this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2024
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I'm curious about the creative ways people store spools. Seen some interesting ideas online. Share pictures if you can.

Currently, I just have bins full of about a dozen spools each, but it isn't elegant or pretty. Need some new ideas.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Are you trying to keep the spools sealed in bins with dessicant? If you're in a moist climate, using plastic bins with some foam gasket added to the lids and a pile of dessicant is the only way to really keep filament long term without it turning into a wet bubbly mess in like two weeks. That's somewhat unavoidable and means you can't use many other storage methods, unless you are drying or printing from a dryer every time. Or are lucky like me and live in a desert.

At the college makerspace I used to help run, we had some shelf racking installed with rails that are parallel to the wall and about 5" apart. Spools sit perpendicular to the wall with their round faces cradled by the two rails. There's also a standalone wood rack with similar rails that can be moved where needed. The filaments are grouped by type and each section is labelled, and then the filament itself is exposed so you can see color since it sits perpendicular to the wall. I'll see if I can find some photos of it later.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I've got a bin for my specialty filaments but multiple bins were a pain in the back that became hard for me to inventory. At the moment most of my spools are bagged with printed silica container that fits in the center hole using this and this (and this for filling). Those are all sitting on a set of cheap shelves. Its a mild improvement.

What I'm thinking about moving to is something more like this but with the spools bagged. I happen to have a shallow closet in my garage, next to my printer, and I think it'll work well.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

My dream is to keep them in a hardwood humidor cabinet modified to dry.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I actually store all of my filament (that isn't loaded into my AMSes) in a large antique wooden steamer trunk (like a pirate chest). It's massive, and can hold dozens and dozens of spools. Wood is breathable and absorbs moisture, but also allows it to evaporate out into the room (whereas plastic bins trap it inside). I keep a bunch of dessicant inside, and I've never had a problem with filament humidity. The filaments I commonly use are always loaded up in my 4 Bambu AMSes. In there, I have extra dessicant pods with reusable dessicant beads.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

You mean lets the moisture in. If your spools have massively more moisture than the environment, that sounds fishy.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Build a filament dehumidifier

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I just store mine in bins as well... I don't have an entire room (or wall) to dedicate to just 3D printing filament, and bins with spools stacked in them is by far the least space consuming way to store them.