You know the feeling—you’ve poured hours into setting up your 3D print, waited patiently for it to finish, and then you’re faced with the messy reality of post-processing. It’s frustrating, time-consuming, and honestly, it sucks the joy out 3D printing miniatures with resin (at least for me). So, what are my overall thoughts about the Elegoo Mercury XS Wash & Cure Station? Amazing. Get one now!
Of course, here I’ll share my reasoning why and how using the wash & cure station made my 3D printing workflow so much better and more fun. Check out the full details for the Elegoo Mercury XS Wash & Cure Bundle on Elegoo’s website.
Disclaimer: Elegoo provided this wash-and-cure station to me for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this article are entirely my own.
Key Takeaways
- The Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle Wash and Cure Station is designed for large 3D printed models, with a 7000ml wash tank ideal for bigger prints or batch cleaning.
- The curing station uses dual UV light bars and a rotating turntable to ensure thorough and even curing, even for intricate designs.
- Reliable, user-friendly, and weather-independent, it simplifies post-processing for consistent, professional results.
Pros and Cons for the Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle Wash and Cure Station for Large 3D Printed Models
Pros:
- Significantly reduces post-processing time.
- Provides professional-quality results.
- Handles intricate designs with ease.
- User-friendly and safe design with UV-blocking cover.
- Large capacity for washing and curing big 3D prints.
Cons:
- Initial assembly requires careful attention, though the manual’s illustrations make it straightforward.
I Waited Too Long! Why a Wash-and-Cure Station Makes it Better
Honestly, I didn’t think I needed a wash-and-cure station. I mean, why not just use natural sunlight? It’s free, right? But I quickly realized outdoor sunlight isn’t always available when you need it.
It’s cloudy, windy, or cold outside—and sometimes the sunlight is so inconsistent, bright one day and dim the next.
That unpredictability made me crave something more reliable. That’s where the Elegoo Mercury XS comes in, offering consistency and efficiency no matter the weather.
You Need to Post-Process 3D Printed Resin Miniatures for Best Results
In my experience, post-processing is one of the most important steps in resin 3D printing.
Washing your prints removes uncured resin, ensuring they’re not sticky or fragile—two issues that can ruin hours of work. Curing hardens the resin’s surface, enhancing durability and preparing it for priming and painting.
I’ve tried “natural” methods like rinsing with alcohol and then relying on sunlight. But natural sunlight outside can be unpredictable. A cloudy day, some wind and the time of day makes this approach inconsistent, and heavily dependent on factors outside my control. Sunlight is great, don’t get me wrong, and the sun’s UV works great for curing 3D printed resin.
But for the final finishing steps, I’ve struggled with an even finish and it’s process that takes longer than it should—at least that’s what I learned after getting a dedicated wash/cure station.
It’s sooooo much easier now!
Overall, if you’re planning to paint up your 3D printed resin miniatures, you’ll want a wash-and-cure station that can handle the important post-processing steps. The Elegoo Mercury XS is perfect for ensuring your models are clean, cured, and ready for priming and painting.
RELATED: Top 10 Essential Tools Every Miniature Painter Needs.
My Experience with the Elegoo Mercury XS
The Elegoo Mercury XS Wash & Cure Bundle arrived in a large box. Unpacking it was easy. The yellow UV blocking cover was wrapped in plastic, which protected it during shipping.
The unboxing and layout process was simple, and the well-illustrated instructions had been placed front and center. So far, so good!
Here is my experience with the setup and use of the Elegoo wash and cure station:
Assembly
There weren’t too many parts, but assembly required careful attention, but the well-written manual with clear illustrations made it straightforward.
The most challenging part of the process was the need to plug in the wires for the UV Light bars in the cure station. The left and right UV panels are keyed so you can’t mess this up. Just be gentle with the plugs and you’ll be fine.
Post-Processing Resin Miniature is Super Easy!
In use, the Elegoo Mercury XS awesome, a wake-up call for someone who was relying on natural sunlight in my resin 3D printing workflow. For a few tests, I performed to test the wash-and-cure station, I printed several miniatures using the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra (see my full review).
Washing
The 7000ml tank is spacious enough to handle larger prints or multiple smaller pieces at once. The powerful turbine created a vortex that thoroughly cleaned every nook and cranny of my models.
No more scrubbing with a brush! The mixer effectively agitated the alcohol solution, removing residual uncured resin. For smaller models, three minutes sufficed, while larger models may need more time.
