Don’t store your filament on the shelf! It will absorb water and ruin your prints! Learn here how to store your 3D printer filament!
Most 3D printing filament is hygroscopic which means it absorbs water from the air.
A small amount of water in the filament isn’t usually much of an issue until you heat it above the boiling point of water. The water boils in the printer nozzle and pushes the filament in all directions as it expands. The pressure will push the filament out prematurely. It will blob and over extrude, then under extrude as the water vapor comes out of the nozzle. So, it must be kept dry, otherwise it can result in…
- A weak print
- Popping sounds
- Fuzzy texture
- Blobbing
- Stringing
- Oozing
I found a cheap and easy way to keep your filament dry. The first step is to buy these materials:
MATERIALS
- Standard cooler – Amazon
- Unscented cat litter – Walmart, Amazon
- Saran wrap – Amazon, Walmart
- Indoor digital Hygrometer – Amazon
- Caulking gun – Amazon
- 100% Silicone caulk – Amazon
Step 2: Seal the cooler. For that you need to:
- Caulk around these edges of the cooler lid
- Place flat saran wrap over the caulk
- Close the cooler lid to form the silicone caulk
- Open the lid
- Let the silicone caulk cure for at least 24 hours
Third step: Dry the silica. The silica must be dry to work effectively.
- Place aluminum foil on a sheet pan
- Pour the silica onto the pan
- Place the silica in the oven for 2 hours at 350F (180C)
- Let the silica cool to the touch. The cooler can only handle temperatures up to about 120F (50C)
Fourth step is to load the cooler.
- Pour the silica cat litter into the cooler and spread it evenly along the bottom
- Place your spools of filament inside
- Place your moisture sensor inside
- And then, Close it
You will want to check the temperature sensor periodically. Repeat steps 3 and 4. When the humidity inside rises above about 30%, dry the silica again.
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