point the video makes - Caution is, and always has been, advisable if one gets into resin printing, because it comes with many risks and hazards. Furthermore, just because we think some new idea will solve a specific problem because it's building on stuff that's supposed to work or has worked before, that hardly means we can skip the part where we actually test those assumptions, and think critically about our health and safety, especially with the propensity for DIY solutions that naturally comes with access to this technology. The video's message is overall good, I think, even if it is a bit vague and coming from a place of moderate paranoia. Paranoia is not an inappropriate train of thought with such a host of unhealthy toxins in play, I think. The power of resin printing comes at a price, and not just monetary.

[@7elemente]

I completely agree ! But funny story on me, actually I developped a really bad allergic reaction to deodorant out of a sudden ... so for more than 10 years I just use grandma's recipes like bicarbonate or simply water x) .... so from that moment I really get concerned about deodorants, do a lot of research and find out that 99% of them are very toxic too (sadly). But anyways, completely agree with cheap TVOC meters, they aren't very accurate :D

[@geoff4383]

i stopped using deodorant 30 years ago because they cause me to smell bad when i used it and i sweated more. plain old soap and water works for me and i never had any complaints about smelling bad. another issue with deodorant is the links to cancer and respiratory diseases. like so many things its the cumulative damage of chemicals that gets you. I knew a guy that after 9 years got seriously ill from working in job involving using dangerous chemicals because he did not use the protective equipment and the training provided to him. I worked the same job for 10 years before training the same guy because i was leaving to start a new job. I warned him countless times of the hazards and the risk to his health if he did not follow his training but sadly he did not. chemical can be a death by a thousand cuts.

[@7elemente]

@@geoff4383 completely agree with you ! Since I stopped using deodorant, I smell much better and I even sweat less. Honestly I've almost died that time when I got my allergic reaction ... and I remember I bought some "bio" deodorant which was supposed to be harmless. :D

[@7elemente]

@@Woodledude indeed the video is very good and I'm happy to see this kind of content nowadays ! My company work with plenty of harmfull solutions (3D printing resin being one of them and on top 3 worse toxins). Actually most TVOC meters arent's sensitive enough and they aren't completely optimised for most of harmfull toxins (if you have some 1k euros in your pocket, you may find "something" that's better, but there is no meter that has it all, usually you need to use many toxin meters, as each one is optimised on few molecules and toxines, in order to properly detect them). As you said, not all VOCs are harmful (even if actually, taking the deodorant example, a lot of them they are toxic but at some moment they are not "known or considered" as toxic --- I hope this makes sense somehow). The air purifier these 3D companies propose can filter only few of these toxins and at a very small pace ... they aren't enough at all and even worse (as the video explains), this will give a false feeling of safety. Even if you use a very good air purifier, it's still useless without a good ventilation. In our company we have big windows (on the walls and ceiling, plus a very big truck door, which we keep open when we work + some $$$ air purifiers), and I have to say that we still need to put our face mask protection and so on, only for using the smallest of our 3D resin printers ... in the future we will close everything in special enclosure (inspired from medical background) because the toxins still stay a long time in the air (which is pretty crazy, even for small and fast manipulation such as few minutes)... it still amazes me that a lot of people use these 3D resin printers in the bedroom or kitchen, next to kids and animals, but I hope it will change little by little. Cheers :)

[@jmarshal]

More people need to see this as 3d printing becomes more accessible.

[@glooomie8927]

good watch, I've just got back into printing and really wasn't caring to much but over the last few days after headaches decided to look into this more and will be changing my setup and ways.

[@vlaktorbb]

This is the reason i stopped printing resin after two months. I was using gloves, glasses and coat. It just doesn’t feel right, and you will eventually contact with something. I switched to back to FDM printing with a vent directly to the outside. Feel alot safer now.

[@andrewowens5653]

My first observation is that you're probably not an engineer. The fan you're using for the carbon filter doesn't have enough pressure, and as you already mentioned you need to have a lot more volume of activated carbon. I recommend the pellet type. That way the air can flow through and be intercepted by much more surface area. The other thing to do is install a ventilation fan to remove the air from the room every 5 minutes or so. That way you won't get any backflow into your house or apartment. Cheers!

