A wash and cure station is the upgrade that turns messy, tacky resin prints into clean, durable models you can actually hold. After a resin printer finishes, every part is coated in sticky uncured resin that has to be washed off and then hardened under UV light — and doing both by hand is slow, smelly, and uneven. This guide ranks the best wash and cure stations we tested in 2026, from compact 2-in-1 units to large dual-tub systems for big prints.
Best wash and cure stations at a glance
| Station | Best for | Type | Max cure height | Wash | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anycubic Wash & Cure 3.0 | Best overall | 2-in-1 | ~180 mm | Motorized | ~$130 | ★★★★★ |
| Elegoo Mercury X | Best for large prints | Dual-tub | ~200 mm | Motorized | ~$150 | ★★★★½ |
| Creality UW-02 | Best budget | 2-in-1 | ~165 mm | Motorized | ~$90 | ★★★★☆ |
| Anycubic Wash & Cure Max | Best for big batches | 2-in-1 | ~290 mm | Motorized | ~$280 | ★★★★½ |
| Elegoo Mercury Plus V3 | Best value dual-tub | Dual-tub | ~165 mm | Motorized | ~$110 | ★★★★☆ |
| Phrozen Cure V2 | Best cure-only | Cure only | ~200 mm | — | ~$100 | ★★★★☆ |
Why a wash and cure station matters
A fresh resin print comes off the build plate covered in sticky, uncured resin. That layer has to be washed away with solvent and then the whole part hardened under UV light, or it stays tacky, weak, and a skin irritant. Under-cured resin never reaches full strength and remains toxic to handle, while curing unevenly — say, on a windowsill where only one side faces the sun — leaves soft spots.
A station fixes both problems. The wash mode spins a magnetic stirrer or rotates a basket so solvent flows into every cavity and undercut, reaching resin that hand-dunking misses. The cure mode spins the part on a turntable inside a ring of UV LEDs so every face gets even exposure, and a timer stops the cycle before the resin over-cures and turns brittle or yellow. The result is consistent, repeatable finishing instead of guesswork.
1. Anycubic Wash & Cure 3.0 — Best Overall
Anycubic Wash & Cure 3.0
- Washes and cures prints up to about 7 in (180 mm) tall — fits most 8K resin printers' output.
- Ring of UV LEDs around a 360° rotating plate cures every face evenly.
- Stronger wash motor and quieter operation than the 2.0 it replaces.
- Anti-UV cover lets you cure without flooding the room with UV light.
The Wash & Cure 3.0 is the station most resin printers should buy. It handles the full workflow in one compact unit: drop the build plate or a basket of parts into the wash bucket of IPA, then swap to the cure plate when they’re clean. The larger chamber clears prints up to roughly 180 mm tall, so it keeps pace with 8K printers like the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra or Anycubic Photon Mono M7. Even curing and a simple timer make repeatable results easy, which is exactly what you want when you’re finishing a tray of miniatures.
2. Elegoo Mercury X — Best for Large Prints
Elegoo Mercury X
- Separate large wash and cure tubs — clean one batch while curing another.
- Cure bucket fits tall prints up to about 8 in (200 mm).
- Big wash bucket swallows full build plates from large-format resin printers.
- Takes more bench space than a 2-in-1 unit.
If you print big — cosplay parts, large figures, or full plates from a Saturn-class machine — the Mercury X is the pick. Splitting wash and cure into two dedicated stations means you’re never bottlenecked: one batch dries while the previous one cures. The oversized wash tub takes a full large-format build plate, and the cure chamber clears tall prints other stations can’t. It’s bulkier than a 2-in-1, but for high-volume or big-model printing the throughput is worth the footprint.
3. Creality UW-02 — Best Budget
Creality UW-02
- Does both wash and cure for the lowest price among quality units.
- Rotating cure platform with 360° UV light for even hardening.
- Sealed wash bucket keeps IPA fumes down during the rinse.
- Smaller chamber (~165 mm) than the Anycubic 3.0.
