Filament now brittle :(

[lucidpsykosis]

I'm aware of the need to keep filament dry and contained with a desiccant pack preferably, but I haven't been able to get that together just yet. So, I bought a couple ABS spools from E-Sun, and have loved the way it prints. I haven't printed for a couple days now, and found that when a slight degree of pressure is put on the filament, it snaps like a twig. I've heard that some bake their filament. What are my options (if any) to give life back to my filament?!

[JohnA136]

That's odd? Typically ABS is much less brittle than PLA? If I have an unmarked spool, I just take the end and bend it over onto itself, if it turn white in the bend, it is ABS. If it breaks, it is PLA.

[lucidpsykosis]

Yeah, this wasn't doing this when I first got it. There was actually some playability to it. I'm just wondering how to fix it, if possible.

[rforeman]

I had the same thing happen. I went to Lowe,s and got a rubbermaid tub and a damprid refillable container. I also mounted a 60 watt light bulb in the tub and let it sit in there for about 24 hours. It worked well and now I keep it in that tub all the time whe I am not printing.

[raysspl]

It's imperative you store filament in low humidity storage bins. If you can afford vacuum pressure packaging your filament after each time of usage, presumably there's still a substantial amount left, that is the best as it keep dirt & locks out air.

Filament snapping like a twig will happen when exposed to elements of your home, office, school.

[Geoff]

It's imperative you store filament in low humidity storage bins. If you can afford vacuum pressure packaging your filament after each time of usage, presumably there's still a substantial amount left, that is the best as it keep dirt & locks out air.

Filament snapping like a twig will happen when exposed to elements of your home, office, school.

I wouldn't say necessarily imperative. I have had spools of ABS out in the open in the garage with lots of condensation and dust, a quick blast with an air compressor over a year later and it prints like new - and should never be brittle at any stage of it's life as John said. PLA on the other hand, I find brand new rolls out of the vacuum seal can be brittle, especially the no colour filament I got, its almost like raw spaghetti.

[raysspl]

I wouldn't say necessarily imperative. I have had spools of ABS out in the open in the garage with lots of condensation and dust, a quick blast with an air compressor over a year later and it prints like new - and should never be brittle at any stage of it's life as John said. PLA on the other hand, I find brand new rolls out of the vacuum seal can be brittle, especially the no colour filament I got, its almost like raw spaghetti.

Geoff, you're right. What I said meant for PLA & not necessarily ABS.

[iDig3Dprinting]

This seems a bit odd. One would have to suggest that it is in part to do with the filament quality.

[curious aardvark]

Actually, is the filament in sunlight ?

Abs is subject to uv breakdown. It's one reason outdoor things are often better made from pla, which isn't as susceptible to uv radiation.

Makes more sense than water.

[Geoff]

Actually, is the filament in sunlight ?

Abs is subject to uv breakdown. It's one reason outdoor things are often better made from pla, which isn't as susceptible to uv radiation.

Makes more sense than water.

I am testing this at the moment, I have 10 test pieces of filament outside on the back deck, they have been there for a day now, i'm going to leave them a few more weeks and then test them. 5 x PLA and 5 x ABS test pieces, all 5 metres each, enough to print a test cube from them all. I want to give them a good amount of time in the direct sunlight and condensation and see which one holds up the best, I will do a pretty detailed thread about it.

Already I can say, one of the PLA pieces has started to change. The clear Red PLA or crystal Red has gone a very pale while in some sections, it looks like moisture definately has gotten in there somewhere overnight. We are talking intense condensation tho ppl... I live in the country, it gets very cold overnight and very warm in the day.