What brand of filament does everyone recommend?  

I was not aware that Microcenter regularly stocked it.  Thanks.

US-centric list of suppliers and manufacturers

I maintain a list of US-centric suppliers and manufacturers here. Whenever possible, I try to directly support companies that are directly involved with and supporting the 3D printing community. I'm still not sure how MatterHackers manages to provide free shipping that is as fast as Amazon's, but it's great.

It's also worth building a relationship with some of the smaller companies. I once asked PartsBuilt if they stocked a filament in a spool-less format and they replied with a personal email indicating it was not available from the manufacturer, but that they could re- (or de-) spool anything for me.

I'm trying to stop filament hopping, though it's hard with some of the sales. Right now, my favorites are:

• Inland ($15-17/kg) or Filastruder ($20/kg) for spool-less PLA (also good PETG). Both are good consistent quality. Filastruder is a bit more expensive. Inland's spool-less options are limited. Atomic's stuff is amazing but more expensive ($30/kg). I use it for detailed miniature prints.
• Overture 3D Eco-3D (black only - $19/kg) for recovered PLA and easy-to-read spools. (More important for cheaper printers without filament runout detection.) 
• Polyterra PLA ($20/kg) for the recyclable spool with window. I'm trying hard to like this stuff, but it's a bit odd to work with. Sort of a waxy feel. Good price though.

These all print well. I've tried a few of the mystery brand generics, but have given up on them due to consistency issues and some really odd smells that make me wonder what the composition really is. I'm trying to stick with these as much as possible for my bulk printing.

Thanks.  Bookmarked.

One thing I've noticed lately, like last couple weeks and days, is price drops on filament. I do all Amazon, maybe 1 spool a month or so. 

Don't know if it's cuz covid is winding down or what but it used to be high 20s low 30s per roll and now down to low 20s or so. 

availability

I think Availability is increasing.  

Posted by: @annier

One thing I've noticed lately, like last couple weeks and days, is price drops on filament. I do all Amazon, maybe 1 spool a month or so. 

Don't know if it's cuz covid is winding down or what but it used to be high 20s low 30s per roll and now down to low 20s or so. 

At the end of a loooong supply line.

We are printing on a sailboat in Guatemala! My supply line runs through Miami to here. Can't really return anything if it's bad. So here's my shameless plug for Atomic Filament. Not the cheapest but free shipping to our freight forwarder on orders over $50 and it's very consistent. Both colors and .02 tolerance. In my situation consistency and dependability is worth a few dollars!

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Here's another off brand which prints fine, at least for me.

3DF 3DFILAMENTS

I had never heard of it until a few days ago when I did a search on Amazon. US$20 and change to the door and they have several PLA shades available for that price.

It prints just fine on both the smooth and textured plates.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Another oddball brand that printed just fine on both the Prusa and the Ultimaker is 3d Warhorse.

I got this from Amazon when my usual brands of black PLA were not available.

It's a very good match, cosmetically, for Hatchbox and Amazon Basics black PLA.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

I'm based in the UK and really like 3DJake Eco PLA. I'm a new owner of a MK3S+, after my Ender 3 (heavily modified) bit the dust 2 months ago, and I simply couldn't stomach having to rebuild it yet again. I haven't used 3DJake PETG yet, but will probably try some in the near future. Shipping from Prusa is around £12 per order, so it isn't economic to buy a single spool from them, whereas 3DJake do free shipping to the UK for orders over £45.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Posted by: @jsw

Another oddball brand that printed just fine on both the Prusa and the Ultimaker is 3d Warhorse.

I got this from Amazon when my usual brands of black PLA were not available.

It's a very good match, cosmetically, for Hatchbox and Amazon Basics black PLA.

3D Warhorse appears to no longer be sold.  I just bought a few rolls of TPOIMNS PLA and it works pretty well.  I also have been impressed with Overture PLA.

Posted by: @jonathan-mead

I'm based in the UK and really like 3DJake Eco PLA. I'm a new owner of a MK3S+, after my Ender 3 (heavily modified) bit the dust 2 months ago, and I simply couldn't stomach having to rebuild it yet again. I haven't used 3DJake PETG yet, but will probably try some in the near future. Shipping from Prusa is around £12 per order, so it isn't economic to buy a single spool from them, whereas 3DJake do free shipping to the UK for orders over £45.

