This is a question we see a lot and I asked myself - should we dry our filament? The answer is it depends.

All 3D filament absorbs moisture. Moisture can ruin your filament, so it can also ruin your prints.

Symptoms of too much moisture can include:

• Stringing, blogging or oozing
• Reduced strength and layer adhesion
• Uneven extrusion lines
• Fuzzy surface on prints

If you are seeing any of these symptoms, you may want to dry your filament. The eaasiest way to dry your filament is to use a filament dryer. They are readily available and shouldnt cost you more than $50. You can also use a food dehydrator or even dry it in the oven, but, in my opinion, a filament dryer is much easier.

So how do you prevent your filament from getting too moist? We have desiccant in the AMS and we store our filament in vacuum sealed bags with desiccant in the bag. You can also store your filament in plastic tubs with lids. Airtight tubs are the best and can be found locally or online.

We bought a Creality Filament Dryer Box 2.0 from Amazon and have been more than happy with it. You just set the temperature and time with the control wheel and you are all set. The big display is easy to read.

So I guess the answer is simply: it's up to you. Some people see the benefits some don't. Luckily they aren't expensive, so I would say it doesn't hurt to have one. If you have problems printing you could always try drying the filament to see if it helps.