I recently printed a vermicomposter in PETG. It consists of a bottom reservoir which is supposed to catch leachate from the above compartments. I’m not sure the rate at which this will fill up, but the leachate is supposed to be diluted with water and used as nutrients from plants.

However, the reservoir leaks from the plug and from the front leg slots, at least when the reservoir is filled completely up with water. The leak from the plug I seem to have fixed with a combination of an o-ring and some PTFE-tape, but for the other leak I’ve been thinking of coating it with epoxy resin.

My challenge is actually finding such a resin, where the finished, cured product is food safe (since it will eventually find its way into the plants I intend to eat). Locally, I’ve not been able to find anything that is certified food safe, only various epoxy fillers and primers for boats.

The local 3D-print shop recommended this product which I could get through them: https://siraya.tech/products/siraya-tech-aegis-coating-systerm-for-resin-filament-prints But I’ve found some less than favorable reviews for that one in particular.

Anyone with experience water-tightening containers like this?

  • solbear@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
    1·
    9 days ago

    I personally would not consider superglue harmful enough to worry about plants seeping enough of it to affect the health of me eating the plant, and it’s not food grade. I’ve used it to fix cracked humidifier reservoirs in a greenhouse for example.

    I would want to avoid something that leeches off into the water. That said, I am going to dilute it quite a lot since the stuff will be very concentrated. Super glue could be a little expensive for this though? I think coating the whole bed would take multiple small containers.

    That being said, most epoxy resin dries food grade. I don’t think you’d have to search hard for a very well performing Resin with food grade search term swapped with dining surface or some frequent use that requires food grade.

    I know very little about epoxy resin, but that is what I often see - but is it really basically the same stuff that is used to repair boats as people use for decorations? The safety data sheets for the components are always pretty rough, but they of course say nothing about the cured state.

    • Lasherz@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      7 days ago

      You seem to be worried about water eroding away resin or something to that effect. The bonds are strong enough that’s basically not a concern. It’s kinda like being worried about a Teflon storage medium because it’s got a bad safety sheet.

      My recommendation is find something that’s waterproof on curing that can handle both ends of the pH spectrum and call it a day. You aren’t worried about abrasives.

      Edit: UV too, depending on where it will be could be a concern, but petg isn’t UV ready either.