<blockquote>
<p>Which option would be more effective in preventing moisture-related print failures?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Let's look at the options:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Using an airtight storage box with no holes for filament storage when not printing.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And I assume printing after getting it out of the box to put it back after printing. This is excellent for long time storage, it is much simpler/practical to use vacuum bags instead of a box.
I use this method on one of my printers, works fine if the filament isn't out of the box/bag for days. For shorter runs I've printed even Nylon like this, but note that it might depend on the filament brand. Another member commented that they did encounter moisture problems when exposing Nylon to the open air in hours. This also depends on the moisture in the air.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Placing the filament spool inside an airtight box during printing, equipped with roller wheels and a small hole for the filament to exit.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is excellent for short time use when printing.</p>
<p>For one of my printers I use both (this is a large size printer, so long prints are possible), for another only the long time storage (smaller printer for relative small/short prints). Both methods of operation work fine.</p>
<p>It takes time for filament to absorb moisture, so generally, the first option should be sufficient. If not, you could dry your filament in a dryer used for drying food.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-10T08:29:15.740Z
Very hygroscopic filaments (like Nylon) require a drybox even for *medium* prints. However, there is always the alternative of having the whole workshop be a dry-room.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-10T10:40:45.220Z
What is a medium print, because I had had no problems keeping Nylon out of the box for several hours for a print. Could depend on the make, this was Ultimaker Nylon. It is best to always dry Nylon before you use it though.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-10T11:37:59.760Z
anything that's more than... one or two hours as far as I experienced.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-09T13:40:09.830Z
2024-06-19T16:33:51.683Z
2024-06-19T16:33:51.683Z
0scar
<p>I have several spools of filament, so I built a dry box based on a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UxRyp-tEdM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">video from YouTube by Chris Meade</a>.</p>
<p>All the parts were purchased from Amazon (these are not affiliate links). It includes a <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B00LHZFKC0" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sealed storage container</a>, a <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B08PVQBVCT" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">mini hygrometer</a> to measure moisture levels, and a <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B000H0XFCS" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">mini dehumidifier</a>. The container size allows for storage of about a dozen full spools, and so far (three weeks or so) has kept the humidity levels in the 25-30% range despite some humid weather. The total cost was around $55 US, half of which was the large storage container; you could reduce this if you could use a smaller container size.</p>
<p>All the parts were purchased on Amazon. (These are not affiliate links.  I don't get anything for posting them). Sorry for the poor quality pics - I built it on some paper packaging on the floor of my office, and the lighting isn't great. The photos were taken within about five minutes of building it, so the humidity is still high; it dropped within an hour or so.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0BzQwACY.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0BzQwACY.png" alt="Storage box - broad view" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jtB557TF.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jtB557TF.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-18T18:27:31.350Z
I also use a DIY safe-sealed transparent plastic box from ikea, and put some silica gel inside with a colour indicator, so i can see, when its time to refresh the gel.
0nlyhasan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-21T04:08:16.370Z
The mini-dehumidifier that I use has an indicator that changes color, and when it does you just plug it into an outlet for 8-10 hours. It dries itself out so that it can be continually reused, which saves on both the cost of the gel and reduces the waste of its disposal.
Ken White
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-10T04:42:13.677Z
2024-06-10T05:00:50.133Z
2024-06-10T05:00:50.133Z
Ken White
<p>I'm trying to combat filament moisture during 3D printing and have two options:</p>
<ol>
<li>Using an airtight storage box with no holes for filament storage when not printing.</li>
<li>Placing the filament spool inside an airtight box during printing, equipped with roller wheels and a small hole for the filament to exit.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which option would be more effective in preventing moisture-related print failures?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-10T03:05:10.100Z
Is the relative humidity high in the area you live in? That could have an impact on the required solution.
agarza
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-10T08:27:45.390Z
Does this answer your question? [Which filaments actually do need to be stored in a drybox?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6982/which-filaments-actually-do-need-to-be-stored-in-a-drybox)
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-11T09:25:14.097Z
... Or [this answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/1400/4762) to [Any fix for PLA prints getting more brittle over time?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/1399/4762) or this [Filament storage?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/6980/4762). Please [edit] your question to incorporate and explain why these links don't address your question.
Greenonline
<filament><print-failure><storage>
What is an effective option to protect filament against moisture?
morgan
# What is an effective option to protect filament against moisture?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-06-09)

I'm trying to combat filament moisture during 3D printing and have two options:

1. Using an airtight storage box with no holes for filament storage when not printing.
2. Placing the filament spool inside an airtight box during printing, equipped with roller wheels and a small hole for the filament to exit.

