Advice on required filaments to use outdoors.
 
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Advice on required filaments to use outdoors.  

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BrettG
(@brettg)
Estimable Member
Advice on required filaments to use outdoors.

Hello, Currently making a bait boat spreader for outdoor use and wondering when it comes to selecting the correct materials for the outdoor conditions,

 

So If I didn't have so much trouble with ASA warping, yes

I've gone down the enclosure and adhesion rabbit hole when it comes to this filament, all the items would be printed in ASA but this isnt the case.

So currently I'm looking  currently printing in PetG and Pla+ and wondering how well they would hold up in average conditions, 

I live in the UK and its rarely gets over 30c in the height of summer and on average is around the 20c, 

My main concern was warping and maybe UV, but considering the component's would not be in extreme condition would I be able to continue to use these alternatives instead of ASA ? 

does anyone know how well these filaments cope, when it comes to outdoor longevity, 

 

Image :

White and green would be PetG

Blue body being PLA+

or all of it being PetG if this would hold up better.

 

Napsal : 26/08/2025 2:12 pm
vhubbard
(@vhubbard)
Reputable Member
RE: Advice on required filaments to use outdoors.

I have yard art in PETG, it is doing well after 2 summers in Texas.    I would not recommend PLA for outdoor use. 

Napsal : 26/08/2025 2:22 pm
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BrettG
(@brettg)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Advice on required filaments to use outdoors.

 

Posted by: @vhubbard

I have yard art in PETG, it is doing well after 2 summers in Texas.    I would not recommend PLA for outdoor use. 

I heard it can get really hot in Texas aswell

so that's a good response when it comes to the test of time with petg, 

I think you're right going the Petg option over pla+.

did you visually see any form of warp in the parts you have out of curiosity 

Napsal : 26/08/2025 2:46 pm
Diem
 Diem
(@diem)
Illustrious Member

If it's just for occasional outdoor use then practically anything is OK.  PLA does start to break down after only a few weeks continuous exposure. PETG discolours in under a year but is usually good for three or four years, much longer if painted.

In the UK a filament worth checking out is BioPro from 3DTomorrow. I have been testing it as a low grade engineering filament and it has stood up well to heat as advertised, it's tough and after three years on a south facing wall ultraviolet light damage is undetectable.

Cheerio,

Napsal : 26/08/2025 4:09 pm
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BrettG
(@brettg)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Advice on required filaments to use outdoors.

 

Posted by: @diem

If it's just for occasional outdoor use then practically anything is OK.  PLA does start to break down after only a few weeks continuous exposure. PETG discolours in under a year but is usually good for three or four years, much longer if painted.

In the UK a filament worth checking out is BioPro from 3DTomorrow. I have been testing it as a low grade engineering filament and it has stood up well to heat as advertised, it's tough and after three years on a south facing wall ultraviolet light damage is undetectable.

Cheerio,

Interesting , I’ve just checked out their website 

seems they sell a PLA that has attributes of Petg & ABS combined, looks a interesting filament when it comes to outdoors like you say.

do you print it as pla / petg temp wise or treat it more as a ABS/ASA 

Napsal : 26/08/2025 8:41 pm
Diem
 Diem
(@diem)
Illustrious Member

Somewhere in between - the important numbers:

temperature = 220

bed_temperature = 70

first_layer_temperature = 220

first_layer_bed_temperature = 70

Cheerio,

Napsal : 27/08/2025 10:18 pm
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