[@mandalorianknight7002]

I’m happy that the initial project springboarded into this PSA. Resin never bothered me much in my three years of printing but like you said about the carbon filters, it just adds to potentially more harmful exposure 😬

[@Farli-Gaming]

what heat exchanger did you buy, i have been looking for one to clean air in my workshop

[@lawviatube]

Hello many thanks for the warning. I was wondering were to find and what is the model of the heat exchanger your are using in this video ?

[@filipeschenkel]

Have you ever studied how dangerous FDM printers are? This is an amazing video and I find it really odd that the 3D printing community doesn't address those issues so clearly... Thanks a lot for bringing up this discussion.

[@blackdeath099]

That's mainly because it's relatively new to the consumer hobby space and the long term effects of VOC exposure aren't exactly known.

[@Orannis01]

FDM printers put out similar pollution levels to living by a road.

[@SaltyMcSaltyPants]

Thank you very much for the warning! I really didn't understand the risks I was taking. Guess I'm getting myself some new PPE before I use mine again 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@360videonetwork6]

Thanks for the great video. Is the end product harmful? Ie does harmful residue go onto your hands when you touch a resin 3D printed item? Or is it only a toxic substance in liquid form?

[@goldengear3129]

so if i just have a bunch of resin models laying around and i don't do any resin printing of my own, am i still at risk of health complications? or is it just the process of resin printing that creates problems?

[@effindave6909]

I worked in a chemical manufacturing plant for about 10 years making polyols, isocyanates, epoxy and polyester resins and hardeners and a few accelerants and inhibitors. The developed reaction thing is 100% true. Be safe out there guys!

[@pbyfr]

Very interesting video. I didn't know resin was that nasty while printing, but I knew from working on real size glider that dust from sanded hard resin is toxic overtime (so much that someone which become allergic to it can not anymore just go inside a big hangar with gliders in it).

[@devinanderson15]

In a well ventilated room it’s not, in a large moderately ventilated room it’s not. His issue is coming from being in a shed what is almost airtight because he doesn’t have heating ability. I have a small resin printer in my basement that doesn’t even make the air quality dial move he might have a very large resin printer or a more toxic resin but I’m thinking most of his issue is self inflicted.

[@timsmith8824]

I decided to buy a meter and test this out myself. I have ran several tests. I have a 600 square foot shop. I run 2 Jupiter printers, 4 Saturn2, and 24 FDM printers in it. The highest reading I got was 3 and that was laying between a Jupiter and Saturn2 printing.

[@freddotu]

Thanks for providing the link for the air quality monitor. Would you be able to provide a similar link for the heat exchanger? My searches result in objects that are engineered for other applications and don't appear to be straight air-to-air devices.

[@Xethl]

I'm glad someone finally measured it and spoke about it. I've been debating getting one at uni in my dorm room, but with this there's just no way I can risk the health of my flat mates and myself for a few prints. I really wish companies would be honest about that, but I guess their investors wouldn't be too happy with them being honest

[@Handlebrake2]

Ppl have been saying this for years little Boi.

[@Xethl]

@@Handlebrake2 yes, old man. I'm aware. But they always say "it's dangerous". To what extent? For how long? Is using it in a room that is isolated with the door open after enough? Questions not many online answer, old man.

[@Handlebrake2]

@@Xethl yes they do. They tell you venting is important. Either with proper filters or to outside. And no you don't need to be told more than once or a few seconds!

[@Xethl]

@@Handlebrake2 it's also dangerous to eat apple seeds, nice to know how much though :)

[@archemides1517]

the numbers he is getting are prob completely useless to determine anything valuable proper machines costs thousands and require extsive setup for for long period of time to get accurate numbers. its basically the diffence between a gage to tell you the car is moving vs an actual speedo telling you exactly how fast your going

[@Kainthereaper]

The thing about carbon filters is their performance is directly correlated between overall mass and airflow. If you have too low of either it will essentially do nothing. For best results you should be using a large carbon filter attached to an inline fan. Similar to what people do in grow tents.

