I had ASA Poisoning! 25 IMPORTANT Filament Answers!

Our ULTIMATE filament question and answer series for PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA and Nylon! We take the most commonly asked questions from our community about these filaments and answer them in as much detail as possible! We cover everything from recycling 3D prints to enclosures, fumes, pricing and more! HUGE thank you to @Polymaker for sponsoring our community channels and providing ALL of the filament we could ever use!
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Use the following chapter markers to jump right to the filament type or the questions you might be interested in!
00:00 Introduction
00:30 PLA - Polylactic Acid
00:39 PLA - How do you store your PLA?
01:18 PLA - What is a good price for PLA?
02:18 PLA - Is PLA safe to print? Is PLA toxic?
03:14 PLA - What is the difference between PLA and PLA Pro or PLA+?
04:16 PLA - Can you recycle PLA?
05:30 PLA - Are glow in the dark, wood, or PolyTerra filaments abrasive?
06:27 PLA - Polymaker PolyTerra - Plants Trees
07:18 PETG - Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol
07:40 PETG - What is the difference between PLA and PETG?
09:09 PETG - Is PETG food safe?
09:56 PETG - How do I keep PETG from being messy?
11:02 PETG - Is PETG hygroscopic? Does PETG absorb moisture?
11:57 PETG - Can you recycle PETG?
12:55 ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
13:18 ABS - Why would you 3d print with ABS?
13:44 ABS - Do you need to dry ABS filament?
14:15 ABS - Does ABS need an enclosure for 3d printing?
15:34 ABS - Is ABS 3d printing toxic? VOCs?
16:06 ABS - Can you recycle ABS?
16:37 ASA - Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate
16:59 ASA - What is the difference between ABS and ASA filament?
18:27 ASA - Can you get sick from ABS and ASA fumes or VOCs?
19:47 ASA - Does a 3d printer enclosure protect you from fumes?
20:26 ASA - Can you recycle ASA?
21:25 Nylon - Regular Nylon, Carbon Fiber Nylon, Kevlar Nylon, Glass Nylon
21:58 Nylon - Is Nylon worth the price or cost?
23:15 Nylon - What do you need to 3D print Nylon?
25:14 Nylon - Do you need a heated chamber to 3D print Nylon?
25:58 Nylon - Can Nylon be recycled?
26:42 Thank you to our KZbin Members!

[@Sttreg]

If I'm not mistaken, the biodegradability of PLA is tricky. If you put it in the field, it will never change. It's only biodegradable in an industrial composter. CNC kitchen made a video showcasing all of this,

[@LoyalMoses]

Never is a long time! 😉 It will eventually break down, but it isn’t as fast or as easy as many people think. Industrial composting will produce much quicker results for sure.

[@wilsistermans1118]

I know the video of CNC Kitchen and it does not right to PLA. PLA is biodegradable, but it will take a long time when you throw it in your own compost heap. When temperatures reach between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius and cut to fine particles, it will degrade in a couple of days. We produce a very hard type of PLA, which is used for traffic signs and put on sides of buildings. You want those products to last at least 20 years. When a traffic sign is broken, and parts come into nature, you want that to decompose. That is exactly what PLA does.

[@ViewDark]

Common PLA does breaks down fairly quickly under some environmental conditions…. Strong UV destroys it in about a year, it loses all structural strength and crumbles into small fragments. Constant exposure to water seems to accelerate this. I can send you samples if you want.

[@FAB1150]

That's because "biodegradable" means that something will break down in a few weeks or months. For that definition no, PLA isn't biodegradable if it isn't in an industrial facility. But PLA does break down over time, it's just in the span of years, not weeks. Which is fine if it's a landfill environment where it will stay there for years

[@samiraperi467]

@@LoyalMoses Assuming protons decay everything breaks down eventually but that's not "biodegradable". :D

[@mikeselectricstuff]

Another thing with apparently cheap filament - check that it's a 1kg reel, not 500g or even 250g

[@LoyalMoses]

Fantastic advice! I’ve made that mistake before!

[@angrydragonslayer]

$30 for 200 grams of copper fill 😢

[@YourComputerExpert]

@@LoyalMoses You gave this advice yourself at 22:00 lol, idk why this commenter made it seem like they added it onto your video

[@brucoder]

I use my printers for functional, mechanical parts and prototyping (yes, I did live the Benchy-life in the beginning), but I've experimented with so many filaments and have found myself using 3 filaments - PLA+ for 85%, PETG for heat-sensitive parts, and general TPU for softer "rubber" parts. I've found that my 3 goto filaments are IIID Max PLA+ and PETG, Polyterra PLA+ (I don't use PM PETG because of the paper spools and my drier box operations), and SunLU's TPU.

[@LoyalMoses]

That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[@creamofbotulismsoup9900]

I didn't even know how to use any CAD software when I got a 3d printer. Now I can whip up most anything I need and have it printed in day. Personally I've gone over to the darkside and started using ABS more and more, it's really not that hard to work with unless you're printing something that's fairly large or don't own a cardboard box to stick over your printer.

[@Knowbody42]

For heat sensitive parts, you might even consider PET. Not PETG, PET without the glycol, since the glycol in PETG actually reduces its melting temperature.

