this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2024
19 points (100.0% liked)

3DPrinting

15797 readers
66 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: or !functionalprint@fedia.io

There are CAD communities available at: !cad@lemmy.world or !freecad@lemmy.ml

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe/ may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
19
Using old filaments (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by Valmond@lemmy.world to c/3dprinting@lemmy.world
 

Hello,

I put my homemade 3D printer in the garage when I moved 2 years ago, the filaments I had were maybe 2 years old and worked well.

I bulk bought them on aliexpress or maybe alibaba.

Now, the printer needs a refreshing, a bit of all kind of electrical & mechanical stuff and also figuring out how to run it from my new computer, and I wonder if I should buy some new filament so that I won't have to care about any old filament problems or what do you think? Is my filament dead or maybe ok?

Thanks!

Edit: thank you all!

I'll go with buy a new high quality one to get everything up and running, and then I'll check out the quality of the old spools. Who are stored open, but in a airtight box with a kilo of, now grey, alibaba deciccant pellets.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

Stored in vacuum bags with dessicant?
Or stored on a shelf in the open?

Either I'd buy one known good roll to calibrate your printer, then take it from there with he old stuff, see how good/bad it is.

A filament dryer might something to look into.
There's also a case to be made of not buying more filament than you can use to avoid these situations where you're stuck with old sketchy stuff.