[@bl44bravebear]

Which heat exchanger do you use? The link doesn't work in my country. How is it called ?

[@seanmcgannon3433]

Thanks for the vidéo and the warnings :) Do you think a sealed printer enclosure can also be used to protect the room from fumes during the print then, take it outside once it is done?

[@creativi-tea398]

I'm a professional mofelmaker at a 3d printing company. I've been trying to tell people online that they really need to take more precautions. Some people have them in their bedrooms or living rooms. No ventilation or enclosure at all. These need to be kept in non living spaces and use appropriate ppe like respirators and gloves etc. At the least you can get an enclosure like a hydroponics tent and you can vent through a dryer tube with a fan and have heating elements.

[@alandtic4616]

Hey i 3d print in a large open area and wear gloves and a mask, and leave it after like 30 seconds and come back when it's done. It's a large shed with fans on the roof? is this ok? should i do anything more or am i safe,

[@OppGoblinTv]

Yoo i just bought a anycubic photon mono x ,was gonna put it in a closet in my bedroom 💀Skipped the line and bought my first ever 3d printer as a resin printer💀

[@BM-yy8db]

I would absolutely love it if you did one like this for FDM printing. Just how toxic is PLA in the air, especially without an enclosure?

[@beard-monster]

I'd like to know the same thing!

[@KT-pv3kl]

@@Grauenwolf melting pla releases a ton of volatile carbon compounds as well as other more nasty stuff. for a comparison having an fdm printer running in the same room as you is like having somebody smoking cigarettes right next to you. the only difference is a smoker usually only smokes a couple of minutes every few hours, a printer runs for 10+hrs straight.

[@riakata]

PLA produces some microfine particles but is about as bad as burning popcorn in the microwave still a bit cancer causing but tiny enough that it doesn't really matter if you have at least a bit of air exchange in the room. ABS on the other hand is extremely nasty stuff so don't print that at home if you don't know how to handle the fumes. Many plastics when melted make nasty stuff but PLA being corn based is generally considered pretty safe. SLA resins are a whole different ball game being liquid photo sensitive plastics and are reactive chemicals vs PLA which is inert at room temp.

[@raconianmoon]

@@KT-pv3kl If I remember correctly it should be noted that the study that claimed that had some pretty flawed methodology, they were printing the PLA at 245 degrees celcius, which is well hot enough for it to start burning and more than 60 degrees hotter than normal print temperatures. At regular temps it's much more benign

[@azecece1]

Hello do you have informations about your air system ? How much volum per hour you renew to have this air quality ? (I know classical is 2 room volume per hour but I imagine in lab is more)

[@OrangeOrangesMax]

Thank you for the info. I always questioned the little filters but now I know I need to put in a fresh air system

[@hidrowiz1313]

Ahh this explains why ive been sick living in the same space with 2 resin printers (they dont run all the time and i drain the vats when not in use and also have fans circulating the air as well as a window for fresh air to come in) seems to be only when im printing that i become tired and breathe weird.

[@Atlas3D]

TY so much for making this video - we have been banging on about this for years now - will be sharing this around. Respect the chemistry folks. This is why i wear a full facemask when i am in our print room. I've had more than a few people push back on us as being to safety concious - but i can tell you from personal experience resin will impact your health if you do not take proper precautions. Thank you again for making this video. We will be adding it to our discord and sharing it around to new printers.

[@TabletopUpgradesLeanJourney]

Too safety conscious! Really? I’d rather be in that camp than too carefree, well done dude, keep on going!

[@anthonycochran6492]

I get a kick out of videos like this. Rule #1 with resins of all types is "Only use in a well ventilated area." It says that on the packaging...but then everyone gets bent out of shape when circumvent the safety warning and discover that it's created a dangerous situation. It's very simple: 1. Read and follow ALL safety warning included with your product...or risk being the reason why they are there.