[@gridleaf]

Tip for printing cookie cutters: put plastic wrap over the cookie cutter, that way the print never makes contact with the food. Not my original idea, I saw it somewhere else.

[@LoyalMoses]

That’s a fantastic tip!

[@jasonhurdlow6607]

Yes, even if the material itself might be foodsafe, the nozzles, etc... are not food grade certified and might have lead or other contaminates.

[@ianc8165]

@@jasonhurdlow6607 and 3d printing is never truly foodsafe unless maybe you coat it because of the layers they can grow bacteria

[@BigpapamoneymanMVPtypebeat]

🤢

[@TheSinzia]

I so love my Nevermore filter for ABS/ASA printing. Just remember, 50 hour or 30 days and swap out the carbon media!

[@LoyalMoses]

That would be a fun system to test!

[@gregtracy9322]

Triple carbon filtered and HEPA filter Bento Box has been great as well. Standard carbon filters stuck in the printer aren't going to do much.

[@jasonjennings6686]

I upgraded to a nevermore stealthmax which is huge. The carbon in that lasts a super long time.

[@dan-nutu]

I started watching this clip when it first came out but I didn't have the time to watch it all. Now, with the holidays, I was able to finish it and I must say I'm pleasantly impressed by the quick, down to Earth, no BS answers! Subscribed :)

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you! That is very kind!

[@onesadtech]

This is such an undiscovered gem of a youtube channel, the information presented here was top notch and in a fantastic format. Instant subscription from me!

[@LoyalMoses]

That’s very kind! Thank you! 💜

[@fluideight]

Thank you for the video. I am fairly new to 3D printing and this answered almost all of my questions about the different materials.

[@cupertinogeek2070]

Loved the 3D Print General spool proudly displayed. Great video.

[@LoyalMoses]

💜

[@KillRoy0351]

Came here to say to say this

[@matthelton6637]

I have a feeling your channel is about to get more popular. I found you from a recommendation from YT and I'm not disappointed! Fantastic video and very informative!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you Matt!

[@avgjoeshow4208]

First time seeing your videos and while I didn’t really need to watch a video like this I thoroughly enjoyed it and the way you explained and shared a lot of this information. For sure will be watching a couple more videos of yours!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you! That is very kind of you to say. 💜

[@kellyjean4981]

thank you for the great info. I look forwarded to checking out your other videos. I was really just going to check out the info about PLA and Petg, but watched until the end due to how easy to listen to and knowledgeable you are.

[@LoyalMoses]

Awesome, thank you!

[@drfootleg]

This was great. So much useful information. I've just bought my first filament drying box and it has been a game changer for my ASA prints. More content like this please!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you! It was a long video! 💜

[@marcozacarias1675]

Absolutely great video! Very informative. I'd love to see another video with more common Engineering materials like PC or TPU.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you Marco! We’ll do another one for sure with the more advanced filaments!

[@PauloAlexoliveira]

Amazing knowledge share. Thank you mate

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@dev-debug]

Best trait of PETG is it's strong and can still flex. Excellent for things like belt clips etc.

[@knifeyonline]

just like most PLA+ filaments except worse

[@Smokinjoewhite]

@@knifeyonline There is so much more to it than that, the mechanical properties are not that simple. There is heat resistance, layer adhesion, abrasion resistance, impact resistance and creep is all superior in PETG compared to most PLA+/pro.

[@amarissimus29]

All my printers are in enclosures all are ducted to an exhaust port on the window of my office. Spent a lot of time designing manifolds and backflow prevention valves, and I have to regenerate desiccant constantly due to the moisture coming in, but it's worth it. I work almost exclusively with ASA, and the machines are running 24/7. The stuff is the best.

[@LoyalMoses]

Hey! That is very cool! How are you drying your desiccant? ASA is an awesome material!

[@shermellow]

This has been one of the most informative and interesting videos for the types of polymers I’ve seen so far! Thank you!!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@andy_warb]

Polyterra is my goto PLA (love the matte finish!) and I have printed dozens of rolls and seen no problems with my nozzles wearing (I haven't changed my Revo since I got it last November!)!

[@LoyalMoses]

Awesome!

[@olafmarzocchi6194]

But on their Discord server they didn't deny it's more abrasive than PLA, just it's much less than generic filled PLAs.

[@michaelwiginton8587]

Great resource to keep on hand for filament.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thanks Michael!

[@nunopenaspt]

Hi Moses, Thank you for this in-depth lesson about all the different filaments available, the AI assistant is a nice touch too.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thanks! That’s not AI! That’s my wife! 😃💜

[@nunopenaspt]

@@LoyalMoses Hi Moses, sorry, din't realize it was your wife, she is very comprehensible and eloquent, that's why I though it was AI. 😅

[@LoyalMoses]

I think she was a bit nervous so she sounded robotic! 💜🔥

[@S.A.S.H.]

First time watching your videos. What a great place to start. Great information, and well done.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you I really appreciate that!

