RE: Vacuum Bags for Filament
I put all my filament into sealed bins with alumina oxide desiccant. No bags and the bins stack. Just purchased a Sterilite storage bin with a gasket. Not sure how tight it is.
I usually have to dry my desiccant twice a year. Humidity in the bins is kept under 20%RH at 22 degrees.
I did try vacuum bags with no success. They were cheap.
I have read that the best bags are mylar.
RE: Vacuum Bags for Filament
As I've said before, I gave up on vacuum bags altogether. None of the brands I tried was reliable, Now I store my PLA spools in the original Prusa or Fillamentum resealable bags with desiccant. Those are good and last a long time. I've no idea if they're air tight, probably not after a while, Fact is that I never had real problems with moist PLA, although I dry all my spools at least once, before they're finished. Other manufacturers, like most Chinese brands, ship their spools without a reusable bag or with a flimsy worthless "resealable" bag, that I discard right away and I put that spool in a spare Prusa bag.
For other types of filaments more sensible to moisture (PETG, ASA, PC, PA, TPU ) I use Printdry vacuum containers. Not exactly cheap, but they last long and keep a good vacuum for weeks. I've used them for several years and none of them has failed yet,
RE: Vacuum Bags for Filament
I'm really rethinking the cardboard stuff now. Most of my PLA and PETG have been coming with cardboard. I just recently opened a 5 mo. old, still vacuum sealed bag from Eryone of green PLA. I had lots of stringing (printed right from opening). Dried for about 5 hours and stringing all but gone, when I reprinted the items.. But I'm not convinced I got all the moisture from the cardboard.. so if I now put into a vacuum pouch with desiccant, I am thinking it will likely dampen the filament. Now the vacuum bags Eryone uses feel the same as Polymaker, e-sun, etc.. The only bags that would prevent moisture creep is mylar and to their credit my last PETG rolls from Polymaker used Mylar. . But drying those cardboard spools is now going to take a long time in my estimation .. and I think it will fill the desiccant in a very short time. I can't see cardboard spools being a good option. I'm going 100% plastic reusable spools. Really starting to think that most filament manufacturers have no idea what it is like trying to keep filament dry in a humid environment. I think Bambu chose the right path in their reusable spools for the humidity issue, and as a cost saving..
RE: Vacuum Bags for Filament
I put all my filament into sealed bins with alumina oxide desiccant. No bags and the bins stack. Just purchased a Sterilite storage bin with a gasket. Not sure how tight it is.
I use ZipLock storage bins, 4 or 6 clips on them and a gasket; Sterilite sells similar. RH remains under 10% ... and the standard Silica Gel beads pumps the RH back down within an hour after opening to pull a spool. But my typical open RH is only 30-40%, which helps. I put hydroscopic filament into vacuum bags with desiccant and keep them in the same ZipLock bins. I get about 6 months out of 250g per bin before recharge, so I think the foam weatherstrip used in them is okay.
RE: Vacuum Bags for Filament
"But my typical open RH is only 30-40%, which helps"
That is our normal RH. This year has been different. Today is the first time I have 33% at 24 degrees in my workshop most of the summer. We have been in the 50 to 60% at 30 degrees quite regularly which translate to about 80% at 22 degrees. Finally dropping back to normal.
I have not seen ZipLock Weathershield bins where I live and a search doesn't show them available in Canada. From the images, the Sterilite look the same and in a comparison, the only complaint was how smaller bins fit on larger bins.
From my reading, there can be problems with some filaments if they are too dry. I have had no issues with TPU that has been stored in the bins. I hear Nylon is the real test. 🙂 I have never needed or used a dryer. This year has changed my thoughts on a dryer. My filament that I have had issues with have printed well after being stored in the bins for a week.