Alcohol Disposal

[JeffB]

This goo you talk about is why I will never buy a "wash station". I know it will just get gummed up.

Yup...  I have a wash/cure station but have only used its "cure" function. 

Jeff

[Scottl]

I have a station as well and use the cure, but the wash seems like overkill.  I give my prints a quick slosh around in a dirty and then cleaner alcohol container.  They come out perfectly clean.

[Chris333]

But I thought parts should be completly dry for curing? Do you cure them in alcohol?

[Scottl]

I let the alcohol dry off after the clean rinse.  Then cure.

[JeffB]

I have a station as well and use the cure, but the wash seems like overkill.  I give my prints a quick slosh around in a dirty and then cleaner alcohol container.  They come out perfectly clean.

I do pretty much the same...  I dunk them while still on the build plate in the first wash and let them sit for about a minute, sometimes two.  Slosh them around a few times, then pull them out.  Separate from the build plate, and dunk them in the "clean" wash IPA for a minute or two. 

No extended wash time and so long as the final rinse IPA is still pretty pure, they're perfectly clean. 

I blow them dry using the air compressor out in the garage.  Then let them "season" for a day or so on rack over my furnace prior to final UV curing.

Jeff

[JeffB]

Small update on this...

Found a few YouTube videos where guys have found the best way to recycle the alcohol.

And that is...  Strain it.  Cure the uncured resin in solution in the sun.  Decant the remaining alcohol.  And finally, run that alcohol through an inexpensive water distillation unit (Amazon, about $65).

The result is nearly perfectly clean IPA and from another article I've read, if you adjust the temp of the distillation unit, you can even distill just the alcohol, leaving any water behind.

Downside of this...  Fumes, so do it outside.  Fire hazard, so again, do it outside and away from anything flammable.  Resultant muck/goo in the distillation unit, don gloves, scrape it out and cure it in the sun, then throw it in the trash.

Ordered an ultra fine mesh 5 gallon pail filter and a distillation unit this morning.  Should have both within the week.

On a similar topic...  Found 1 gallon jugs of 99% IPA in an ACE Hardware store in Florida last week while visiting my in-laws.  Of course they don't sell it here in same stores here in CT, but you can get a great price on four gallons with free shipping off Amazon.

Jeff

[Chris333]

With denatured alcohol I notice the solids will fall to the bottom much quicker than IPA. This leaves clear liquid that would have you think it is clean. But after dunking parts my glove will be very slimy. Running it through coffee filters doesn't help the sliminess.

I just think no matter what way will or won't work to filter it out, they all will take time. I'd rather just buy more alcohol. If it wasn't so big I'd get a 55 gallon drum 

[JeffB]

With denatured alcohol I notice the solids will fall to the bottom much quicker than IPA. This leaves clear liquid that would have you think it is clean. But after dunking parts my glove will be very slimy. Running it through coffee filters doesn't help the sliminess.

I just think no matter what way will or won't work to filter it out, they all will take time. I'd rather just buy more alcohol. If it wasn't so big I'd get a 55 gallon drum 

Denatured Alcohol is definitely a better solvent than IPA...  I just can't get used to the smell.

That "clear liquid" still contains elements of the resin itself, which no amount of filtering will get rid of.  That's what you're getting rid of when you distill it (which I'm sure you know).

I'd buy more alcohol too, and have been for some time, but I can't dispose of it quickly enough at this point.  Recycling it in this manner is mostly so that I can get rid of the nastiness, rather than saving $$$ buying more IPA.

Jeff