4 Best Filament Dryers For 3D Printing – Improve Your Print Quality
For top-notch 3D prints, we need to make sure that our filament is performing optimally, and drying the filament is something that’s necessary to get there. Many people start to see quality imperfections when they have filament filled with moisture.
In the past, there weren’t many ways to fix this issue so easily, but as things have progressed with FDM 3D printing, we have some great solutions.
I decided to put together a nice, simple list of the best filament dryers out there for 3D printing so you don’t have to look all around.
Let’s get started with some great professional filament dryers.
1. EIBOS Filament Dryer Box
A recent filament dryer model has been released which can hold two spools of filaments. I’d recommend checking out the EIBOS Filament Dryer Box on Amazon to remove moisture from filament, leading to better quality and more successful 3D prints.
At time of writing, it’s rated 4.4/5.0 on Amazon with plenty of positive reviews from real 3D printer users out there who love it.
It has a whole host of cool features such as:
- Adjustable Temperature
- Humidity Monitoring
- Heating Timers (6 hour default, up to 24 hours)
- Compatible with Multiple Spools
- Revives Brittle Filament
- 150W PTC Heater & Built-In Fan
A few users have actually tested the temperatures that are displayed on the dryer box and they say it’s accurate. The ease of use is one of the main reasons why so many users love this machine.
It has rollers and bearings within the platform so you can 3D print while your filament is drying. Another ideal feature that similar products are missing is the surplus of holes where you can insert your PTFE tube so it can be mounted in many positions.
One of the hardest filaments to deal with and dry is Nylon filament since it absorbs moisture in the environment so quickly. A user who lives in a very humid environment with plenty of rainy weather had amazing results with the EIBOS Filament Dryer Box.
He previously tried other filament dryer boxes, but didn’t get results as good as with this one. An old 2-year spool of Nylon was giving him issues because it wasn’t sealed properly in a bag.
Rather than use an oven for this Nylon which can be troublesome and not temperature-accurate, he put the spool of Nylon in the filament dryer for 12 hours at 70°C (the maximum temperature) using the useful timer feature, and it completely dried the filament like it was a new spool.
It’s dust-proof, sealed properly, and has enough space for 4 rolls of 0.5KG filaments, 2 rolls of 1KG filaments, or 1 roll of 3KG filament. There is even a built-in fan to circulate the hot air inside the whole dryer box, improving the moisture removal.
If you want a simple solution to your filament drying problems for years to come, I’d highly recommend getting yourself the EIBOS Filament Dryer Box from Amazon today.
2. SUNLU Filament Dryer
Second in this list is the SUNLU Dry Box for 3D printer filament storage, a cheaper option than the EIBOS Filament Dryer Box. This spool holder is compatible with filaments of 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm, and even 3.00 mm comfortably.
As it is designed particularly for the purpose of filament drying, there are a number of extra features that make it stand out as compared to other such products.
For one, not only does this Dry Box store and dry your filament spool whenever needed but because of two built-in holes that allow seamless extrusion, you can 3D print with your drying filament too.
The SUNLU Dry Box aims to maintain a constant temperature and prevents excessive heating that could potentially damage the filament.
This will make sure your thermoplastic material is always at its best quality.
You can read more details about Which Filament Absorbs Water? How to Fix It.
I also wrote an article called Easy Guide to 3D Printer Filament Storage & Humidity – PLA, ABS & More which is worth checking out!
It tends to eliminate the build-up of moisture from the surface of filament so all your old materials can be brought back to life again.
This, in particular, is well-liked among people who have bought the SUNLU Dry Box. They say that it was able to dry their filament and make it as good as new.
You also can calibrate the temperature settings with ease. It has a set of two buttons, and those two can handle all the necessary functionalities that you desire.
By default, it maintains a temperature of 50℃ and dries for six hours straight. Otherwise, you can always long-press this machine’s left button to adjust the run time.
To talk about the build, the SUNLU Dry box comprises a transparent build from where the amount of remaining filament can be checked. Moreover, people have also admired its noiseless operation.
However, one of the most apparent downsides to this filament dryer is that it is only able to store one filament spool at once. As compared to other dryers, this comes off as a significant con.
Another user has pointed out that they would prefer a manual on/off button on the Dry Box since the current way of doing that demands a few too many presses from you.
While others have praised how it’s very effective for drying Nylon and PETG, and some also spoke of the great customer service, many complained about the absence of a humidity sensor.
Get the SUNLU Dry Box Filament Dryer from Amazon today.
3. eSUN Aibecy eBOX
eSUN is a highly established name in the 3D printing world. They’re very well known for making high quality filament, environment-friendly resins, and now, they’ve come up with a brilliant filament dryer as well.
After using the Aibecy eBOX, people have seen significant differences in their before and after prints.
What people have really admired about this dryer is how it’s able to store and dry filaments for long print jobs, making them fit for prolonged usage.
In short, it does make your prints much better than they were before, but there are a few things that you should know about this dry box.
According to multiple reviews on Amazon, this product isn’t the one for very stubborn filaments that accumulate a heavy amount of moisture. Several have found no luck on that.
Secondly, if you compare it to the Polymaker PolyBox or even the SUNLU Filament Dryer, the Aibecy eBOX has much lesser functionality and is an underachiever for its price point.
You might not want it for you’re looking for a standalone filament dryer. Where this product really shines is making an already dried filament stay dry for an extensive period of time.
If you are wondering which filament need the most care, check out my article Filament Moisture Guide: Which Filament Absorbs Water? How to Fix It.