[@wesselsi3791]

Learnt a couple thing from the video but just wanted to say, wholesome video man. It sounds like you are really passionate

[@LoyalMoses]

I appreciate that! Thank you! 💜

[@watchdogpedro]

finally a total view and short and sweat information. Great job thanks.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@Category5]

Great vid! I know all of this already, and still watched the whole thing.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you Shane! I sincerely appreciate that. 💜

[@frankdearr2772]

Great topic, thanks 👍

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@justdoityourself7134]

Loved the video, missed your assessment of PC filament.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thanks! We have another video coming with more technical filaments! 🔥

[@TheZolon]

This is why I have started putting even my enclosed printers that I print ASA on in a secondary enclosure with an vent out the window that has an inline charcoal filter. So even what I am putting outside, is a touch cleaner.

[@LoyalMoses]

Super smart to be safe! Thanks Zolon!

[@fabio-franco]

Now this sounds like so much work I get tired just thinking of it. Congrats for walking the extra mile on both personal safety and environmental

[@bsmith1381]

Good idea!

[@TTS-TP]

I always run a negative air flow straight out the window. Great way to guarantee you don't get sick😅

[@3DPrintSmith]

I'd not heard of ASA poisoning and has me rethinking my setup. I may have been effected int he past and not realised ! thanks for the great info.

[@LoyalMoses]

Hey! Glad to see you here! It’s a real thing for sure, can be very dangerous.

[@fabio-franco]

Same here. I realized it only after watching this video. All it took was a couple of minutes to check on the print and boom, headache

[@lpvgs-817]

awesome vid thanks for info. just got a creality K1C for my first printer haveing issues with the extruder jamming here and there but with through my first spool making benchies and fidgets lol.

[@LoyalMoses]

The life of 3D printing! Welcome! 💜

[@michaelmcguire8811]

"...and animals - they breathe too. So be careful of that" hahaha, love it

[@LoyalMoses]

😁

[@CJ-ur3fx]

Interesting and informative! Good video!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@ogmstech]

Thanks for all the information.

[@LoyalMoses]

You are very welcome! 💜

[@dasv90]

Thanks u so much for ur video, a lot of information =D.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@Dimi_29]

Thank you so much for the very valuable knowledge you are sharing with us, it is extremely useful and I've discovered and learnt so many things on your channel - had a quick scroll through your channel and after watching couple if videos I immediately subscribed. With the amount of knowledge you have, I think that it will be very helpful to all of us if could do a detailed video specifically about filaments and sharing your knowledge about them, comparing heat resistance, uv resistance, overall strength, lifespan indoors vs outdoors, toxicity, and proposing ideal uses. After 3d printing for 5 years with PLA, TPU and ABS I'm in the search to find the best all around filament that will do for all common indoor and outdoor uses (art and functional prints) even if the price is premium. You print it and forget it type of thing - have no worries that it will break down after 2 years outdoors, will warp or delaminate cause of constant humidity - contact with water and other common conditions. I recently upgraded to Bambu X1C so looking around for the best all rounder really. Thank you so much again Mr LM and Mrs LM, fantastic job!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you for the VERY kind words! 💜 That’s a great idea, I’ll add that to our short list of content. I agree it would be helpful to have a filament guide on when and how to use all of the different types. Thank you again, it’s wonderful to read comments like this.

[@somedudewithakeyboard]

Good and concise intro to filaments for beginners 👍

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you! 💜

[@ashleyspianoprogress1341]

Great video - you are incredibly knowledge compared to other channels.

[@LoyalMoses]

Very kind! Thank you.

[@MrLandslide84]

Desiccant in a tight sealing tub would be my go to if worried about moisture. Great video. I wanted to know the differences badly.

[@LoyalMoses]

Smart! Keep that moisture out, then no need to dry it! And thank you!

[@caddyguy5369]

That's what I use. Plastic tote with a gasket and a "rechargeable" Eva Dry desiccant unit.

[@KieranMahoney]

Do desiccants stop working after a while

[@caddyguy5369]

@@KieranMahoney Yes. There are disposable types and types you can dry out and reuse. The one I use changes colors when wet. It has a built in wall plug that powers a weak heating element to dry it back out. Just swap it with a dry one and plug in the wet one. I think the air circulation for drying it out could be better to make it more efficient, but they work. There is a lab grade one called Drierite. That also changes colors. To dry it out I believe the directions call to spread it in a thin layer on a baking sheet and put it in the oven at a certain temperature if I recall correctly. I bought some of the drierite a long long time ago for a project before 3d printers were a thing. I think I still have a jar of it someplace. I'm sure there are others, but that's the two I have experience with except for disposable packets that are part of packaging. Ironically, ended up using Drierite at a job a good while after I bought some for my project. It involved draining tanks of liquid resin into a hopper then into a bag. The dessicant was used on an intake tube to keep the air in the hopper dry that displaces the volume as the it drained. Dry air was hooked directly to the big tank.

[@KieranMahoney]

thank you :D @@caddyguy5369

[@PrismaticPhilo]

Great stuff, thank you!

[@LoyalMoses]

You are very welcome! Thank you for watching! Sub if you haven't!

[@walkzeem.1613]

Wow, you deserve way more followers. I learned a ton and it was presented in a great way. Fantastic job.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you so very much! I’m new, but trying hard! 💜

[@walkzeem.1613]

I'm here for it buddy. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@RickTheGeek]

I once ordered a roll of PLA for only $7 on Amazon. When it arrived, I found out why it was $7 - turns out the roll was only 250 grams instead of the usual one kilogram. Suited me fine because I don’t print orange very often lol

[@LoyalMoses]

Oh no! I have done that before too. Lots of 750g spools out there too!