Curing
The dual L-shaped UV light bars with 28 LEDs provide even curing. The rotating turntable ensured every surface was exposed to UV light, leaving no uncured spots. For intricate designs, the handheld UV lamp was a lifesaver, allowing spot curing for hard-to-reach areas.
The transparent UV cover blocked 99.9% of ultraviolet rays, keeping the process safe for both my models and my eyesight.
The intuitive knobs made operation simple—just press and hold to turn on, twist to set the time, and press again to start. It’s satisfying to see the machine work so seamlessly.
After using the Elegoo Mercury XS, I noticed a significant improvement in the finish of my prints. A detailed miniature that once had streaks and uneven curing now looked polished and durable.
One of the most useful features was the handheld UV lamp, which allowed me to address tricky spots that needed extra exposure. I found it incredibly useful for ensuring every part of the miniature—even the smallest nooks—was fully cured.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to incorporate this station into my workflow. No more worrying about cloudy days or uneven sunlight. It’s such a relief to know I can post-process my prints at any time, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
The durability of the finished prints was another standout—even with fine details and fragile bits, my miniatures held up beautifully during handling and painting.
Features That Make the Elegoo Mercury XS Stand Out
- 360° Thorough Curing: The 2 adjustable L-shaped light bars, 4 additional LEDs beneath the turntable, and Fresnel lens emit a uniform wavelength of 405nm, ensuring complete exposure for flawless results. The curing station’s design accommodates larger models and intricate details effectively, thanks to the spacious turntable and even light distribution. This makes it ideal for ensuring every surface and crevice of your larger 3D prints receives thorough UV exposure. The handheld UV lamp is ideal for curing interiors and nooks of complex models.
- Dual Functionality: Wash and cure in a single bundle for seamless post-processing. The washing station effectively removes excess resin with minimal effort, while the curing station guarantees a polished, durable finish.
- Large Washing Volume: The 7000ml sealed tank accommodates large models printed on ELEGOO Saturn and Mars series printers or allows for batch cleaning, significantly improving productivity.
- Convenient Operation: A single ergonomic knob controls the entire process. Press and hold to turn on, twist to set the desired time (up to 30 minutes), and press again to start. The intuitive interface makes operation straightforward.
- Wide Compatibility: Compatible with most resin printers, including the ELEGOO Saturn and Mars series. This versatility makes it a practical choice for any resin printing enthusiast.
For those who love painting their 3D prints, this station pairs beautifully with other creative tools. Learn more about the importance of streamlined workflows in Overcoming Creative Block for Miniature Painters.
Should You Buy the Mercury XS?
As a miniature painter and 3D printing enthusiast who enjoys working on unique, creative 3D pieces, I’m constantly on the lookout for new pieces to work on. 3D printing in high resolution with resin allows me to paint miniatures that you can’t just buy in pre-made kits.
The drawback of course is that printing with resin requires several steps before you can actually paint the model. The post-processing step is probably the most cumbersome.
So, if you’re tired of sticky prints, uneven curing, or juggling makeshift tools, like me, then the Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle Wash and Cure Station for Large 3D Printed Models is awesome. I highly-recommend you consider this (or even another wash and cure system), especially if you use the universal UV cured resin formula required for high-res miniature prints.
READ MORE: Complete Guide to Airbrushing for Miniature Painting.
The Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle has a large wash tub. At 7000ml, the tank is great for hobbyists working on large resin prints or batch cleaning multiple models at once. The consistent results, user-friendly features, including an ergonomic-operated timer with large display, and compatibility with 3D prints of almost any size created from larger format 3D-printers make the Elegoo Mercury XS Wash & Cure station an invaluable addition to any 3D printing setup.
Final Thoughts
Is It Worth the Investment? Absolutely. In my experience, the Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle Wash and Cure Station for Large 3D Printed Models has been an essential addition to my workflow. It’s perfect for working on larger models or batch cleaning multiple prints at once.
I’ve saved so much time and frustration thanks to its consistent results and simplified post-processing. While it’s an investment, the convenience and quality it brings to resin 3D printing make it a no-brainer for hobbyists and professional creatives alike.
Do you print miniatures? How do you process your resin and prep for paint? Questions?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for reading!
Enjoying Your Visit? Join Tangible Day
Free newsletter with monthly updates (no spam)
Tangible Day on YouTube (Miniatures and More!)
