Useful 3D printing tools
I wanted to write a short post about some of my favorite tools that I use for working with my FDM 3D printer. I took this post down to make some edits because there were some folks who said it was just a post to get people to buy overpriced tools using my affiliate links. I’ve continued to say that I use these tools for more than just my 3D printer. I use them to fix things around the house and more. I’m not a fan of one trick ponies and I don’t buy things just to use them for one thing. Please understand that I’m not writing this post to say “go out and buy these exact tools”, I’m simply sharing what I use.
If you've never heard of them I highly recommend that you check them out. If you've been using a pair of adjustable crescent wrench to swap out your nozzles, this is a game changer. It's way easier to adjust, easier to work with, and in my experience it has way more uses. I've not touched my crescent wrench at all since I bought a pair of these. Just a note that I use these on more than just my printer, they’re great for fixing the sink, straightening or flattening things that have been bent out of shape, and much more.
I'm surprised that I don't see more printers come with more printers. I see a lot of places sell the thin acupuncture needle looking tools for clearing stuck filament but those only work so well. Pushing something that is the same diameter down the nozzle makes more sense if you have a huge clog. This tool came with my Monoprice Maker Ultimate and I use it often when I encounter clogs.
There are sockets and then there are Wera sockets. I'm not a tool buff and I probably under utilize these things even though I paid a good amount for them but I'm pretty happy with this brand. The 7mm socket that comes with this kit is nice for replacing E3D V6 type nozzles, I love that the sockets are knurled to make it easy to grip and manually adjust. The set comes with a ratchet a lot of other sockets and bits. I keep a set near my work bench and a set in my car. Any 7mm socket will work for taking off a socket, I just like the Wera brand and their tools. You can just as easily pick up a cheap socket from Amazon or Harbor Freight for a couple of bucks.
I'm not a fan of having to print brims but sometimes prints that take a long time with a large surface area benefits from them since they help keep the corners from lifting off the build plate. I use to hate brims before I bought a deburring tool. I didn't like the edge that was left on prints when a brim was used. Once you get the hang of using the tool it does make using brims not as much of a hassle.
Bob Smith Industries Gap fill Super Glue
Out of all the super glues I've tried, I continually go back to purchasing this brand, specifically the gap filling version. If you're piecing a large print together and need to fill gaps, this is what you need. This super glue is really thick and sands well. I use this in combination with spackle to fill bigger gaps. Even if you aren't filling gaps, this stuff is great for bonding prints together. I've not had any trouble bonding PLA or PETG together, usually people have troubles gluing PETG together but I've not had any problems doing that with this brand. This stuff cures fast and bonds really strong. I use the quick curing accelerator spray with it when I need it to cure right away.
