Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?  

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Partially answering my own question, I got a 54 quart air-tight container from Target for about $12 and put two brand-new E-333 desiccant dehumidifiers into it, along with a hygrometer so that I could monitor what transpired. Over a 12 hour period, the humidity dropped from 45% ambient to 15%. So, it's a slow process, and I don't yet know whether it will go any lower than that. I tend to wonder whether putting in a tiny fan to blow the internal air over the E-333's might speed up the dehumidification or not.

Therefore, given how long it takes, I can now see why people want to keep their filament rolls inside the box rather than remove for use and then put back in the dry-box when done.

The other point is that since it's not zero percent humidity, it's not going to offer complete protection, and your spools will probably degrade anyway, al beit more slowly. That being the case, then I would assume that baking out the moisture in a spool before using it may be a good standard practice. But if one is prepared to do that, then... maybe the drybox isn't even needed. i.e. just chuck it into something like a matterhacker's filament dryer before use: https://www.matterhackers.com/store/l/printdry-filament-drying-system/sk/MNXQRWQC?rcode=GAT9HR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlv_XBRDrARIsAH-iRJQYB7BYJwp9uhOyajFCXU2deeVSceJAtVhbaDmumvbUZiPJ7sDESIUaAhz3EALw_wcB

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Got a link to the box you use for the 5 filaments?

It's a 62 litre "Really Useful Box" sold in sets of 3. I got mine here: https://www.diy.com/departments/really-useful-clear-62l-plastic-storage-box-pack-of-3/1812247_BQ.prd?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=PX_GSC_Storage_+_Brand&ppc_type=shopping&ds_kids=92700029894438037&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlv_XBRDrARIsAH-iRJSp63K242hvCKx033oa2VIMtBIrY4hGouq5MC2RaiEQi8JYccM8QrkaAuvkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJr-htPVkdsCFY9i0wodXtwKqw

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

I use lab desiccators for storing filament out of the factory bag. The desiccant containers mounted on the doors are actively cycled every 30 minutes. You can pick them up on ebay really cheap if you watch closely.

(Sorry, pic posted sideways)

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Thanks for post! How low of a humidity are you able to get with your lab grade dehumidifiers? After about 48 hours nmy dry box got down to 10% relative humidity, according to the hygrometer. A lot of humidity sensors have trouble reading less than 10%, so I'm going to make some sensors based on BME280 or Si7021 factory calibrated digital sensor chips as a check on the store bought hygrometer, whose sensor may (?) not be as accurate, that's currently in the box.

Also, what isthe model number, if you know it, for the desiccator that you're using?

OK, I found one similar to what you have:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bel-Art-420040115-Secador-Scienceware-Lab-Clear-2-Shelf-Desiccator-Cabinet/153012821208?hash=item23a0465cd8:g:bC0AAOSwPwla7-VN
I'm a bit leary though of buying pre-owned lab equipment.

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Apparently around $500 new:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VBWA7M/ref=twister_B01LVW6FUN?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

For something more solid, I find the best solution is Rubber Maid 21 Cup container and some Gel Packs.

It also has the benefit that fetching a roll doesn't expose all the other rolls to humidity, which then takes 48 hours to dry out the air. Maybe (?) it would even dry faster, since there's a lower volume of air too.

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Were you able to print that base for your rubbermaid desiccator using the Prusa I3 MK3, or did it require a 3D printer with a builder xy build size?

I really like your design. Very clever. Have you posted it to thingiverse? Any links?

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

another option is to heat your drybox with reptile cage heating pads.

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

I watched the video, but I don't really understand what the point of a heated dry box is. I mean, yes, heating the air will reduce the relative humidity compared to equivalent unheated air, but I have real doubts it would perform as well as an airtight dry box that uses desiccant. He says his isn't airtight, so it would seem like he's just heating ambient air, even though he also adds some packs of desiccant to the box. Am I missing something?

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

I watched the video, but I don't really understand what the point of a heated dry box is.

its about as airtight as any other drybox with a bowden coupler on it, which is most of them posted here. is it medical-grade hermetic? no.

Some people have reported needing to dry exotic filaments even after being stored properly, and being drier/warmer is beneficial for any filament. Why not combine those steps into one?

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Were you able to print that base for your rubbermaid desiccator using the Prusa I3 MK3, or did it require a 3D printer with a builder xy build size?

I really like your design. Very clever. Have you posted it to thingiverse? Any links?

Yeah I printed that test on the MK3 build plate so it fits fine. Haven't finished it yet, been waiting for some Humidity Detectors from Ali-Express to integrate a version with those. They should be here this week, will post versions with and without Meters on Thingiverse when done. Will try to get to it this week and message you when they're there.

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

David,

Yeah the Bel-Art desiccators cost about $500 new, I'd suggest keeping an eye on ebay 'cause you can pick them up cheap occasionally..Especially if they have damage, or I find that the desiccant is spent and the original owners don't realize it's meant to be replaced. I use them for holding filament and keeping it dry after treating rolls in a vacuum oven. Note that I have a pretty advanced lab here at home and I have a lot of gear that most don't, but if you're doing a lot of printing filament handling and storage start to become an issue. Note also that I keep SLA resin trays in there as well, thats why I have the UV shielded boxes..

I have my doubts that desiccant alone will actually pull moisture out of filament because it's basically the same thing as the filament itself..hygroscopic plastic, so it should really only be used for maintenance, and not for reducing moisture initially.

An important point is that the boxes are cycling the desiccant, constantly pulling the moisture content down, and even then I doubt it's ability to actually dry filament. Best practice is to dry filament in an oven, then store with desiccant.

As for dust associated with desiccant beads, just make packets out of Tyvek mailers from the post office..This is the same material that those little desiccant pacs are made of...

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

As for dust associated with desiccant beads, just make packets out of Tyvek mailers from the post office..This is the same material that those little desiccant pacs are made of...

Perhaps that explains why the humidity absorption rate of my E-333's is so slow. At least to me, 48 hours seems like a long for it to reach its 10% RH equilibrium point.

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

I created this one with the the Sterlite 20qt Gasket Box ($7.99) from Target. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2929701

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

Saw this at the Taulman website. It's what they use,

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

I really like your design. Very clever. Have you posted it to thingiverse? Any links?

Yeah I printed that test on the MK3 build plate so it fits fine. Haven't finished it yet, been waiting for some Humidity Detectors from Ali-Express to integrate a version with those. They should be here this week, will post versions with and without Meters on Thingiverse when done. Will try to get to it this week and message you when they're there.

Your solution for using the smaller container is quite practical and nicely designed. Consequently, I’ve purchased some of those containers. 🙂 Might your STL be available?

In any case, thanks for sharing the setup!

Re: Are there pre-made filament dry boxes available for purchase?

this was my solution, I have 2 boxes always ready for swapping. and extra in a few boxes where I made desiccant bottles out of plastic containers with loads of holes, and loose desicant poored in. will update my final product to the thingi page asap. it fits the spool that I got from prusa, and most other brands I've used. your milage may vary.
it was actually fun trying out ideas.
www.thingiverse.com/thing:3188493