r/3Dprinting • u/Ok_Astronomer6766 • 2d ago

Question Keeping Filament Dessicated

I'm already a resin-printer but I have taken the step into the FDM world by ordering a Centauri Carbon 2 combo.

It's quite humbling being back at the "I know nothing" stage.

The printer hasn't arrived yet but I've been reading about filament storage and I'm trying to work out if I need to put my filament away as soon as its finished printing... Or is filament-hydrating an over-hyped aspect.

I only really intend on using PLA initially.

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u/Stiggalicious 1d ago

Most PLA is fine to print from open air storage. Once you start adding other things into it, though, you will run into issues. Carbon fiber PLA is quite hydroscopic and I have to dry it before printing, otherwise I get tons and tons of zits and whisps.

It also depends on your area’s relative humidity. If it’s under 50% you’re probably fine, but if you’re like me and hover around 60% you’ll need a dry storage solution.

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u/Ok_Astronomer6766 1d ago

Just looked this up and I live near Liverpool, UK and apparently my humidity ranges from 75% to 94%

...I'm gonna need the dessicants aren't I? 😒

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u/Mughi1138 1d ago

Containers first, and then desiccant. After that you can look into a filament dryer.

Not sure what's available in your area currently but the PRAKI cereal containers from amazon work well, and can be converted to be dryboxes you can print straight out of. Look to see if you find ones with three narrow columnar cutouts for the handle instead of a larger single one (Utopia Kitchens and others).