Very soon, there are reels of filament everywhere. Now, you might have noticed that when you buy a reel of 3D filament, it comes in a vacuum-sealed bag, and there’s even a little bag of desiccant inside. The idea is that this keeps the filament dry because the filament material can absorb moisture from the air, which in turn results in poor-quality prints. Also: Why I replaced my $40 multimeter with these smart measuring tools If you’re serious about 3D printing, you need a way to keep filament that’s not being used in a low-humidity environment, too. And the easiest, most cost-effective way is by using this sealing kit from eSun.
What’s in the box
10 x vacuum bags1 x USB powered pump2 x sealing clips15 x desiccant bags10 x spare valve stickers
Note that there is a less expensive kit that comes with a hand pump, but for the extra $3 or so, I suggest getting the USB-powered pump because it’s quicker and much more convenient. If you’ve ever dabbled with sous vide, then the process of bagging a reel of filament – the bags are compatible with 0.5KG/0.75KG/1KG filament reels – will be familiar to you.
How to vacuum seal unused filament
Also: You should save those silica gel packets included in purchases. Here’s why Apply the pump to the air valve, press the button on the end of the pump, and let the air be sucked out. It takes about a minute (but looks more impressive when sped up in the image below!). Also: How to get into 3D printing without breaking (too many) things
