Using a sock  

RE: Using a sock

I'm sure from the answers you're going to get (or from perusing the interwebs on that topic) you'll quickly discover that socks are like religion — people believe in them, or they don't...

I happen to be a "sock atheist". Have used socks before and don't think benefits outweigh negatives. They may help with small blobs but a pro grade blob of death will engulf the sock just as well and bake it to the heating block. If you have an oozing hotend, filament may pool inside the sock before you realize it. Unlike religious zealots I don't hate people who believe in socks 🙂 , I just think they're unnecessary. 

RE: Using a sock

Posted by: @noel-henderson

Has anyone used a sock on the hot end? I had a hot end destroyed by a blob of plastic I couldn't remove and have used a sock since then.

With the proviso that it should be a well fitted sock, absolutely. I won't print without one. A sock does more than just prevent filament buildup on the heater block and nozzle. It also keeps some of the heat off the print, something that can be important if you're printing finely detailed things like miniatures, especially at low speeds.

My initial experience was negative when my first sock started sagging after a couple of weeks and causing problems, but once I clued in to simply wrapping some wire around it (I call it a retainer) it holds snugly and securely in place for months. Just make sure you adjust the flow from your cooling duct or replace it with a design that maintains airflow around the sock. I do avoid the "pro" socks with the tiny hole.

RE: Using a sock

Posted by: @fuchsr

I'm sure from the answers you're going to get (or from perusing the interwebs on that topic) you'll quickly discover that socks are like religion — people believe in them, or they don't...

I happen to be a "sock atheist". Have used socks before and don't think benefits outweigh negatives. They may help with small blobs but a pro grade blob of death will engulf the sock just as well and bake it to the heating block. If you have an oozing hotend, filament may pool inside the sock before you realize it. Unlike religious zealots I don't hate people who believe in socks 🙂 , I just think they're unnecessary. 

Are you aware that the gods of the hot end will send you to hell where you have to remove cold blobs from hot ends with your bare hands for all eternity for saying that?

RE: Using a sock

I use a sock on my Mk2.5s.  It's a matter of necessity.  When I upgraded from the Mk2 to the Mk2.5s it required a rebuild of my print head.  The new part cooler design flooded my heat block with cool air which the heater cartridge couldn't contend with.  After a couple of thermal runaway shutdowns where the heat block got 14 degrees cooler than the target I put a sock on to insulate the hot end from the cool air.  This worked beautifully for me, so I'll continue to do so.  I do not have a sock on my Prusa Mini.

Cheers

-Bob

RE: Using a sock

bobstro,   I'm with you on the sock, my problem is getting the retaining wire in place.  I can't believe some skinny fingered genius  hasn't made an easy to apply retaining clip for theses things. 

RE:

I'm a 'believer' but I understand 'atheists' reasons too. Badly designed and fitted socks may be worse than no sock at all. It all depends on the design of the heater block.   

I'm using a Mosquito hotend fitted to a Mk3S+. The sock is neatly kept in place by the fan shroud. No chances of getting dislodged or falling.

Of course, in order to change the nozzle you need to remove first the fan shroud and then the sock, but it takes only a couple of minutes.

RE: Using a sock

+1 on using a sock. In the event of massive blob less lightly to ensnare thermistor or block heater cables.

RE: Using a sock

Posted by: @lynn

bobstro,   I'm with you on the sock, my problem is getting the retaining wire in place.  I can't believe some skinny fingered genius  hasn't made an easy to apply retaining clip for theses things. 

I just used a length of copper wire and trimmed it down. Someone suggested using a small spring of the sort in ballpoint pens. Haven't tried that myself.