Nova3D Tough Washable Resin Review For 3D Printing Miniatures
If you're into Resin 3D printing miniatures, you know the struggle—finding a resin that combines print quality, durability, and usability without completely wrecking your budget. Enter the Nova3D Tough Water Washable Resin. Having spent some time testing it out, here's everything you need to know about whether it’s worth adding to your printing arsenal.
The Setup: First Impressions
Nova3D sent over a bottle of their tough washable resin in a dark gray color. This resin is advertised as durable, easy to print with, and capable of producing highly detailed models.
Straight out of the bottle, the resin's smooth consistency and rich color were promising. Pouring it into the printer, I ran a series of test prints to see how it stacks up against other resins.
Let’s just say, things got off to a great start.
Print Quality
One of the standout features of Nova3D’s resin is its incredible print quality. Without much tweaking or dialing in settings, the prints came out clean, crisp, and full of sharp details.
I ran a range of prints, including:
Orcs — Primed to highlight intricate details like armor scratches and facial features.
Tyranid proxies from Mammoth Factory Games, part of their Eldritch Swarm Frontier project.
Spindly demons from OnePageRules, chosen deliberately for their delicate parts like tails and horns.
Every single miniature came out looking tabletop-ready. Even with these complex designs, nothing broke or failed to print properly.
Usability: From Printer to Paint
Easy Printing Process
It was one of the easiest resins I’ve worked with. Prints adhered well to the build plate but were just as easy to remove. A light tap with the scraper, and they popped off without hassle. Cleanup was equally simple.
Washing off uncured resin—whether with water (as intended) or isopropyl alcohol—was a smooth experience, no sticky mess left behind.
A small bonus: Removing supports was easier compared to other resins.
Smell Factor
It’s not all sunshine, though. This resin has a strong smell, so if you’re printing in a closed space, proper ventilation is critical. It reminded me a lot of the Phrozen RPG Resin, which performs well but also comes with a bit of a stink.
Durability: Tough as Advertised
Where this resin really shines is durability. Let’s face it, miniatures take a beating—whether you’re storing, transporting, or actively gaming with them. To test toughness, I ran a set of classic drop tests.
The Drop Test
I printed several slim and fragile demon models, with tiny legs, thin tails, and delicate weapon connections. These miniatures were dropped from:
Coffee table height - 20 Inches
Standard gaming table height - 34 Inches
Top-shelf height - 62 Inches
Each drop landed on a hard surface, and not a single piece broke.
This flexibility gives the resin a slightly rubbery feel, offering just the right amount of give. For something as small as a demon’s leg or weapon handle, this resilience is impressive.
Performance on Larger Prints
Nova3D Tough Resin isn’t just for miniatures. To test its reliability with larger, more intricate builds, I printed an Orc Warboss—a bigger project with large, flat parts and connection pegs.
Here’s what stood out:
The prints showed no warping, even on flat surfaces.
Pegs and tabs slid into place without sanding or adjustment.
I’ve had issues with warping on larger prints using other resin brands, but this one performed flawlessly.
Pricing vs. Competition
Another major selling point for this resin? The price. At around £29 per bottle, it undercuts some of the premium brands while delivering comparable results.
The closest competitor at this level of quality is FauxHammer’s WarGamer resin, which costs about £40. While exceptional, it’s significantly pricier.
On the budget end, Sunlu’s ABS-Like resin beats Nova3D’s price at around £19. But it doesn’t quite match the Nova3D Tough Resin for durability, with only 12 out of 15 drop tests passed versus perfect results for Nova3D.
Essentially, Nova3D has carved out a sweet spot—it’s affordable yet highly durable and versatile.
What’s the Catch?
Smell
The smell is hard to overlook. It dissipates once the prints are cured, but during printing, you’ll definitely notice it. Print in a ventilated area, and don’t skimp on your resin safety precautions.
Printer Calibration Needed
While I didn’t experience any issues, the resin’s ease of removal from supports means you’ll want to make sure your printer is properly calibrated. If not, you might encounter adhesion issues during printing.
The Final Verdict
Nova3D Tough Washable Resin delivers where it matters most—durability and print quality—at a price that doesn’t break the bank. Whether you’re creating fragile miniatures or large models, this resin holds its own against pricier options and exceeds expectations for toughness.
Apart from the strong odor, there aren’t any major downsides. For gamers and hobbyists looking for high-quality prints that can also take a beating, this resin is a fantastic choice.
Got questions about Nova3D’s resin? Drop them in the comments, or join me in the Discord community to talk all things 3D printing.
You can check out the resin here: Nova3D Tough Washable Resin on Amazon. Got a favorite resin or another suggestion? Let me know—I’m always up for testing new options!