[@Mori5446YT]

@@LoyalMoses The dremel ones are the worst. In canada they're pricier on amazon than a 1kg spool of Polymaker PLA, but it's 750g.

[@3dtexan890]

Don't they say how much is on the roll? I have been buying PLA for over 5 years and have NEVER not seen the amount if you read the complete description. Just sayin'.

[@RickTheGeek]

@@3dtexan890 yeah I probably should have read the description more thoroughly lol

[@Mori5446YT]

@@3dtexan890 they do, but charging 50$ Canadian for a 750g spool is predatory, and sometimes it’s not the manufacturer doing the listing and they’ll just put it in the keyword soup that is the item’s title on amazon and hide it in the technical details deep in the description. Lots of dark patterns and not so moral choices

[@LimbaZero]

Where I live we have "normal" trash marked as energy waste so those go to burning places where they make heat for city area. We have separated bins for metal, glass, paper, and bio. I have put supports from PLA and PETG prints for energy waste.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you for the comment! I think this is more common than people know.

[@colincampbell3679]

I just started printing with ASA, I just got a new ASA with the Glitter in it. Mine is the Dark Blue ASA with sliver Glitter. The maker I got it from does white, black, red, dark green, light blue, gray and the dark blue all with the glitter in. I also just managed to buy the new Sun Lu S4 4 spool dryer to help with the drying of my many many spools. I have that Qidi X-Plus-3 core xy enclosed printer and it is amazing fast and detailed printing wise. It does ASA and ABS and PETG so well when I have worked out what temps they need? I found that different companies filaments are all very different in the flow or heat needed. I do make a point to write either on the end of the spool box or on a bit of paper stuck to the box ( if the box is too dark to see the maker pen writing ) All the temps and flow and speed and fan info for that spool and for each of the printers I use too! as they again all different for the same spool of filament. Makes it easy then to set those known temps etc for each printer? I have a Elegoo Saturn 2 resin printer too. the only downside for me is the waste washing water from this resin printer! I use water washable resin But, seeing as I live in the UK were many hot sunny days are rare even in the last few hot summers, it means I can't set the waste water resin? I have had to store the water used to wash the resin for now until I work out how to safety dispose of the washing water? a UV light big and powerful enough to set the resin in the waste water is hundreds of pounds to buy, so that is out. Here I looked up disposal services for it, But they is few and I can't transport the waste water that easy to any found often far from me as I don't have a car! Even though someone said to use the XS curing station unit I have to cure the waste water resin, it is a small area in there and the rotating platform inside is a light one so I don't with to break it with the huge weight of a glass big jar filled with heavy resin filled water. Thanks for the good done video here btw?

[@garydavis786]

Great video. I am a complete newbie at this. My only experience with printing is with laser printers for paper. I just ordered a new Qudi Pro printer and it is supposed to be shipped mid May. I also just subscribed to your channel. I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I start playing with this printer and I can't wait to get started! Thanks.

[@LoyalMoses]

How exciting! Congratulations!!! If you ever have questions, ask away! Our discord is an awesome place too, you are welcome to join! loyal.ms/discord

[@kalvinlabuik3366]

Ok a few question I'm into vehicles and farm equipment 3D printing I need clear filament for cab windows and what is the rubbery one I need for soft tires and crawler tractor tracks for replacement ?

[@J.R.jr-pc7bo]

For nylon filament, I have used weedwacker string. I have had decent results, it did warp (due to the lack of enclosure). Drying is a must since they are not vacuum sealed or anything to prevent moisture. Can be found in most hardware stores, easy to fine and most cases cheaper. Only negative thing about buying it is that it is not made with 3D printing at mind so it may have toxic chemicals that are unknown so ventilation is a must!

[@LoyalMoses]

Yup, that’s the way it used to be for everyone.

[@walterpickford3204]

I print PETG directly to glass and have no difficulty in getting it to release. I found the answwer is to allow it to cool completely and the differential thermal expansion between glass and PETG makes it almost always a case of simply picking the model up without any need for tools at all. What I have found is that printing directly to glass requires the glass to be scrupulously clean, any grease at all (fingerprints etc.) can cause bed adhesion issues.

[@LoyalMoses]

Great tip!

[@mthqwork123]

You were lucky :) I had two sheets of glass ruined by PETG. One was plain cut to size window glass, the other was carborundum coated FLSun. The PETG stuck so well to it that the object broke off pieces of the glass.

[@fuurinkazan164]

This was such a cool video!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@scotts_random_stuff6589]

I love the Elegoo PLA+

[@NuclearLetsPlay]

Love PLA+ for tabletop terrain. Its a bit more anoying to clean up, especialy with small supports n stuff but its so much more resilient than normal pla for hobby handling. a buddy of mine prints in standard pla constantly and his terrain breaks every now and then and i never had any issues of that kind with my pla+.

[@LoyalMoses]

PLA+ for sure!

[@SwervingLemon]

Ok, now that I've whinged about the minor innacuracies - Great content, overall! Your delivery is very natural and conversational and you clearly have enthusiasm and knowledge to impart. Good production values and audio quality, as well. Glad to add you to my subscriptions!