[@user-lo3pn5so4k]

I have done a ton of research on this as well and your video is spot on. Thank you for posting this 🙌

[@ForceSabersUK]

All you need to do is wrap a heat belt round the vat / tank so you can control the resin temp to anything you want and then that allows you to install extractor fans one fan blowing in fresh air and the other very near the printers expelling the air. It's what I do and my air quality is fantastic and even in winter I can keep resin at any temp I like

[@leblon712]

Can you elaborate o more on your setup? And the heat belt?

[@Pendragon-dnd]

Yes seconding this is also like more clarification on the heat belt. It sounds useful

[@Pendragon-dnd]

@@leblon712just found something called a thermal vatband which regulates temperature for just the vat.

[@ForceSabersUK]

Sorry I didn't see the replies, so around the tank you use what's called in eBay a "Brew Heat Belt Fermentation Belt Heating Beer Wine Cider Making Warming Heater" I use mine on a timer for early morning printing to bring things to temp which takes about 30 mins. For air quality I use one bathroom air fan blowing into the area and another opposite sucking air out and works like a dream. Hope that clarifies things better. When the belt is around the vat / tank the plastic printer cover just sits on top of the belt.

[@ForceSabersUK]

@@Pendragon-dnd sounds exactly like what I use.

[@flomojo2u]

Ok, there are a number of issues here. First, those cheap air quality/VOC meters are absolutely worthless! I bought a few different ones under $100USD, and they were a complete waste. I got really scared since one said there were lethal levels of CO in the room, only to find that it was some isopropyl alcohol that I had rubbed on my hands. The sensors in these cheap meters try and combine a bunch of things into a single device, and they are incredibly inaccurate, if not dangerous due to misleading info that could mask real issues. So I would never worry about the readings you get except as an indicator that something unusual is in the air, but never as a means of testing for safety! It's also important to be familiar with the material safety data sheets for the resin so you can find out what you're being exposed to, and at what levels are dangerous. As others have noted you've essentially built a sealed container with zero air flow through, so any fumes at all will be concentrated over time. It's no wonder you still saw problems the next day. Finally, you really need the right fan for filtering through media like activated carbon. The problem is that your average computer fan is optimized for high air flow at low back pressure, and you need one capable of working against constricted flow, such as a centripetal fan. Otherwise you'll see almost zero flow.

[@herculeholmes504]

I wouldn't say that's a fault with the meter, more like a fault with the method.

[@paulsproule9132]

Hey thanks for putting this up. I'm 3d printing rather than resin printing and exclusively using PLA+. I have two high volume underfloor fans on the water venting air directly out behind my two Bambulab P1Ps turning over the air in the room every 6 minutes or so. Does this present any risk in your opinion from particles? How toxic is PLA plus vs resin? Am I better to still have a meter to test levels? Thanks!

[@claudiop.2778]

Can you please tell us what kind of half mask we should use? Is it good also for ipa vapors?

[@hazonku]

As someone who's worked in professional painting VOCs are no joke. I've worked in priming booths where it's PPE to the gills in front of a massive 12' diameter fan. Oh, that was all OUTSIDE btw.

[@garyseaman6105]

I have FDM printers. Resin holds an interest for me but also a fear. I love the high detail, but a lot more is involved with resins. Thank you for the video.

[@MateuszAdamczyk]

FDM printers do the same: they heat up plastic and relase VCOs into air.

[@K8Stuff]

@@MateuszAdamczyk Agree - just not to the extend of resin printers.

[@juggernaugh75321]

​@@MateuszAdamczykThey do but heating up your oven released far more VOCs into the air then printing with PETG or PLA but we don't talk about that unfortunately.

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

@@MateuszAdamczyk Not really worth to mention, as long you don't start printing filament like ABS, ASA or Nylon.

[@robrs210]

It’s not voc’s with fdm printing, it’s microfibres.

[@beard-monster]

What kind of heat exchanger is this? Really curious about getting one myself and don't know where to start.

[@peterpensi9478]

Nice, thank you for raising this issue in my yt feed.. make one now about the finished product … it fumes out for years. It’s amazing that the homemaker space is not more vocal about it!

