Modular holder for miniature paints and brushes

prusaprinters

<p><strong>UPDATE 4/14/2021: </strong>On popular request, I have added STLs versioned for 35 mm bottles. CAVEAT: I don't use these bottles myself, so while I have printed the model to make sure it assembles correctly, I have not tested it with actual paint bottles.</p><p>I've seen (and tried) a few holders for miniature paints, as 3D models (e.g., <a href="https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/34089-vallejo-army-painter-reaper-paint-and-brush-holder">https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/34089-vallejo-army-painter-reaper-paint-and-brush-holder</a>) or laser-cut commercial options on Amazon (e.g., <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Token-Modular-Paint-Straight/dp/B07MZ8Y4MK">https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Token-Modular-Paint-Straight/dp/B07MZ8Y4MK</a>).</p><p>But I was looking for something more modular, so I came up with this system:</p><p>For 24.5mm bottles, one unit is comprised of two sides and several tiers of spaces for five paint bottles per row. Included are sides to build units from 3 to 6 tiers, i.e., 15 to 30 bottles.</p><p>I've also added center pieces that can be used to connect several units. So for example, one left side, 3 tiers of bottle holders, one center piece, another 3 tiers, and a right side can be connected to create a holder for 30 bottles. Of course, you can mix and match, e.g., 5 tiers on the left of the center piece, 3 tiers on the right, for 40 bottles. Or you can use 2 center pieces to connect 3 units, etc. While the sky's the limit, make sure you don't go crazy. I personally use a rack of two connected 6 tier units for 60 bottles, and it's quite heavy and probably at the upper end of what's sufficiently stable.</p><p>Furthermore, I have added a brush holder unit, with 8 holes for Army Painter brushes with triangular handles and 8 holes for Army Painter brushes with round handles. It can simply be substituted for one of the bottle holder tiers.</p><p>To provide some stability, a rectangular piece of support is placed in the back, between the two sides (or side and center piece). If the brush holder is used, there's no need for this stabilizer.</p><p><strong>If you like what I'm doing…</strong><br><strong>&nbsp;</strong><br>…consider&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mix579">buying me a coffee</a>.<br><br><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/35053/rich_content/1a370a7b-cbf9-43fd-927e-979a843d803f/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%223d10f028-4c6b-406d-8294-7dac5c380665%22%2C%22w%22%3A170%2C%22h%22%3A37%7D" alt="orange_img.webp"><br>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Print instructions</h3><p><strong>Supports:</strong> No<br><strong>Resolution:</strong> 0.3<br><strong>Infill:</strong> 5-20%</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>In the pictures, you can see examples of the components printed as usual, or -- simply to make it all look a bit more interesting -- with no top and bottom layers. If you print with regular top and bottom layers, 5% infill should be enough. Without top and bottom layers, I used 20% honeycomb infill.</p><p>You will need one left and one right side. <strong>The STL provided is the left side</strong>; simply <strong>mirror </strong>it in your slicer to create the right side.</p><h3>Assembly</h3><p>The components are sized to be a not very tight pressure fit because I knew I was going to use Super Glue to hold the pieces together. Based on how your printer is calibrated, your mileage may vary as to how tight the pieces may fit but Super Glue is your friend if it's too loose.</p><p>I found the easiest way to assemble a unit is to put one side piece flat on the table, with the slots up. Put some glue into each of the holes and insert the tiers and the brush holder or the back spacer, in case you're not using the brush holder, so they're pointing up. Insert glue into the slots on the second side (or the center) piece, then put that one on top of the assembly. Press everything tightly together until the glue has hardened.</p>