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you, that is very kind of you. I really appreciate this. 💜

[@johnramos9724]

You two are cute! Thank you for making this video bc you have protected me and my family, as I move into 3-d printing

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@Matt3DMaker]

PLA is absolutely recyclable! Plenty of companies use recycled PLA feedstock (rPLA), and there's a large influx of home recycling products currently 😊 Researching it is my job, we're currently up to 4 cycles without effecting conductive Performance, 7 recycling cycles with no change in the chemical properties, after which it can't be extruded, but can still be used in injection moulding, fill etc.

[@LoyalMoses]

Can you post links to sources for those that may be interested?! Would be very helpful!

[@Matt3DMaker]

@@LoyalMoses absolutely! DOI is "10.1021" 😊 That is the paper on recycling PLA from post-consumer waste sources, the paper on long-term recycling from virgin feedstocks (aka new Filament/pellets) is yet to be published as we're still concluding the work 😊 All of our research can be found through the authors list

[@comeoutandpla]

As a converted nylonganggang printer…Nylon that is glass or CF filled can be printed without an enclosure IF….IF you have a stable ambient temperature in the room. With that said, I’ve printed open air as low as 67F with no issues. But there were no drafts or temperature swings

[@LoyalMoses]

The room becomes a giant enclosure! Thank you, this is true, we’ve printed all sorts by keeping a room nice and warm but mostly keeping drafts out.

[@comeoutandpla]

Salute for the 3D Print General tribute 🫡

[@LoyalMoses]

🫡

[@Lobesanft]

I use 3M masking tape for PLA, ABS and PET alike and did not make any adversive experiences so far. I recommend enclosed printers with - preferably - HEPA filters indeed at least for mineral-oil based filaments as ASA and ABS.

[@LoyalMoses]

Cool!

[@3dtapia]

After I discover your channel a week ago my mind is just blowing up. I thought I know about filaments but some details that you said in this video is make more clear my knowledge. Keep doing this hard work!!!! 👏🏼thank you !!!

[@LoyalMoses]

Wow! Very kind of you, thank you for this comment, glad you enjoyed it. 💜

[@brianswille]

Unless I am printing a gloss fialement I use PLA+/PRO... I can usually get it at the same price or a couple bucks more a spool. The characteristics and printing properties are worth it for me.

[@LoyalMoses]

That's great to hear

[@sassysuzy4u]

Thank you for the video! Quick questions, is nylon UV resistant also?

[@LoyalMoses]

Thanks! Most nylon filaments are UV resistant due to the additives they include. Raw nylon isn’t completely UV resistant but better than PLA and ABS.

[@secondleasegamer8312]

Ive been using Slice's Plastic Repellant Paint for a while now after seeing it on your channel and it works great. I seem to need to re-apply it every couple of weeks, but im assuming it'll depend on how often your printer runs. But its definitely a great product. Just wish they sold larger sizes!

[@LoyalMoses]

AWESOME!

[@zx85]

What a great video - all the information is there without any of the fluffery buffery - the recommendations are seamless, and I've learned an awful lot from just one video. You & Mrs LM have got yourself a new subscriber!

[@LoyalMoses]

Hey! That is so very kind of you! Thank you! I'll read my wife your comment!

[@billnoname8093]

As far as recycling goes, the amount of stuff I have repaired that would have ended up in the dump far out weighs the amount of filament that I have used in the past 2 years. the 20 gallon shop vac I fixed is a huge amount of plastic. So I just mention this because I think it gets over looked. I mostley use PETG, but love TPU for some things and I use nylon, the nylon I got is from overture and $34 a 1kg roll. I don't print ABS or ASA because of the fumes and the reason I watched the video, glad to have learned that without getting ASA poisoning. Also I use a textured PEI sheet for PETG and never have a problem since I went to that, when I print hard to stick filiment I will sometimes print a layer of Petg, then print on top of that, you need to look what sticks to what, but they can be mixed, I just recently learned that and have used that method. Yes Nylon sticks to PETG, this helps with sticking plus I can just use the same pei sheet. Thanks for the video , keep up the good work.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thanks for sharing!

[@exoticpropulsion8175]

That was a great intro into filaments.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you, appreciate it! Would love to have your sub if you haven't already!

[@brianswille]

I like to print on a smooth glass bed with Bed Weld. Product goes far and realeses so easily when the plate cool. If I am too impatient I just put on another plate while it cools.

[@LoyalMoses]

Awesome.

[@MandoThingz]

I've been printing since 2016, had a spool I kept for many many years that I later used to compare modern PLA and noticed how much stronger and way less smell today's plastics are than some 10+ years ago

[@ZephyrCubic]

its worth noting that degradation of the plastic over as long a period as 10 years is not negligible, so that is not necessarily a fair comparison. Also, if you didn't dry it beforehand, it almost certainly had absorbed some water, which would effect both smell and performance

[@LoyalMoses]

Recipes have definitely changed for the better. So many high tech filament options now!

[@buildersmark]

Cheap PLA (sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you get lucky) Great Q&A session

[@LoyalMoses]

Very true. How do you feel you’ve been? I feel they I’ve been lucky over the years, less than a handful of bad experiences.

