Good place to buy PLA filament ?

pk-surfing · February 01, 2018, 09:30:36 AM

Hi,

I need to get some more white PLA, looking on E bay despite clicking the 'UK only' button most are still showing addresses at the bottom that are over China direction.

Any recommendations for UK suppliers would be much appreciated :)

PK :)

Loopdreams · February 01, 2018, 09:37:38 AM

I've had good results with Hobby King PLA. Cheap too.

Mirabile Visu · February 01, 2018, 10:42:22 AM

I used to buy Hatchbox from Amazon, but it's been out of stock for ages. Since then I've used Rigid Ink PLA (expensive but very good) and HobbyKing own brand (cheap, not bad, but prints slightly shiny for my taste).
Cheers, and happy printing.
Trevor.

Ratty · February 01, 2018, 10:44:36 AM

I always used Faberdashery, slightly more expensive, but the quality is top notch. As is their service.

http://www.faberdashery.co.uk/products-page/

Loopdreams · February 01, 2018, 11:49:40 AM

"slightly more expensive"? Over 300% more expensive than HobbyKing. The last rolls I got from Hobby King cost me about a tenner per Kg and for whatever reason the postage was free.

I bought from Rigid Ink when I got my printer having read about these quality issues with cheaper filaments but when I tried the HobbyKing and Hatchbox stuff I noticed no dip in quality and indeed for printing a plane out the cheaper one actually worked better. I wonder if a few years back cheap filaments did used to suffer more of these quality issues but now they're much of a muchness.

Schalonsus · February 01, 2018, 11:52:50 AM

I also use the cheap HK or eBay stuff, works well for my printer

iwan_canobi · February 01, 2018, 12:01:18 PM

Yeah, another one for HK filament. I have noticed though that some of my older stuff isn't printing as well. It's kept in a drawer full of desicant bags, but maybe need to get some kind of plastic storage box.

I noticed HK are now doing free 48hr shipping as well, hope thats here to stay! Always hated the minimum £5 postage adder!

Drone 5 · February 01, 2018, 12:33:12 PM

Like Trevor ( Mirabile Visu ) I used Hatchbox but can no longer get it in the UK. I now tend to use Rigid Ink PLA, Expensive. HK seems to be ok, just needed to up the temperature 20Deg as the layers were splitting.

Last week I contacted Hatchbox about UK supply. This was their reply:-

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us with this concern.

At the moment, the reason why we only have HATCHBOX Filament available in 3.00 in the UK is because of our partners.

Low*baller and Amazon.com are the only sellers on the UK Amazon platform, we do not sell on Amazon directly.

Instead, we sell to our partners and they sell on that marketplace.
Our partners do have a plan on re-stocking inventory but with customs and clearances, it can take a couple of weeks or months.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing you.

Please check the UK platform periodically for updates.

Kind Regards,
Miguel R.
HATCHBOX Support

iwan_canobi · February 01, 2018, 12:57:20 PM

I've used these guys for some stuff in work -

https://www.filamentive.com/

It's partially recycled, but gives really good results. Particularly the rABS, I've never had success with ABS but this stuff printed really well. I've tried the rPLA as well and it was nice, just not sure it warrants the extra price over the HK stuff as others have said. Nice to know it's a bit more sustainable though.

Ratty · February 01, 2018, 01:01:45 PM

Quote from: Loopdreams on February 01, 2018, 11:49:40 AM
"slightly more expensive"? Over 300% more expensive than HobbyKing. The last rolls I got from Hobby King cost me about a tenner per Kg and for whatever reason the postage was free.

It has been a long time since i have been in the filament market, but i always found the HK stuff hit and miss. Ive had some that was ok, and some that would pop and fizz while printing, and even snap off before it was going into the extruder.

The Fab stuff was always spot on and printed great, granted it is at a higher cost. Maybe slightly wasnt the right word. ;D

Dave · February 01, 2018, 04:54:39 PM

I used to think there couldn't be much difference between manufacturers because PLA is PLA and ABS is ABS etc.....not true. Ive tied various suppliers with greatly differing results.

I have never bought from faberdashery as they seem over priced to me and I believe their filament is supplied loose ie not on a spool (?). I have heard they are pretty much the best available though and I'm sure curiosity will get the better of me at some point.

I have now settled with Rigidink as I am happy to pay their prices for the consistency I get from their materials :)

Ratty · February 01, 2018, 11:15:08 PM

Yes Dave, if you buy a smaller amount than the spool it comes loose. It is actually a real PITA. I ended up printing a re-spooler to put it on an empty spool.

Drone 5 · February 07, 2018, 08:08:42 PM

Hi All

Just completed several test prints of PLA from this organisation and I have found it just as good in strength, colour, finish etc as Hatchbox and Rigidink and at £19 to £22 each kg reel.

https://3dprintz.co.uk

PS Free UK postage as well

Dizzy · February 13, 2018, 11:40:35 PM

Quote from: Drone 5 on February 07, 2018, 08:08:42 PM
Hi All

Just completed several test prints of PLA from this organisation and I have found it just as good in strength, colour, finish etc as Hatchbox and Rigidink and at £19 to £22 each kg reel.

https://3dprintz.co.uk

PS Free UK postage as well

I recently found these people have ordered several reels since all spot on well equal to the more expensive stuff and as drone5 says free delivery too :D
dizzy :)

pk-surfing · February 14, 2018, 07:38:20 AM

Decided to get some from 3dprintz but they're out of white PLA at the moment.

I dropped them an email and Peter replied back to say they're getting more in along with other 'new' filaments early March.

PK :)