Hey gang, Tim here at Core Electronics and today I'm showing you exactly how I get rad finishes on my 3D printed parts. A special part of me enjoys it when people go, I cannot believe that was 3D printed and one of the best ways to get that reaction is through post-processing.

Now, this is not to belittle a raw print result which you can achieve from a correctly dialled in fused filament fabricating 3D printer. I love those finishes too but you won't ever be able to get a mirror reflective finish from it. Just check out this before and after shot and tell me it does not get you psyched.

So, this will go through the process I do to get nice usable finishes that you can hold and touch and not be concerned about it rubbing off. It's going to be excellent for statue pieces or for clamshell cases.

You're going to need 280 and 400 sandpaper. The more the better, there's nothing worse than running out. You're going to need prime and putty in one repair spray. You're also going to need paint and prime black spray paint. You're also going to need gloss clear spray paint. You're also going to want a wire tray or something like cardboard to seat your components on. And finally, you're going to want gloves and a pair of gloves.

The exact stages I go through to post-process are stage one, the initial sandpapering to help the first layer of primer to stick. 240 grit is a good starting point. Stage two is three layers of primer putty and two hours of drying time between each layer. Each layer sand back aggressively against the primer putty.

Stage three, for the best final primer putty layer, grab your sandpaper, fold it and fold it so then it becomes a rigid flat piece like this and then grab your component. Say this is the one I was going to work on. It's already done but I'm not going to work on it right now. And then you can grab this sandpaper and very carefully use it to fine all those edges off.

Stage four, you're going to want three layers of paint and prime black spray paint. One hour of drying time between each layer and each layer also sand aggressively except for the last one using 400 grit. Now each layer needs only be very thin. More layers showing through, the deeper and more beautiful the final result is going to be. The final layer of this black spray you're not going to want to sand.

Stage five, you're going to want two layers of gloss clear spray paint. This one, you know you're going to leave about one hour of drying time between each layer. Now this is going to protect the layers underneath and give a really nice final sheen. You're then going to sand back that first layer lightly with 400 grit and then you're not going to sand the final layer.

Stage six, once that final layer is complete you're going to bring your components to an airy and dust free environment. You're going to leave them for a day until that paint looks dry. Worth noting, it's still going to be quite mushy that paint so don't touch the surface just yet.

And stage seven, you're going to take those components outside leave in a semi shady area and let it dry for about four plus days. Now if it's in the sun all day this is going to speed up the process but don't let rain get on your components. Multiple layers will take days to truly cure and dry so place it outside with the sun, conceal it and completely solidify that paint. Wait as long as you think and then wait twice as long.

Now good spray paint technique involves wearing gloves and a mask and shaking that can for five minutes. You're going to shake it until you think it's good and then you're going to shake it some more and spraying in an arc from 45 centimetres away when applying spray paint to a component, it's important to ensure that each layer is thin. This allows for a nice depth to the surface and prevents the loss of details. If the paint is applied too heavily, it can be sanded back. It's crucial to wait for each layer to dry sufficiently, which may take longer than indicated on the can. A flashlight can be used to check if the surface is dry.

During the final layers between colours, it's important not to sand or touch the painted surface. The described post-processing method is suitable for various 3D print materials, as long as they can be sanded and allow primer and spray paint to adhere. While spray paint is used in the example, other methods such as airbrushing and different types of paint can also be explored for various finishes.

Post-processing with paint requires patience at each step. It's advisable to multitask to avoid watching paint dry. The clamshell design mentioned is a modified version of the G-Wii case designed by G-Man, with a link provided for the original design. If the content is valuable, viewers are encouraged to like and subscribe.