[@ChrisHarmon1]

I got insanely sick at the height of my resin printing adventures during the covid pandemic. Wasnt the type of sick where you cough or feel a fever, just felt absolutely wiped out. I had been touching my prints directly while washing them in a vat of alcohol i kept re-using and really think it may have been the cause. For about 3 months i was 100% wiped out could barely get out of bed and thought I was dying sometimes. Not sure it was the cause but it did happen at same time. Ive mainly gone back to FDM since.

[@hazonku]

Yeah touching alcohol and huffing alcohol fumes full of resin will definitely kick your butt if you're doing it regularly.

[@paladro]

could have also been covid, given the time frame you mentioned... plenty of them over the counter tests aren't accurate.

[@JennaHartDemon]

Yeah, like a pregnancy test. If its no, it could be yes. If its yes then its definitely yes

[@bbbbbbb51]

​@@JennaHartDemonnot at all. False positives were extremely common for PCR tests. It's pretty out in the open and has been for 1-2 years at this point. I'm always kind of shocked when people don't know things like this, but then again a lot of people just want to put that period of time behind them.

[@JennaHartDemon]

@@bbbbbbb51 I was not aware. I just investigated this and yeah, depending on the brand and test style the false positive rate can be quite high. I've only ever tested when I was sick and believe the results I received. It is disappointing to realize just how unreliable these at home tests can be. Thanks for the info

[@avianmaster]

A nice bit of knowledge on the health hazards in resin printing, nicely done and good job for bringing attention to something many people likely just shrug off. Fumes & breathing hazards were some of the worries that had me on the fence when I got interested in resin printing since I don't have free space for a completely dedicated print area. I ended up buying an enclosed growing tent w/ some flexible ducting and a duct fan to completely draw the vapors from the printing enclosure and out a nearby window. Can never be too safe when it comes to precautions against hazardous chemicals, vapors, and other similar things.

[@JCDenton3]

I need some help/comments on my 3d printing workshop air quality setup. I have a Saturn 2 with the big Elegoo air purifier connected to it by hose which sits on a shelf in my office in my apartment. The 3d printer is under a box, and the purifier vents into the room. I have a further topline Hepa air purifier in the room after that circulating the rest of air that is put out. When I get home and the print is done, I go into the room with a mask, and open the window with a small 6in exhaust fan and leave it on for about an hour while I clean up the machine, pour resin back in the bottle, wash the piece, etc. With the window closed and machine off but the room's purifier still on, I then let the piece cure. I feel like this might be safe, but this video is making me worry. Is this a safe setup or am I risking myself?

[@travisrobinson6918]

i'm glad i found your video. I'm about to start resin 3d printing and i live in an apartment two bedroom. I plan on setting my station up in the non occupied room that has a window. I never knew any of this. thank you

[@SeonasStudio]

My first printer was in the house for exactly one print, years ago. The smell of the resin made me concerned about fumes, and I have animals that can’t wear ppe. So now all my printing paraphernalia lives out in my carport, in a little makeshift room with slatted walls and lots of air gaps. Yes it gets dusty and covered in leaves, yes I have to contend with printing outside the times that the sun shines through the slats, but I’m a lot more comfortable with it all out there rather than contained in my house. I too want to keep enjoying my printers so it’s worth it.

[@michaegi4717]

Yes this seem to be one option... or you just use this fan to do ventilation of your room. Removing the stuff is always more effective than filtering. There are also ventilations available with 'kind of' heat recovery which might save some energy for cooling/heating of your workshop. This is usually still cheaper than those carbon filters.

[@nosalis]

well, removing it outside is just moving the problem elsewhere :) if I was venting my resin printer room to a neighbor BBQ pit, I'm sure they will start complaining very quickly It's a combination of things better filtration that actually works , and removing the rest or finding some reaction that makes it non-toxic , like when you wash the resin in IPA , so somethign along those lines , like an active IPA filter - if such thing is even possible

[@miya1285]

@@nosalisyou do understand that the air dilutes it so it’s not hazardous, right?

[@JacopoSkydweller]

Less hazardous to your immediate health, it doesn't magically make it non hazardous 🤣@@miya1285

[@RagingOwlbear]

Thank you for posting this! This is a huge help and makes me realize I should stick with FDM for the time being because I do not have a good space (yet).

