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Following advice I read elsewhere, I have covered my (heated) print bed with blue painter's tape, and before each print I apply an Elmer's purple washable glue stick to improve bed adhesion.

After the print finishes and I remove the part from the bed, the bottom is covered with a white residue. I'm fairly certain this is the dried glue. It turns purple again when I wet it.

Is there an easy way to clean off this residue, or is there a better technique?

example part with residue

rgov
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  • I'd bet acetone, but you might want to try it on a very small spot before you do to make sure it doesn't mess anything up with the print. It'd take the goo off, but whether it is harmful to the print I'd not be sure. – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 Apr 25 '19 at 17:42
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    being made for kids to use, it's water-soluable. warm water and gentle scrubbing with a sponge or rag will rinse it right off, or you can soak it for a few mins if you have a lot of parts. – dandavis Apr 25 '19 at 17:51
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    i'd been using tape/glue sticks. I now use a thin coat of hairspray on the glass itself. It also sticks to the print, peeling when the bed cools and the print's removed. I apply a THIN coat after clearing the bed, and let it dry on a hot (60C) bed for 5-10 mins. It adheres well and unlike glue or tape, i never have to completely "overhaul" it, i just touch up bald spots with a quick puff or two. It also rinses off easily with hot water. – dandavis Apr 25 '19 at 17:54
  • Apart from the glue residue, your first layer is awful, you might want to lower the distance between nozzle and bed or invest in a sheet of glass and use hairspray or 3DLAC or any other spray adhesive. – 0scar Apr 25 '19 at 21:16
  • I've been using name brand blue painters tape with a 60C bed for PLA and don't find I need any extra glue for adhesion. I have been able to print 5 chesses back to back on the same spot on the tape even. The 6th piece broke free after the base was printed. I've been slowly pulling the pieces off after the bed cools about 5 degrees C, and then start the next one so there is not a lot of time waiting for bed reheating. – CrossRoads May 21 '19 at 17:24

2 Answers2

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Elmer's Purple Gluestick is pretty much based on PVA with a water-indicator. It is a water-soluble material. Tossing the piece into a water bin and brushing it with a toothbrush should remove everything.

Trish
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I have two different makes of masking tape. The print stick so well to one of them that I end up ripping the tape up to get it off and the bottom of the print has the tape suck to it. The other roll was the complete opposite, nothing would stick to it. I ended up using the non-stick tape and applied a diluted (30% PVA - 70% water) glue to the (tape covered) hot bed. Works wonderfully.

Mike.

Pommie
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    Hi Mike, while sharing experience is great, and much appreciated, this answer as such does not answer how to remove the glue residue. – 0scar Apr 26 '19 at 09:03
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    HI Mike and welcome! Hmmm, I have to agree with @0scar. Your answer is a great insight, but it might be better posted as an answer to a more relevant question, such as [Filament moving around and not sticking to bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8343/filament-moving-around-and-not-sticking-to-bed). If you posted it there, instead, it would be sure to be upvoted... :-) This post being here, may end up getting downvoted or deleted, as it isn't addressing the issue of removing glue residue. Thanks in advance for your understanding. – Greenonline Apr 26 '19 at 09:46