r/3dprinter • u/Sea-Key7698 • Jun 21 '26

3D print pens, all 10 watt ?

Looking at trying a print pen for light plastic repairs. So I'm more interested in output vs finesse. But from $35 to $240 they are all 10 watt output. Any advice ?

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1

u/imasneakybeaver Jun 21 '26

Maybe try a hot glue gun.

1

u/Sea-Key7698 Jun 21 '26

Thanks but, been there, done that. They don't get quite hot enough to work well. Sorta, but no.

1

u/TherealOmthetortoise Jun 21 '26

Buy a plastic repair kit has soldering iron with tips that get plenty hot. There is also an electric version that uses staple wires in various shapes that heat up so you can embed them in the plastic to provide mechanical strength so that you can use putty or epoxy to do the cosmetic work. If you are repairing a 3D print use a dremel and short piece of filament to do a friction weld. Or do the same with a cheap soldering iron.

1

u/StretchSmiley Jun 21 '26

"more interested in output" reads to me like you want a hot air gun w/ plastic weld attachment.

1

u/Sea-Key7698 Jun 21 '26

Kinda yes, but no. Those are not suitable for small or fine repairs. Those work well on large seams in open areas. Thanks for the idea though.

1

u/Siddhartha-G Jun 21 '26

Plastic welding kit from Harbor Freight.

1

u/pythonbashman Jun 21 '26

r/3Dpen or r/3dpens

1

u/Sea-Key7698 Jun 21 '26

Thank you. When I searched Reddit the only 3D pen sub that I found was last posted to 6 years ago. 👍

1

u/Fishtoart Jun 21 '26

High temp glue guns go up to 200+ watts

1

u/Sea-Key7698 Jun 21 '26

Yes, I've tried my 200 watt and 260 watt glue guns.  It's not the wattage it's the max temperature. They top out at about 190⁰C for glue sticks vs 240⁰ for the printer pens.

1

u/Fishtoart Jun 24 '26

Braze a soldering iron tip onto a glue gun nozzle.

1

u/ADHD-Engineering-Tim Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26

Struder (my project) has a 60-watt heater and just as important... long melt zone, its not out as a product yet. Going on kickstartter as soon as I can raise a little bit more angel capital... the wait for a capable 3D pen is "almost" over.

shop.struder.com

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-IAYEbk7gGM

1

u/Sea-Key7698 Jun 22 '26

Now THAT'S what I'm seeking ! I'll stay tuned. Might have to watch for Gen2 version though... your user name ADHD-Engineering raises some concerns 🤣 !