One unique feature that makes the Aibecy eBOX stand out is its weight scale. As you use your filament spool, it tells you by weight how much your material is left.
Also, it heats filaments up quite well, according to a customer on Amazon. Many users wish, however, that it had a humidity sensor, similar to the SUNLU Filament Dryer.
This dry box contains pockets in which you can place desiccant packs for extra drying. It proves effective for the whole process.
One user who had many failed prints with TPU went out to research exactly why this was happening. After some time, he found out that TPU is actually very hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs plenty of moisture in the nearby environment.
Even first layers couldn’t complete after a while. He went out and got the eSun Aibecy eBox from Amazon, put it to the test and the results were surprising.
After putting the spool of TPU in the dryer box, it definitely did its job in allowing him to successfully 3D print some awesome models consistently. Since purchasing this product, he hasn’t had any further issues with filament moisture.
He did mention though that the build quality in his opinion wasn’t at the highest level, but still works nonetheless.
Sort out your filament moisture issues. Get the eSUN Aibecy eBOX from Amazon today.
4. Chefman Food Dehydrator
Moving onto a heavy-duty filament dryer, the Chefman Food Dehydrator (Amazon) is a massive unit that outperforms every other dry box from the get-go. I wouldn’t recommend it for the average user, more for someone fully immersed in 3D printing regularly.
It includes 9 adjustable trays that can be easily removed from the inside. This creates a lot of space inside the dehydrator, allowing one to store multiple spools of filament inside.
As a matter of fact, the storing capacity of the Chefman Food Dehydrator is above everything else on this list. Once you take all the trays out, you can layer plenty of filament flat and sideways as shown by Joel Telling on The 3D Printing Nerd below.
Additionally, this figure not only includes filament spools of the regular 1.75 diameter, but you can also fit in 3 mm filaments as well. This just makes Chefman the best filament dryer in terms of storability.
The top of the dehydrator has a digital display where you can control the temperature and time. The timer goes up to 19.5 hours while the temperature ranges from 35°C to 70°C.
This is more than enough for you to dry the moisture right out of your filament with ease.
It also includes a single power button from where you can turn it on and off conveniently, unlike what was demanded in the SUNLU Filament Dryer.
Moreover, its transparent viewing window makes it easy to monitor what’s happening on the inside while the dehydrator does its thing.
While people have loved what this dehydrator brings to their fruits and various foods, it’s also worth noting that Chefman’s multi-functionality brings great value for your money.
You can also use it to store and dry your food, apart from 3D printing filament. People have admired its ease of use, easy cleaning, and top-notch effectiveness.
However, to talk back in terms of 3D printing, a major downside to this dehydrator is that you can’t print while your thermoplastic dries. It’s possible to do a DIY project with bearings, rollers, and holes if you really wanted to.
Another thing to add is that there’s no humidity sensor to tell how much moisture is present inside the dehydrator.
In conclusion, the Chefman’s great performance and immense storability make it a first-rate product for your filament drying needs.
Get the Chefman Food Dehydrator directly on Amazon today.
How To Keep Filament Dry With a Desiccant Dryer
A desiccant screams filament drying on a budget. It’s obviously the cheapest entry on the list, and works for maintaining the moisture levels of your filament without absorbing more afterwards.
To use a desiccant, you have to get yourself an airtight container or bag that can comfortably store your 3D printer filament. The size of the container entirely depends on you.
Continue by sealing the desiccant dryer inside the enclosed box right alongside your filament. This will help keep the moisture at bay and keep your material dry.
This Amazon product also includes a “Humidity Indicator Card” to track the levels of humidity inside. Moreover, the product description seems to say that there are 4 packs of desiccant included with your package.
However, one reviewer said that the inside of the whole package contains loose material and not individual bags. This means that by 4 units, the manufacturer hints towards the quantity.
Other than all that, using a desiccant to dry your filament is a common standard nowadays. If you think it meets your needs, be sure to get it. If not, opt for a full-fledged dry box.
Desiccant bags work best when they are dry themselves since they do absorb moisture. They can be easily charged using your filament dry boxes or even by using a conventional oven at a low temperature for a few hours.
Their melting point is around 135°C so be sure not to heat them up to that point, or else their Tyvek wrapping will soften and render the whole operation useless.
Get some 3D Printer Filament Desiccant Dryer Packs on Amazon today.
If you want more information about drying out your filament properly, check out 4 Awesome Ways How to Keep Your 3D Printer Filament Dry
Does PLA Need a Dry Box?
PLA doesn’t need a dry box to 3D print but using one can help produce optimal surface quality. PLA is known to be hygroscopic which means to absorb moisture from the environment. When PLA or filament has absorbed moisture, it can get brittle and even lead to print failures, as well as blobs/zits on your prints.
One user mentioned that he leaves his spools of PLA filament out for a few months before it gets too brittle to go through the Bowden tube without breaking. After drying the filament, it went back to its usual characteristics, being able to be bendable rather than snapping.
It really does depend on the quality of your filament and how much moisture has been absorbed, but having a dry box can be helpful but not needed. Moisture can be dried out of filament quite easily.
Some people use ovens to dry their filament, but not all ovens are calibrated so well at lower temperatures, so they may be a lot hotter than you actually set.
In certain environments, there is not much moisture or humidity to affect spools of PLA too significantly. The trickiest environments are in places that are humid like Mississippi which is known to get up to 90+% summer humidity.
Filament like Nylon or PVA would benefit highly from a dry box since they absorb moisture very quickly.