Which option would be more effective in preventing moisture-related print failures?

**Tags:** filament, print-failure, storage
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is the relative humidity high in the area you live in? That could have an impact on the required solution.  
> **username_2**: Does this answer your question? [Which filaments actually do need to be stored in a drybox?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6982/which-filaments-actually-do-need-to-be-stored-in-a-drybox)  
> **username_3**: ... Or [this answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/1400/4762) to [Any fix for PLA prints getting more brittle over time?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/1399/4762) or this [Filament storage?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/6980/4762). Please [edit] your question to incorporate and explain why these links don't address your question.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2024-06-09. Score: 3

> Which option would be more effective in preventing moisture-related print failures?

Let's look at the options:

> Using an airtight storage box with no holes for filament storage when not printing.

And I assume printing after getting it out of the box to put it back after printing. This is excellent for long time storage, it is much simpler/practical to use vacuum bags instead of a box.
I use this method on one of my printers, works fine if the filament isn't out of the box/bag for days. For shorter runs I've printed even Nylon like this, but note that it might depend on the filament brand. Another member commented that they did encounter moisture problems when exposing Nylon to the open air in hours. This also depends on the moisture in the air.

> Placing the filament spool inside an airtight box during printing, equipped with roller wheels and a small hole for the filament to exit.

This is excellent for short time use when printing.

For one of my printers I use both (this is a large size printer, so long prints are possible), for another only the long time storage (smaller printer for relative small/short prints). Both methods of operation work fine.

It takes time for filament to absorb moisture, so generally, the first option should be sufficient. If not, you could dry your filament in a dryer used for drying food.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Very hygroscopic filaments (like Nylon) require a drybox even for *medium* prints. However, there is always the alternative of having the whole workshop be a dry-room.  
> **username_4**: What is a medium print, because I had had no problems keeping Nylon out of the box for several hours for a print. Could depend on the make, this was Ultimaker Nylon. It is best to always dry Nylon before you use it though.  
> **username_2**: anything that's more than... one or two hours as far as I experienced.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2024-06-10. Score: 1

I have several spools of filament, so I built a dry box based on a [video from YouTube by Chris Meade](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UxRyp-tEdM).

All the parts were purchased from Amazon (these are not affiliate links). It includes a [sealed storage container](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B00LHZFKC0), a [mini hygrometer](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B08PVQBVCT) to measure moisture levels, and a [mini dehumidifier](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B000H0XFCS). The container size allows for storage of about a dozen full spools, and so far (three weeks or so) has kept the humidity levels in the 25-30% range despite some humid weather. The total cost was around $55 US, half of which was the large storage container; you could reduce this if you could use a smaller container size.

All the parts were purchased on Amazon. (These are not affiliate links. I don't get anything for posting them). Sorry for the poor quality pics - I built it on some paper packaging on the floor of my office, and the lighting isn't great. The photos were taken within about five minutes of building it, so the humidity is still high; it dropped within an hour or so.

[![Storage box - broad view](https://i.sstatic.net/0BzQwACY.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/0BzQwACY.png)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/jtB557TF.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/jtB557TF.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: I also use a DIY safe-sealed transparent plastic box from ikea, and put some silica gel inside with a colour indicator, so i can see, when its time to refresh the gel.  
> **username_5**: The mini-dehumidifier that I use has an indicator that changes color, and when it does you just plug it into an outlet for 8-10 hours. It dries itself out so that it can be continually reused, which saves on both the cost of the gel and reduces the waste of its disposal.  

---