[@buildersmark]

​@@LoyalMosescan say similar results, & I base on experience from 2015 to present. Out of thousands of spools, can say maybe 3-4 at the most of bad results.

[@elvinhaak]

@@LoyalMoses My experiences: with multiple 'cheap' brands: it is hit or miss. Sometimes I have like 10 spools without problems but other times it is like 2 out of 3 spools have thicker and thinner parts. Clogging up extruders and even had damaged parts on the printers with it. And still many times here it is around 15€ per KG/spool. Sometimes it is only like one thick spot (2-3mms) in a spool but it can cost not only the print but also the parts and labour on the printer. I now have a selection-set of brands I use, somewhat more expensive in most cases but I know they are stable enough for draft-prints. Some of the other brands-spools are apart from the printers and I only use short parts of those for use in my 3D pens now. About the price: keep in mind that filaments like PLA weight more in volume then with ABS for example. So: PLA is maybe cheaper per KG but can cost a lot more for the same volume of print then with ABS. Besides in many cases needing less volume with ABS or PETG then with PLA for the same (functional) part.

[@emclu]

Good information to know about since I want to incorporate more of the cheaper plastics in some of my multi-part prints to reduce overall construction costs. Just wish I had a good PLA printer. I've been experimenting with CF-nylon only at the moment with a high-end printer, but definitely am curious about the materials. Thank you for the information.

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you for the comment! What printer do you currently have?

[@emclu]

@@LoyalMoses R Qidi X-CF Pro I think. Saved up for it.

[@Electrobeam673]

Good info

[@LoyalMoses]

Thank you!

[@stephenashford9006]

I’ve recently just used some open filament that was not stored properly at all and had been there for about 6 years, printed better than some brand new unopened filament

[@LoyalMoses]

AWESOME!

[@fabio-franco]

Great video. I hadn't realised I had symptoms of poisoning. On more than one occasion I would get a headache after entering the room printing ABS. Need to do some work to ventilate the room, even though I am there only to check or collect prints. Some additional feedback I'd like to share: Food safety: Print micro cracks are not the only concern, but the nozzle as well. Brass alloys often contains a small percentage of lead, which has no levels of safe consumption. Since there is not a lot of info on the possible contamination of lead into prints, and only use stainless steel as it's the only of the most common nozzle materials that are safe for prints that will be in contact with food. There are ways to overcome the issue with micro cracks, like resin coating, so make sure you add the facts about nozzle material on your next content about that. Nylon: I get away with warping by using smooth PEI, 120 degree Celsius build plate, an enclosure and a glue stick 100% of the time. PETG: I really don't like this type of filament, not when I can print ABS/ASA or PLA. My experience is that it's hard to get dimension accuracy and make parts smug fit, due to its softness, is messy and prone to stringing and fails to live up to advantage of PLA or ABS for their applications. Perhaps for some niche application (like garden and cheaper than ASA and maybe parts that require a higher degree of flexibility), but I find most of the time, either PLA or ABS/ASA are better options. I also find that although shinier, it also makes print imperfections a lot more visible and I tend to prefer the more matt finish from PLA and ABS.

[@LoyalMoses]

Be safe with that ABS and ASA! Thank you for your comments!

[@fabio-franco]

​@@LoyalMosesThanks, really eye opener the warning about the poisoning. I didn't realise only a couple of minutes could be enough, because I didn't know about these symptoms. Wish more streamers talked about the specifics

[@mayamanign]

I'm making Auto parts out of PETG, car grills to be exact and I'm printing them in two pieces (left and right) Unlink ABS which I can fuse with Acetone, I can't find something to fuse the PETG grills together. Can you help? Thanks!

[@LoyalMoses]

Absolutely! 3D Gloop! They have a PETG formula that welds the parts together!

[@Luptonium]

I missed this when it was uploaded. I just bought sooooo much filiment.

[@dareka9425]

I just started 3D printing this year and I sleep in the same rooms as my printer. At town I have a small bedroom while at the village I sleep in the larger living room. So far I noticed the faint smell of PLA and more noticeably PETG in my early days of printing but I only smell burned filament whenever they clumped around the nozzle.

[@LoyalMoses]

Just make sure you have fresh air, that is the most important thing!

[@dareka9425]

I@@LoyalMoses That's true. I can't be in a room without some good air circulation/ventilation. The bedroom is small but I never close the windows. The living is enclosed at night but it is a big space and I have the fan over me. I'm planning to convert some rooms into dedicated hobby rooms for gaming, 3d printing and scale model building. One is almost finished but the other one is still in the planning phase(I live between two houses).

[@christoz77]

Great video

[@LoyalMoses]

Thanks!

[@buildersmark]

ASA ... its fancy ✨️🥂✨️

[@TTS-TP]

I always stress to everyone that wants to print in ABS or ASA, a completely sealed printer with Inlet vents and true negative pressure. Just put it by a window, spend the 15 bucks to get the insert, and model and adapter or find someone else's model. I've never had a problem since

[@LoyalMoses]

Great advice! Ventilation is so important!

[@almonster2066]

What is the best support material for Nylon? Eg. you have a mult-material printer, should you use PETG/ABS as breakaway support? or what else?

