Care FAQ

PLA, aka Polylactic Acid, is a multipurpose material commonly used in 3D printing. PLA is a bioplastic, which means it is made from renewable natural resources such as cornstarch and tapioca products. As a biodegradable material, it is much better for the environment, especially compared to petrochemical-based alternatives (such as ABS).

This is a common question. In a domestic environment (aka your home), your PLA statue will last man many years. Possibly even your lifetime if taken care of. The only way to start the biodegrading process, you would need an industrial composting facility with the right temperature, humidity, and microorganisms. Even in a home based composting pile, it would not be enough to start the PLA degrading process. It is called biodegradable because it is a green material.

Unlike other synthetic fibers, PLA does not absorb light in the visible region of the spectrum; this leads to very low strength loss compared to petroleum-based fibers when exposed to ultraviolet light. UV light does not affect PLA.

Your PLA statue, however, can be damaged or deformed (melted) by high heat (such as hot car or direct sunlight). It is a form of plastic after all.

Simple answer, no. Many of my statues are very smooth. But many of them have “blemishes” or rough spots. That is part of 3D printing. These are not molded parts from a China factory. They are essentially handmade in my house (via 3D printers). Some of these rough areas are called 3D stitching connecting the layers together.  They essentially look like the statue has stitches or bumps.  You will also see the layer lines. This is unavoidable with FDM 3D printing.

3D printing prints in layers from the ground up.  So areas that overhang or have nothing under them must have support printed to hold it up until it cools.  This causes some rough areas where the support was connect to the model.  The supports are removed before shipping.  Often these rough areas are not visible when the statue is in its normal display position.

No single statue is identical to another one. These are handmade art. Not professional production pieces. I get them as smooth as I can within what the 3D technology allows me to, and minimal post processing after. 

Sanding will dull the color/finish. If you do not like the blemishes or rough spots, you can sand them, but this could affect the color.  If you do sand the statue, you may want to paint it after to cover or hide the areas if the color is affected.

Yes, you can absolutely paint your statue.  You will want to use acrylic paints.

This can be due to various reasons.  The most common is due to different rolls of the material used to make your statue.  A single roll of material (filament) can only make a statue or two depending on the size of your statue.  Each roll can have a slightly different shade of color.  The second most common is a different manufacturer.  Due to supply, I cannot always get the same color material from the manufacturer (out of stock, discontinued, etc.).  Each manufacture has different shades and colors.  For example, copper color from one manufacture could look very different from copper from another manufacturer.

I make every effort to match shades of colors the best I can, especially in the same order.  But this is not always possible.  I can’t guarantee that if you have a previous statues in one color, if you order the same color on another statues, it could be a slightly different shade.

Even though your statue is made out of plastic, the way it is made makes washing it not a good idea.  The statue is made layer by later.  Due to this, it is possible water could get between layers and trapped in the statue.  This could allow bacteria to grow.

We would recommend a damn cloth with no chemicals to wipe your statue if needed.   Definitely do not submerge your statue in water.

No, it is not recommend to display your statue where it can be disposed to all the elements.  See details as to getting your statue wet in the Can I wash my statue above.

Also direct exposure to the sun if it gets too hot can melt or at least warp your statue.

If you damage or drop your statue at some point, if possible, you can use clear super glue to rejoin any broken parts.

Yes, but this can also cause the color to be ruined.  Light colored statues are easier to do this, while dark colors will turn gray/white where sanded.  If you plan to paint the statue, then sanding won't be a problem.  Just be careful on certain small areas not to break them.