Resin printing alcohol logistics breakthrough

[tudordewolf]

I picked up an air still for about $50 new, and it has completed solved the "fresh/used alcohol" problem.

I'm certainly not the first person to try this, but it blows me away that it's not "standard practice" given how many problems it solves at once. I don't have to buy gallons of fresh rubbing alcohol, nor dispose of nasty resin-filled alcohol, no half-measures trying to expose and settle out resin which leaves you with half-clean, still-slimy gallons of alcohol...

Anyway, borrowing from my RC planes, I use a fuel pump (resin use only after this, don't want goop in my engines) to transfer to used alcohol into the still, it can hold the entire contents of my wash and cure's 4-liter vat.

Then, OUTSIDE and away from ignition sources, I run it directly into a couple half-gallon mason jars. I could use the included container, but then I'd have to transfer the alcohol again. It cuts off automatically when it runs out.

The result is crystal-clear, ready to wash again alcohol. I've run the same batch more than once now, the still has already paid for itself in savings, not to mention the convenience of in-house alcohol recycling.

So clear it's hard to tell the vat is full!

The still is left full of goopy crud which is easier to scrape out if you add a little fresh alcohol back in and let it soften.

Let the still cool completely (several hours) before opening it, it will be full of noxious vapors.

The still is permanently ruined for any purpose other than separating resin and alcohol. It seems to get at least 80% of the alcohol back, it appears to recover more in cold weather, but I haven't done hard testing.

 

[WickedFog]

Pretty cool man. That was one thing I hated about resin printing. One thing I never tried though, was what happens if you fire a UV light into the contaminated alcohol?

 

[Guest D]

Pretty cool man. That was one thing I hated about resin printing. One thing I never tried though, was what happens if you fire a UV light into the contaminated alcohol?

Wonder if that would work

Although distilled would definitely get everything out even dust. I guess if there is any.

 

[tudordewolf]

Pretty cool man. That was one thing I hated about resin printing. One thing I never tried though, was what happens if you fire a UV light into the contaminated alcohol?

I tried that, both with the curing station and leaving the jars outside. It would fog up and then some would settle out, but it took a long time (days to settle) and the end result was still very resin-smelly and left residue on the prints you washed it with.

 

[TeknoJ]

Nice! I didn't realize resin printing had this much extra work.

 

[WickedFog]

I tried that, both with the curing station and leaving the jars outside. It would fog up and then some would settle out, but it took a long time (days to settle) and the end result was still very resin-smelly and left residue on the prints you washed it with.

Was just curious. I didn't think to try it when I had mine. I will keep this still idea in mind when I get another resin printer.

You better watch it. The Chinese are going to steal this idea and start selling it