[@AKA0214]

Thank you! What you cover in this video is why I don't have resin currently, no safe, dedicated space to set it up. For my FDM printing I vent everything outside of the house including PLA because they don't list additives used. Totally agree with safety first/overkill first approach. I wish I had a shed setup like yours, way cooler than my current grow tent setup. 😂

[@discussion210]

Couple of questions, 1) how would this impact for an american garage that is not air tight but also jot fully open? 2) are the water washable or soy based resins significantly better than something like an abs like or general purpose resin? For clarity, i was excited to switch to a new resin printer i recently picked up for longer/larger prints to reduce risk of fire compared to fdm, but dont want to risk my health or my wife's health (or containmate my garager)

[@Gormadt]

I'd love to see an in depth video about the kinds of exhaust systems that are good for resin fumes

[@karinejohannecharlot1781]

Thanks for this video. What kind of protective mask would you recommend ? Regards

[@petercallison5765]

If carbon filters don't work then can we trust masks?

[@feralwaffle]

i know this may not get answered but, how does resin printing effect consumables in the same area.. how far should i be placing my printer from things i eat? at this time i have a printer in my office next to some cans of gfuel but i havent done any printing in a few months before i got them? should i be moving these out of the room entierly to keep them safe? i also live in a small house 900 SQ FT does my printer have a chance of effecting the food in my cabinets in such a small living space despite it being on the opposite side of the house??

[@DaemonSmith1]

Thanks so much for this informative video, I've been wondering how I'm going to safely begin printing and I'm a little worried now I might not have an appropriate space! Bit of a bummer but I'd rather know than get sick

[@NNextremNN]

I kinda have a feeling that controlling the temperature and climate inside the printer/vat would be easier then controlling it outside of it.

[@riakata]

You could plumb all the hoods into the intake of the HRV plus a small balancing valve to not cause the blower to overspeed too much then your air exchange would be slowed down sigificantly and capture the fumes right from the source. You may draw dust into the printers though which could mess things up over time so putting an air filter on the room return air to filter out any dust would be a good idea. Then it also automatically would increase airflow when you remove a hood and if you have a manual valve over the cleanup area you could minimize the amount of air exchange and thus heating cost. Although it is probably much simplier to just get a massive HRV and heatpump unit and then the whole space is covered.

[@Icarus9083]

Thank you so much for making this video. I knew the resin fumes were bad to breathe in but didn’t know quite how bad. Used to have my printer in a garage but moved into a small apartment recently and I felt super sick after printing a mini. Found your video and I now have a enclosure with ventilation and the air quality sensor you used and it’s now safe to print again

[@Gumball_Watterson1997]

🙉

[@hamiltonb6802]

What’s the cost of the heat exchange unit you’re using? Also, the meter you’re using for VOC, does it seem to be correct? I’ve gotten a cheaper one and I don’t trust it as the temp and humidity are usually wrong on it.

[@JustCallMeMeghan]

YES. All of this. As a resin artist (traditional 2 part, not printed, but same), I cringe and squirm so much when I see resin artists on YT or TT or IG who are working with resin without gloves or a respirator. You can delevlop severe allergies and serious health complications by even just breathing in the fumes. It's honestly scary seeing people "play" with resin without any protection.

[@sudopuff8549]

I like to do character designs in Blender and thought it would be a neat idea to get a resin printer so I can make figures out of my work to sell on Etsy or something similar, but ultimately I decided against it due to safety concerns. If a guaranteed non-toxic solution is found I'll get into the hobby, but until then I don't think I'd be able to reasonably protect myself (and my cat) well enough in my space with PPE.

[@nophead]

Please can you say which model of heat exchanger you used?

[@g00fysmiley]

trying to find that air to air heat exchanger or a small one is proving difficult I see some hvac ones for whole house but small ones like that to mount on the wall. any chance for a link in the video description to be added

[@4.0.4]

Thanks for this PSA. Most 3D printing channels make it seem relatively safe. I imagine at some point there'll be some kinda crap but non-toxic resin (like lead-free solder).

