The Ultimate Filament Drying Guide

The Ultimate Filament Drying Guide

Josh Bonnin

The Ultimate Guide to Drying 3D Printer Filament

Because your printer deserves perfectly crisp filament — not a soggy, popping mess.

If you’ve ever heard your nozzle going “snap, crackle, pop” like breakfast cereal or watched your print turn into a stringy cobweb nightmare, then you’ve already met the #1 enemy of great 3D prints: moisture.

The good news? Defeating moisture is straightforward — and at Coex 3D, we win half the battle for you before the spool even leaves our facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Let’s dive in.


Why Filament Absorbs Moisture (and Why It Matters)

Most 3D printing polymers are hygroscopic — they naturally attract and absorb ambient humidity. Leave a spool exposed for even a few hours in a humid environment, and it starts soaking up water like it’s on vacation.

Wet filament causes:

  • Excessive stringing and oozing
  • Brittle filament that snaps unexpectedly
  • Bubbles, popping sounds from the nozzle, and surface defects
  • Poor layer adhesion and weaker final parts

Bottom line: Dry filament prints better. Full stop.


How Coex 3D Delivers Moisture-Free Filament From Day One

We treat moisture like public enemy #1 — because it is.

Every Coex 3D spool is:

  • ✔️ Thoroughly dried in an industrial oven immediately after extrusion
  • ✔️ Vacuum-sealed within minutes of drying
  • ✔️ Shipped with fresh, reusable desiccant packs

That means your filament arrives crisp, dry, and ready to print beautifully — unlike spools that have been sitting in humid warehouses for months.


Recommended Drying Temperatures & Times

If your spool has been exposed to air for a while (we’re looking at you, humid Wisconsin summers), give it a quick refresh using these proven settings:

Material Dry Temp Dry Time
PLA / PLA Prime 55°C (131°F) 3–6 hours
PETG / PCTG Prime 65°C (149°F) 4–6 hours
ABS 80°C (176°F) 4–6 hours
ASA Prime 80°C (176°F) 4–6 hours
Nylon / PA 80°C (176°F) 8–12 hours
TPU / TPE 50°C (122°F) 4–6 hours
HIPS 65°C (149°F) 2–4 hours

Pro tip: Always preheat your dryer, food dehydrator, or oven before putting the spool in. Sudden temperature jumps can warp spools in seconds.


Pro Hack: Recharge Your Desiccant Packs

Those silica gel packs we include with every order? They’re reusable superheroes.

To regenerate them:

  • Spread the packets on a baking sheet
  • Bake at 240°F (115°C) for 1–2 hours
  • Let cool completely
  • Return to your filament storage box

Free, unlimited moisture protection.


The Bottom Line

Dry filament delivers:

  • Cleaner, sharper prints
  • Stronger layer bonding
  • Quiet, happy nozzles
  • Far fewer failed prints

The easiest way to keep filament dry? Start with one that’s already perfectly dry when it arrives.

Every spool from Coex 3D is dried, vacuum-sealed, and shipped with active desiccant — so it shows up ready to deliver legendary results straight out of the box.

Shop Dry, USA-Made Filament at Coex3D.com

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