[@LoyalMoses]

That's a really great question! I will have to do some research and testing to find out.

[@crckdns]

Came here because YT just suggested this video ^^ Interesting video, you get my sub.

[@LoyalMoses]

Hey! Welcome and THANK YOU! That's awesome.

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

Re: VOCs and other emissions from 3D prints According to studies I've read, the best material in this category is PETG followed by PLA, however there really needs to be industry standards for this because there are now hundreds of 3D printing formulations for both polymers, and any of those additives can affect what is emitted into the air. Every manufacturer has their "secret sauce", and we really don't know what they're putting into their materials in their attempts to be competitive. It's also important to consider particulate emissions, because PLA does have some of that while ABS/ASA has a lot more along with the styrene emissions. This is good to know if you or anyone you know is affected by asthma. If you're worried about particulates, stick to PETG.

[@LoyalMoses]

I’d love to learn and read about this more! Share links if you have them, they’d be very helpful to others to. Thank you for this!!!

[@ausfoodgarden]

Wow! I didn't realize that glow-in-the-dark PLA was abrasive. I'd better use my tungsten steel nozzle to print all the Halloween stuff I was planning. Great timing 👍 Regarding the ASA poisoning, yep those carbon filters take away a lot of the smell but don't capture the nasty chemicals. I have a high volume fan sucking the air out of a window whenever printing things other than PLA.

[@LoyalMoses]

Definitely print it with a hardened nozzle for sure! Yes, ASA is okay to print with proper ventilation, without, it's just nasty.

[@TheEpicDartfish]

@@LoyalMoses Is keeping my Bambu P1S (Enclosured) beside the open balcony door while printing a lot of ASA fine?

[@Guardian_Arias]

Weed eater string is made out of nylon and some are modified to be extremely durable and stable. All my plain nylon prints are made out of round 0.065 inch trimmer line and if you look hard enough or ask your gardener you can find 1, 3, 5 even 10lbs spools. Unfortunately the color selection is extremely limited but extremely cheap and consistent. Also 0.065in is 1.6mm which is fine you just gotta tune extrusion rates and retractions.

[@LoyalMoses]

What's the cost for 1kg of weed eater string? I know this is where hobby 3D printing began, but I do wonder what the costs are.

[@Guardian_Arias]

@@LoyalMoses About 35usd for a 2.25kg spool.

[@oldkingcrow777]

​@@LoyalMosesI was under the impression that it's exceedingly expensive for this purpose... almost seems smarter to use filament for string trimming lmao. Harbor Freight has the 100ft for $6. It's 1/5 of a lb. So figure almost $70/kg

[@Ace-dh5lz]

​@oldkingcrow777 yes i use that stuff all the time even prints great on my ender s1 without an enclosure for small prints

[@bobjoatmon1993]

On April 2024 Amazon had: "KAKO 065 Trimmer Line Round Weed Eater Line .065 Weed Wacker String .065-Inch-by-2000-ft-3lb Commercial Grade Round String Trimmer Line, Weed Eater String .065 Fits Most String Trimmer(Orange)" for $26. USD

[@chuckbailey6835]

When your talking about being hydroscopic is that only the filiment or also the printed piece?

[@LoyalMoses]

Mostly the filament because it requires low moisture to print properly. But, printed parts definitely absorb moisture, especially nylons, they even require moisture absorption to be more flexible.

[@raznj1]

This video probaly saved my life. my printer is next to my bed and i just got some asa filament not knowing much about it other than weather and heat risistant. i literally had a 13hr print which i slept next to over night with bad ventilation because i thought a draft might cause it to cool to fast....and yes i woke up with a crazy head ache thinking i just slept wrong

[@LoyalMoses]

Health is important!

[@The3DPrintingGrandad]

There is a PCTG filament too. Yes C.

[@vreedognight]

When you smelled the bed cement from TH3D, I got a little pain between my head between my eyebrows lol.

[@LoyalMoses]

It’s a strong smell!

[@TRUMP_WAS_RIGHT_ABOUT_EVRYTHNG]

awesome video! thanks mr and mrs! subscribed!

[@LoyalMoses]

You are very welcome! 💜

[@richc9890]

So I just ordered a Qidi Max 3. Have you been happy still with the printer (I hope so)? Any tips, tricks, things you can share about it? Thanks.

[@LoyalMoses]

I didn't get to use the Max 3, but the Plus 3 is a great machine! Haven't used it in a few months while we've been working on the studios, but we have some projects that will use it again coming up.

[@JohnSmith-ld1pw]

Thanks for the video. My problems with ASA always revolve around layer adhesion. How do I combine the importance of proper ventilation with the importance of relatively high chamber heat? I installed a separate exhaust fan for my P1S chamber and regularly exhaust PLA,PETG and TPU outside with no problems. However, if I use it with ASA I never get good layer adhesion. Even with the exhaust fans off it is hit or miss with the layers, and I am assuming at this point it's because the chamber isn't getting/staying warm enough. I am on the verge of buying a chamber heater, but this leaves me right back to where I started without proper ventilation for a fairly noxious filament, since turning on the exhaust fan vents out the heat as well. Any suggestions?