The UW-02 proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to finish prints properly. It washes and cures in one housing, with a motorized wash and a 360° UV turntable that match the basics of pricier units. The chamber is a touch smaller, so very tall prints are out, but for miniatures, tabletop models, and most hobby parts it does everything you need. If you’re new to resin and want the cheapest complete solution, start here.
4. Anycubic Wash & Cure Max — Best for Big Batches
Anycubic Wash & Cure Max
- Huge chamber cures prints up to about 11.4 in (290 mm) tall.
- Wraparound UV LED array built for large-format resin printers.
- Handles full plates of miniatures or one big cosplay piece at once.
- Expensive and large — overkill for small-format printers.
When your printer is large-format, the standard stations simply can’t fit the output — and that’s where the Wash & Cure Max comes in. Its oversized chamber clears prints up to around 290 mm, so a tall helmet or a packed plate of 32mm minis goes through in one cycle. The wraparound UV array keeps curing even across that big volume. It’s a specialist tool at a specialist price, but if you run a Saturn 4 Ultra 16K or similar, it’s the station built to match it.
5. Elegoo Mercury Plus V3 — Best Value Dual-Tub
Elegoo Mercury Plus V3
- Two-station wash-and-cure setup at a 2-in-1 price.
- Wash basket and curing turntable both included.
- Good capacity for standard 8K resin printers.
- Less refined than the Mercury X, but cheaper.
The Mercury Plus V3 brings the dual-tub workflow down to near 2-in-1 money. You get a dedicated wash bucket with a rotating basket and a separate cure turntable, so you can stage batches without swapping inserts. Capacity suits the typical 8K printer rather than large-format machines, and the build is a step below the Mercury X, but for hobbyists who want the convenience of split stations on a budget it’s the sweet spot.
6. Phrozen Cure V2 — Best Cure-Only
Phrozen Cure V2
- Dedicated curing chamber with a tall ~200 mm capacity.
- Dense UV LED coverage and a rotating plate for thorough curing.
- Pairs well if you already wash by hand or with a separate tub.
- No wash function — cure only.
Some printers already have a wash solution — a spinning bucket, an ultrasonic cleaner, or just two jars of IPA — and only need reliable curing. The Phrozen Cure V2 is the best dedicated cure box for that setup. Its tall chamber clears big prints, and the dense LED array plus turntable give even, complete curing. If you don’t want to pay for a wash function you won’t use, a cure-only unit is the smarter buy.
How to wash and cure resin prints
- Wash for 2-4 minutes: Run the part in 99% IPA (or water for water-washable resin) until the surface is no longer slick. Reach into cavities; trapped resin won’t cure and stays tacky.
- Dry fully before curing: Let solvent flash off or pat the part dry. Curing over wet IPA can leave a cloudy or sticky finish.
- Cure 2-6 minutes for small parts: Standard resin minis and small models cure fast; thick or translucent prints need longer. Start short and add time rather than over-curing.
- Don’t over-cure: Too much UV makes resin brittle and yellow. If a part snaps easily, you cured it too long.
- Work safe: Wear nitrile gloves and ventilate the area. Uncured resin and IPA are irritants; a fully cured part is inert.
How to choose a wash and cure station
- Print size: Match the cure chamber to your printer. An 8K bench printer is fine with a ~180 mm unit; large-format machines need the Wash & Cure Max or Mercury X.
- 2-in-1 vs dual-tub: A 2-in-1 saves space and money; dual-tub systems let you wash and cure simultaneously for higher throughput.
- Wash type: A motorized stir or rotating basket cleans cavities far better than static dunking.
- UV coverage: Look for a ring or array of LEDs plus a rotating plate so every face is hit evenly.
- Solvent compatibility: If you use water-washable resin, any sealed wash bucket works with plain water — no IPA needed.
The bottom line
The Anycubic Wash & Cure 3.0 is the best wash and cure station for most people — a compact 2-in-1 that cleans and cures the output of nearly any 8K resin printer. Printing big? The Elegoo Mercury X splits wash and cure into two large tubs for serious throughput, while the Creality UW-02 does both jobs on a budget. A station is the natural next buy after a resin 3D printer, especially if you print miniatures or cosplay props that need a clean, fully cured finish. New to the hobby? Start with our full best 3D printer rankings.