methods of coating stereolithographic parts and smoothing over characteristic surface discontinuities having alternating recesses and peaks . a stereolithographic part is first substantially covered with a substance capable of becoming less viscous when heated at a temperature which does not substantially thermally degrade the part , wherein the heated substance has an appropriate surface tension . then , the substance is heated to that temperature until the substance flows preferentially into the recesses of the surface discontinuities and away from the peaked surface discontinuities . the substance will thereafter form a short surface connection over the recesses of the discontinuities through the surface tension of the heated substance . the substance is then polymerized or hardened either by cooling , thermally setting or by uv curing .