[@LoyalMoses]

As you already know, layer adhesion increases the longer the polymer stays above the glass transition temperature, so whatever you do, you need to allow the print to stay warm. Ventilation to the outside can be done at low volume, reducing the volume of air exchange would be important. Also, thank you for the comment and questions!

[@Beateau]

Wow Amazing. You're introducing the ABS segment and you mention whether we think we can or can't, and my response to that was "More like, why?" Next question.... If I could sub twice.

[@LoyalMoses]

Very kind of you! Sometimes I get a bit excited about this industry, and it comes through the camera! 😁

[@StealthCampADL]

I've had PLA out in the elements for about 2 years and it looks and feels just like it did when printed.

[@LoyalMoses]

Awesome!

[@mikesbasement6954]

Something people need to be aware of: If you have asthma then be extra careful with fumes. Even PLA fumes can trigger a serious asthma attack. I learned this the hard way.

[@LoyalMoses]

Definitely take care of your health!

[@LookInto]

How do you not have more subs? Great video, very informative, thanks!

[@LoyalMoses]

That’s very kind! I’m brand new, only been a partner for 6 months!

[@robertrichard4861]

I use cyanoacrylate glue on corners of large prints that i know will lift. Works great on mirror plate. Clean up with a scraper and some acetone. Way cheaper then a lot of other branded 3d printing glues.

[@LoyalMoses]

Nice!

[@riaankeyser8535]

Great video. Where are the TPU questions?

[@LoyalMoses]

We are doing a second video with more exotic filaments, that will include TPU. In-fact, last night during our live stream we had A LOT of TPU questions. We need to do this soon!

[@felixisme]

Hey! What filter was used on the printers that got you sick?

[@LoyalMoses]

They were just activated carbon. But all of these 3D printers aren't sealed, so they just leak air everywhere.

[@GregPless]

Great channel. New subscriber here. I’m sure you have described this effect somewhere in one of your videos, but thought I would just ask a quick question. What’s the main indicator that you have a worn out nozzle? I wanna make sure that I’m not chasing printing issues with settings if I simply have a bad nozzle. thank you

[@brisance]

ASA is also more UV-stable compared to ABS. It's more expensive because of market economics, supply-demand catch 22 problem.

[@LoyalMoses]

Absolutely! ASA is fantastic.

[@OldGuyAdventure]

I have worked with a lot of plastics and probably run 60000 lbs of ABS and Polyethylene as an extrusion operator. Every manufacturer I have worked with dries and conditions the pellets prior to being metered into extruders. You talk about ventilation. We vented the building six times an hour, but if you're standing beside a styrene extruder, you get a maximum dosage of sterile gas venting. Dow recommended not inhaling dust from Srytrene as that was cancer-causing, but they recommended venting for the blowing agents we injected to make foams.

[@LoyalMoses]

60,000 pounds?! Wow!

[@easymac79]

19:15 The first time I printed ABS, it was a cheap brand, very fumy, I was printing in a room adjacent to the bedroom. I woke up the next day with a "sense of impending doom"... I never knew what that was supposed to mean, until that day. I could feel, deep in my lungs, something heavy. Went outside for about 10 minutes and was feeling better. Went back inside and I could smell ALL the fumes I guess built up slowly. I didn't even print a lot. Maybe 2 hours, 2-3 meters of filament. That was something else.

[@LoyalMoses]

Yikes! That’s scary! It definitely depends on the amount of styrene in the filament and how much you breath! I’m glad you are okay!

[@justincuvelier9569]

Thank you for covering filaments and answering questions. Several things were covered I was curious about. But I found myself wondering a few other things. I am looking into investing into a 3d printer and want to get proper filament, as I have some personal ideas and creations to make from personalized storage to useable items and utensils. I have been searching and watching experienced users videos, reviews and explanations. I have yet to find any who actually address real common uses, they only cover what I consider is child play items. I am looking for more realistic uses besides children's toys. What is most durable filament available for day to day uses, indoor and outdoor combinations. I don't want to create something and find it warp or deteriorate at a crazy rate. Can you cover this with each filament: After you print the item is there deterioration to the item if it is in a humid or hot, in cold or wet environments and in both. Is there a good filament that is useable if I was to make a personal traveling cup for both hot or cold drinks? There was a brief cover on food grade items but nothing used in depth. Is this not available to the public? After all we do buy what I consider cheap made utensils and would rather created something more rigid. I Plan on using tools and storage accessories but I want to make sure it is durable and able to endure/withstand physical stresses. Far as recyclable on a different level, which may also be one others asked but worded it incorrectly. The recyclable filaments, is there a device that is within a reasonable price for the average person, that allows for melting the filament and turning it into a reusable spool? If you can cover this in a video would be greatly appreciated.

[@LoyalMoses]

Very welcome! Take a look at app.polymaker.com for more detailed information about the different filaments and comparisons. This should help you considerably! Food safe is an entirely different and complex topic, but ultimately you have to worry about the cracks and voids collecting bacteria and foreign debris from printer components making it into the print, that could be toxic or harmful. There are coatings you can use to make an item food safe, that would be something for you to investigate. Recycling filament is something that interests a lot of people, but every solution I've seen for home use is cheap and not very effective, more tinker toys than anything else. I wish we had better options. Thank you for the comment, and I will definitely add some of these items to our list for upcoming content!