 

I have a few samples of ECO PLA by 3d Jake and it is fantastic, but it is hard to get in the US.  Congrats on a great filament.  I also like Filament PM.  

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Posted by: @cwbullet

 3D Warhorse appears to no longer be sold.  I just bought a few rolls of TPOIMNS PLA and it works pretty well.  I also have been impressed with Overture PLA.

 

Oh really?

That was quick.

I just opened up the spool the other day, when I ran out.

Out of curiosity I went back in my Amazon orders and it was delivered February 15.  It looks like they still have the orange available, but not black.

Another flash-in-the-pan brand which worked very well for me was Ultraline.  I think that disappeared about two years ago.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

I do not know that one.  Do you have a link?

Posted by: @jsw

 

Posted by: @cwbullet

 3D Warhorse appears to no longer be sold.  I just bought a few rolls of TPOIMNS PLA and it works pretty well.  I also have been impressed with Overture PLA.

 

Oh really?

That was quick.

I just opened up the spool the other day, when I ran out.

Out of curiosity I went back in my Amazon orders and it was delivered February 15.  It looks like they still have the orange available, but not black.

Another flash-in-the-pan brand which worked very well for me was Ultraline.  I think that disappeared about two years ago.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

I assume you mean the link for Orange 3dWarhorse.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08972448V

However, I just pulled it up again and it does not appear to be really truly available.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Good catch.  

Posted by: @jsw

I assume you mean the link for Orange 3dWarhorse.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08972448V

However, I just pulled it up again and it does not appear to be really truly available.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

It looks like 3dWarhorse might be actually available here: https://3dprintquarter.com/en-us/products/aw-petg-filament-1-75mm-1kg-for-fdm-3d-printer-bright-color-tolerance-0-02mm-100-no-bubble-non-toxic-3d-printing-material?variant=42219575312620

Black and orange appear to be both in stock, among others.

Caution: I have no experience with this firm! It was a result of a DDG search.

RE:

I only use eSun (China) and add:north (Sweden).

ESun is quite cheap here in Europe and always available on Amazon with same day delivery but still good quality (PLA + PETG).

Add:north I use for high quality mechanical prints.

Their Adura X (Nylon + CF) and Adura (Nylon) are top notch. Excellent printablility on Prusa MK3S+, just make sure the stuff is 100% dry.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

One more oddball brand that is currently printing and doing quite well, so far, into a 2+ day print, is MG Chemicals white PLA.

Reasonable in cost too, US $20 and change to the door via Amazon.

Amazon has all kinds of colors of the MG Chemicals brand.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Posted by: @jsw

One more oddball brand that is currently printing and doing quite well, so far, into a 2+ day print, is MG Chemicals white PLA.

Reasonable in cost too, US $20 and change to the door via Amazon.

Amazon has all kinds of colors of the MG Chemicals brand.

I have used MG Chemicals PETG as a sample.  I just added a roll of PETG to the cart to try.  $20 is not bad.  

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

Posted by: @cwbullet

 

Posted by: @jsw

One more oddball brand that is currently printing and doing quite well, so far, into a 2+ day print, is MG Chemicals white PLA.

Reasonable in cost too, US $20 and change to the door via Amazon.

Amazon has all kinds of colors of the MG Chemicals brand.

I have used MG Chemicals PETG as a sample.  I just added a roll of PETG to the cart to try.  $20 is not bad.  

Just a heads-up, and this will not apply to many/most of the folks here.

I had good luck with MG filament, so when I was running low on the 3mm white PLA for the Ultimaker last week I ordered MG.  The center of the spool is too small to fit on the built-on spool holder of the S5 printer (and possibly other spool holders).  I had to resort to a makeshift, as in using one of the MMU2S spool roller things on the floor behind the printer.

RE: What brand of filament does everyone recommend?

My two favorite filaments at the moment:

Polymaker PA6-CF (left) and Eryone matte black PLA (right). One for technical prints, one for standard stuff.