How to Smooth and Prep a PLA 3D-Printed Helmet for Painting

Learn how to smooth and prep a 3D-printed Mandalorian helmet for painting, from print bed to fully primed! This whole process takes just a few hours once you learn how to do these steps efficiently. This process can be applied to pretty much anything, not just Mandalorian helmets, but this video does include some helmet-specific tips.

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Sabine's helmet file:

Materials used:

Chapters:
0:00 What is the Goal?
0:49 Filing the Z Seam and Support Remnants
1:07 First Sanding
1:46 Filling the Layer Lines
2:50 Second Sanding
3:09 Auto Primer
4:12 Results

#sabinewren #mandalorian #3dprinting #cosplay #cosplaytutorial #starwarscosplay

[NickDemberger]

I love how short, sweet, and to the point this video is. Thank you!!!!

[alexh]

Great tutorial! I use straight spot putty from a squeeze tube. But I’ll try the wood filler and acetone method as well.

[mfsoab]

Nice one again. About to test the wood filler acetone mix for the first time on my klingon Bat'leth that just finished printing 😏

[melonloc]

I just finished following your tutorial and it came out great! I usually use bondo but I wanted to try wood filler because I’ve heard the smell isn’t as strong.

[wckdsmrt]

Great tutorial. Will be trying this on my wolverine mask

[chleroeyes]

I seen your short, using the acetone and wood filler and I didn't get the right Constance. But this video helped

[_azterisk]

I have a Neptune 4 and I’m really wanting to print cosplay pieces like this. I’d love to see a video of how you size your pieces correctly for your head/body and what your solution for printing pieces in parts are when you have to bond them together afterwards

[Jesttricks]

Pretty cool you have the same printer and you have videos on the two things I was looking up. This video and the one you had with spandex and rubber soles. Keep it up, these are very helpful.

[Hagbergscorner]

Great tutorial! That putty acetone mix will be tested here too. Thumbs up.

[gj]

You can print these much faster, use a .8 mm nozzle and print these in single wall thickness, like in vase mode afterwards you can reinforce it with epoxy or fiberglass or any other material , there are videos available online, that demonstrate this method .

[helge]

Thanks for useful videos thanks for sharing love it

[matteblack]

This tutorial is awesome! Question, for the process after the sanding the wood filler, how to clear off the dust? Wash it or what is the better method?

[JayAr]

Can't seem to find your video talking about the pros and cons of woodfiller vs bondo. I'm going to be tackling a mando helemet print so I'm open to all techniques before trying any myself

[Geminithegiant]

What mask do you recommend to wear during this process -- also AWESOME helmet!

[itstonyshark]

What kind of paint brush are you using?

[hanswurst]

At which stage are you using which kind of sanding paper?