<p>Yes, you can. But no, you don't need to make your own filament for it, there is one called <a href="http://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52" rel="noreferrer">Print2Cast</a> that you can buy for about 50$/kg.</p>

<p>This filament has the following recommended slicing settings:</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>Extrusion temperature:</strong> 140°C-150°C</li>
<li><strong>Bed temperature:</strong> 80°-90°C</li>
<li><strong>Shells:</strong> 2-3 (for most models)</li>
<li><strong>Print speed:</strong> 20 to 70mm/s</li>
</ul>

<p>There are, however, a few more things to look out for when printing with wax, as it is very soft.</p>

<p>The most important issue is the grip of the extruder wheel. See if other people have used your printer/extruder with flexible filaments. If they were successful in doing that, there's a high chance a wax print will succeed as well.</p>

<p>Bed adhesion might also be an issue. <a href="http://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52" rel="noreferrer">MachinableWax.com</a> recommend 6 coats of hair spray on a glass bed, letting each of them dry before adding the next.</p>

<p>Cooling is also important, as with many filaments. You'll probably have to experiment with that a little as either too much or too little can ruin your print.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T09:48:27.747Z
2017-06-21T09:48:27.747Z
iFreilicht
<p>Yes, with the proper equipment.</p>

<p>Printing wax filament (at 51 seconds): <a href="https://youtu.be/tibkVZB_n9c?t=51s" rel="noreferrer">https://youtu.be/tibkVZB_n9c?t=51s</a></p>

<p>There are also options for melting wax, filling a heated reservoir head, and printing with that. I recommend doing this with a cold ambient temperature, so that the wax solidifies quickly. There's no point in just printing a puddle. :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T12:54:20.877Z
2017-06-19T12:54:20.877Z
Davo
<p>Should be easy to do it in low temperatures, also check for moldlay filament.</p>

<p>Wax is indeed useful for lost-wax casting method.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T07:10:15.977Z
2017-06-21T07:10:15.977Z
morevitamins
<p>One of the applications of 3d printing with wax is when making jewellery using the lost-wax casting process.
I don't know if there are 'cheap' 3d printers for wax. One brand of 3d printers for wax is Solid-Scape.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T12:46:42.357Z
2017-06-19T12:46:42.357Z
ON5MF Jurgen
<p>Just make a silicone mold of any of your prints and pour you wax in the silicone,you silicone putty is pretty cheap so is wax ,no need to break the bank as printers have become less expensive and can do a pretty good job </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-13T11:42:24.280Z
Making a silicone mold is good for repeated production of cold materials, but Wax or waxlike materials are used for one-off objects usually. There are printers out there that print special wax materials for such things. They reduce the cost in comparison to plastic print, smoothing, molding, casting wax, making plaster or clay molds a lot by simply reducing the need for two intermediate processes and much less time consumption.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-13T06:41:22.840Z
2019-02-13T06:41:22.840Z
Todd heinz
<p>Use any 3d printer. Any material. Preferably SLA that gives you a better resolution. Print an inverse of your model and pour in melted wax. One of the advantages that you can make unlimited number of copies very fast, unlike direct printing where you would need to print each one separately.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-01T17:15:05.300Z
2024-08-01T17:15:05.300Z
user2555515
<p>I'd like to start 3d printing in wax.</p>

<p>Is there a reasonably priced 3d printer that is capable of it?</p>

<p>Am I right in assuming that all I need is to make my own filament and set extruder temperature correctly, or do I miss something?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T12:15:41.847Z
In theory, yes.  Drawbacks: wax is much softer than filament, so the feed gear may not work;  melted wax is very runny, so probably won't deposit correctly either.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-13T14:37:47.173Z
If you want to print with wax for lost wax casting, there have been multiple (successful) lost PLA  casting experiments.
E Doe
<filament><print-material>
Can I print in wax?
seer.the
# Can I print in wax?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-19)

I'd like to start 3d printing in wax.

Is there a reasonably priced 3d printer that is capable of it?

Am I right in assuming that all I need is to make my own filament and set extruder temperature correctly, or do I miss something?

**Tags:** filament, print-material
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In theory, yes.  Drawbacks: wax is much softer than filament, so the feed gear may not work;  melted wax is very runny, so probably won't deposit correctly either.  
> **username_2**: If you want to print with wax for lost wax casting, there have been multiple (successful) lost PLA  casting experiments.  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-06-21. Score: 9

Yes, you can. But no, you don't need to make your own filament for it, there is one called [Print2Cast](http://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52) that you can buy for about 50$/kg.

This filament has the following recommended slicing settings:

* **Extrusion temperature:** 140°C-150°C
* **Bed temperature:** 80°-90°C
* **Shells:** 2-3 (for most models)
* **Print speed:** 20 to 70mm/s

There are, however, a few more things to look out for when printing with wax, as it is very soft.

The most important issue is the grip of the extruder wheel. See if other people have used your printer/extruder with flexible filaments. If they were successful in doing that, there's a high chance a wax print will succeed as well.

Bed adhesion might also be an issue. [MachinableWax.com](http://www.machinablewax.com/product.php?product=52) recommend 6 coats of hair spray on a glass bed, letting each of them dry before adding the next.

Cooling is also important, as with many filaments. You'll probably have to experiment with that a little as either too much or too little can ruin your print.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-06-19. Score: 6

Yes, with the proper equipment.

Printing wax filament (at 51 seconds): <https://youtu.be/tibkVZB_n9c?t=51s>

There are also options for melting wax, filling a heated reservoir head, and printing with that. I recommend doing this with a cold ambient temperature, so that the wax solidifies quickly. There's no point in just printing a puddle. :)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-06-21. Score: 2

Should be easy to do it in low temperatures, also check for moldlay filament.

Wax is indeed useful for lost-wax casting method.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2017-06-19. Score: 1

One of the applications of 3d printing with wax is when making jewellery using the lost-wax casting process.
I don't know if there are 'cheap' 3d printers for wax. One brand of 3d printers for wax is Solid-Scape.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2019-02-13. Score: 0

Just make a silicone mold of any of your prints and pour you wax in the silicone,you silicone putty is pretty cheap so is wax ,no need to break the bank as printers have become less expensive and can do a pretty good job

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: Making a silicone mold is good for repeated production of cold materials, but Wax or waxlike materials are used for one-off objects usually. There are printers out there that print special wax materials for such things. They reduce the cost in comparison to plastic print, smoothing, molding, casting wax, making plaster or clay molds a lot by simply reducing the need for two intermediate processes and much less time consumption.  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2024-08-01. Score: 0

Use any 3d printer. Any material. Preferably SLA that gives you a better resolution. Print an inverse of your model and pour in melted wax. One of the advantages that you can make unlimited number of copies very fast, unlike direct printing where you would need to print each one separately.


---