[@markkNL]

It is relatively safe, he didn't show any proof for his toxic claim. the MSDS of all resins I've seen so far show it as being a mild irritant, with the only severe toxicity being ingestion of it or being exposed to it while being a fish (aquatic life). The only thing this video shows is that his homemade filter is crap in removing random volatile organic compounds out of the air. Wear proper PPE while working in the same room and it's all fine.

[@KICKFIST0]

There is a huge difference between a hobbyist printer and people like this guy. He has a dedicated shed for his printer, which means no air flow and no ventilation. Your average hobby guy like us? We can just open a window and turn a fan on and the room never gets polluted enough to matter. You should ABSOLUTELY wear PPE. Gloves, safety glasses(I just use sunglasses) and a mask of some sort are absolutely critical but all of those, an open window and a fan is pretty much a slam dunk.

[@pjlights164]

Man, thank you for this. I've always known I should be doing more with safety/ventilation but for some reason I've always just told myself it's not that bad. This is a wake up call. Definitely will be doing something different with my 3D printing space.

[@chasingsomething3735]

care to share the model of heat exchange/ventilation you used?

[@Indy1977TX]

Thank you for posting this. I have a 3D printer but barely used it. Put it in my office and within 24 hours instantly regretted it. It is hard to find a space without traffic that is protected from the outside.

[@dereineschwarzerabe]

I still want to get into resin printing one day but videos like these are so important. Too many people don't hear about the safety aspects. I had to explain to a former co-worker, why their child having a 3d printer in the bedroom is a bad idea, and thankfully the printer wasn't there very long, they listened and moved it in a safer space.

[@AlexandreProkoudine]

Yeah, a guy I used to know died after spending some hours laser-cutting polymers without ventilation or mask. He was a very nice dude, educating kids on using Blender.

[@riakata]

There is a whole list of materials you should never cut on a laser cutter because of the hyper toxic fumes it makes.

[@KraggHC]

I know this video is 6 months old, but I have been trying to get a hold of a good VOC meter for a while, and can't seem to find one. Which one are you using in the video, and what heat exchange unit are you using? I might be interested in trying the whole setup out.

[@chrisx742]

Build a solid mdf enclosure large enough to contain the printer with one acrylic side so you can see the printing. Have a single duct at the top, venting to the outside with a fan pulling air. Have a small one-direction (and sealable) input on the underside. During printing, all of the VOCS will be contained within the box. Before opening the box, activate the fan to clear out the chemicals. It should be easy to maintain temperature during printing because you are not constantly exchanging air.

[@max16]

I bought 2 air purity testers and set them up around my printers. From what I remember both can test for everything at a partical size of like 3up wich is within the range of these resins Nothing came out of the shroud. Only when you open the hood they go off. And at that point you should have a mask and air purifier on. Otherwise while it’s printing it’s totaly fine.

[@notanactualuser]

Makes me wonder if the carbon filters would work better if it's under the hood or a part of the hood itself

[@max16]

@@notanactualuser my testing it made no difference.. i just have a good rated air punifyer in my room where i print that moves air around when i lift the shroud and thats all that is needed. other then that. while its printing if the shroud is on as it should be. nothing should be leaking out.

[@Bustermachine]

@@max16 There should be a gasket seal on these shrouds, correct? I'd definitely urge people to be sure the gasket is properly seated. It's probably the biggest safety precaution a casual (i.e. hobbyist) printer can take.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks for sharing this Jonathan. It's one of the reasons I don't do resin printing. Have fun 3D printing!

[@DisgruntledPigumon]

Not sure if you’re implying you do FDM rather than resin, but FDM is almost as bad. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9229569/

[@barrettblue1137]

hi. I have the standalone printer just sat printing everyday in a non ventilated bedroom. is this safe?

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Thanks for telling the truth. Ive seen many KZbinrs claim its non toxic, just because the company claims on Amazon that its plant-based and nontoxic. They make those claims 1) to sell more resin and 2) because nobody is going to take them to court, at least in the US, there is not much legal work being done to keep truth in advertising, no lawyers touch those cases unless its a huge obvious class action and a slam dunk for millions in damages.