Finding an old spool of filament that has been sitting around the week might seem like a good plan, but when you load it up and print it, things go wrong. From popping sounds, bad layer adhesion, to strings all over the place, you just don’t feel it.
This is one of the reasons why most people use a filament dryer. However, if you find one around, can you actually reuse a filament after moisture damage? In this article, we are covering each aspect of it.
What Happens When Moisture is Introduced?
It’s quite easy to think that plastic doesn’t get affected by outside things. However, the truth is, 3D printing filaments are quite sensitive to the external environment, especially humidity. We have hygroscopic materials like nylon, PETG, TPU, and many others.
In scientific terms, if something is hygroscopic, then it means that it basically absorbs moisture from the air. In many countries of Asia, right now in June, July, or forward months, humidity is at an all-time high.
But if you’re a beginner or advanced 3D printing enthusiast, then you should know that now is the worst time to let your filaments hang around in the room. There is a lot of moisture, sometimes even more than 90%, which can easily cause the filaments to absorb it and then further cause issues with your 3D print.
The thing is, when the moisture-affected filament is inside, the water doesn’t just sit there. As you 3D print the filament, the water boils right in your hotend, causing lots of issues. You can expect:
- Small explosions of air.
- Microbubbles that affect the print structure.
- Poor layer adhesion.
- Destroyed print quality with inconsistent results.
It isn’t just a surface problem, but it also affects the overall strength and reliability.
So, Can You Use a Filament with Moisture Damage?
You will be surprised to know that the answer is yes. In most cases, the filament can be reused and it is possible to reverse the damage that has been done. As you remove the moisture, most filaments will return to normal performance.
However, some spools also exceed savings, so we will cover both ends now.
When a Filament is Reusable
The filament is totally usable if it still bends and flexes without actually snapping. If that filament crumbles, then you won’t be able to reuse it. Moreover, if there is also no visible warping, cracking, or brittle surface, you can also reuse it.
Lastly, if your filament was just introduced to moisture, then there is a chance that you can save it as well. And if the filament is just exposed to moisture, then you can use a filament dryer to save it from any further damage.
But in what cases are the filaments unusable?
Filaments Might Be Unusable Too
In several cases, the wet filament can be completely unusable. For example, if it crumbles or breaks, then you should definitely not use it for 3D printing. It will only hurt your nozzle as well. Moreover, never dry filament in the sun after it has been water damaged, and if you already did so, then there is a chance that it is beyond saving.
Sometimes, there is also a slight smell of something burnt or the filament shows intensely small, and in both cases, the chemical is broken down and cannot be used.
But this begs the question: What happens when you print with a wet filament?
Wet Filament: What Will Happen if You Print It?
If you have heard popping sounds from your 3D printers, then moisture is most probably the issue. If you print with wet filament, you will mostly have issues of excessive stringing or oozing, as well as clogs. There is also an issue of under extrusion, and sometimes, there are popping and crackling sounds that happen from the trapped water bubbles inside.
The most annoying issue that most 3D printing users face is that the surface can be rough or have inconsistent surfaces, making it unusable.
However, there aren’t things that will happen only once. As long as your filaments are affected by moisture, it will keep happening.
But now, the question arises: is it possible to rescue a wet filament?
How to Rescue a Wet Filament from Moisture
The safest and most consistent method of rescuing a wet filament is by using a filament dryer. While you can use other things like an oven or even an air fryer in some cases, if you live in a humid environment, you should definitely pick up a filament dryer that will make your job easier.
One of the best filaments available on the market is the Chitu Systems FilaPartner E1, which is built to make your filaments dry. Here are some of the features you get by using the FilaPartner E1:
- Precise Filament Safe Temperatures:
The FilaPartner is perfect in a sense that you can set the temperature that is ideal for a specific filament. For example, PLA is dried perfectly between 40–45°C while PETG has the perfect temperature as 60°C. In any case, the FilaPartner can help you gain a lot of clarity when it comes to your 3D printing needs.
- Multiple Spool Chambers:
With FilaPartner, you can heat up multiple filaments of up to 4 in the chambers. This way, multi prints are also done easily and effectively, making it one of the best printing experiences.
- Print from Dryer:
Since this is a proper filament dryer, you can also print while drying your filament, saving you time, energy, and a lot of money.
Final Verdict
With a proper filament dryer, you can easily and effectively reuse a filament in most cases. Therefore, you need to first understand how much damage has already been done. Once you dry the filament properly, you can easily reuse it for your 3D printing needs.
Moreover, if you want other 3D printer accessories, then you should check out the versatile catalog of Chitu Systems.
