Explore your options before your next print ends in slime or shatter.

Resin 3D printing is an art—and like any art form, the materials matter. The type of resin you choose can make or break (sometimes literally) your final print. Whether you’re crafting ornate miniatures or durable prototypes, knowing your resin is the first step to mastery.

In this post, we break down the 5 main resin types every printer should know, when to use them, and what to watch out for.

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🧱 1. 

Standard Resin

The workhorse of most resin printers.

• ✅ Great for detail
• ✅ Affordable and widely available
• ❌ Brittle and fragile under pressure

Best for: Miniatures, prototypes, detailed models that don’t need to survive a drop test.

Avoid for: Functional parts or anything that requires strength.

💡 Tip: Always post-cure standard resin properly to reduce brittleness.

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💪 2. 

Tough Resin

When you want detail AND strength.

• ✅ Stronger and more impact-resistant
• ✅ Better for mechanical parts
• ❌ More expensive than standard resin
• ❌ Often less sharp on very fine details

Best for: Functional prints, moving parts, or models you need to handle often.

Avoid for: Ultra-detailed miniatures—some resolution can be lost.

💡 Tip: Perfect for weapons, joints, or test pieces you’ll manhandle during prototyping.

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🧊 3. 

Flexible Resin

The weird one in the family—squishy, but powerful.

• ✅ Can bend and stretch without snapping
• ✅ Great for gaskets, grips, wearable parts
• ❌ Tricky to print and post-process
• ❌ Sticky and smelly during printing

Best for: Parts that need elasticity—like buttons, shock absorbers, or costume bits.

Avoid for: Anything requiring precision or stiffness.

💡 Tip: Use lower layer heights and longer exposure times. This resin needs patience.

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💧 4. 

Water-Washable Resin

No IPA? No problem.

• ✅ Easy to clean with just water
• ✅ Great for small workspaces or beginners
• ❌ Can be more brittle than standard resin
• ❌ Still needs UV post-curing

Best for: Entry-level printing, classroom use, or anyone sensitive to harsh chemicals.

Avoid for: Structural parts, unless labeled “tough water-washable.”

💡 Tip: Let washed prints dry completely before curing or they’ll turn chalky.

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🔬 5. 

High-Detail / ABS-like Resin

The elite tier for clean, sharp results.

• ✅ Smooth finish and sharp edges
• ✅ Good mechanical resistance (ABS-like)
• ❌ Higher cost
• ❌ May need fine-tuning exposure and temperature settings

Best for: Display miniatures, intricate molds, professional prototypes.

Avoid for: Budget-conscious, quick prototyping jobs.

💡 Tip: These resins often have higher viscosity, so make sure your printer is tuned for it.

⚖️ Choosing the Right Resin: It’s a Trade-Off

Resin Type	Strength	Detail	Easy to Use	Best For
Standard	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Miniatures, casual prints
Tough	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	Functional parts
Flexible	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	Wearables, soft parts
Water-Wash	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Beginners, easy cleanup
ABS-Like	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	Professional, high-detail jobs

🎯 Final Thoughts

Choosing the right resin isn’t just about what you have on the shelf—it’s about what you need the print to do once it’s done. Always test, calibrate, and tweak your settings depending on the resin you’re using.

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💬 What resin do you swear by?

Drop your favorite (or worst!) resin experience in the comments—and let others learn from your success… or your mess.

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Let me know if you’d like a thumbnail image or infographic to go with this one!