Cool PLA Filaments to Try with Your 3D Printer!
If you’re starting your 3D printing journey with a 3D printer that has only a single extruder, changing up your filament & trying something NEW is an easy way to keep things fun & interesting! There are many different types of PLA filament out there right now – with more being introduced to the market everyday. In this post we explore some of the most exciting types of PLA filament available right now and provide links (Amazon affiliate links) to where you can purchase these filaments. Some of the coolest types of PLA filament to try with your 3D printer are: glow-in-the-dark filament, color changing filament, flexible filament. wood filament, metallic filament, marble filament & translucent filament.
All filaments listed & discussed in this post are variations of PLA (PolyLacticAcid) – the safest & easiest filament for beginners to work with. We found it somewhat tedious to pick a new filament to try from the Amazon website – so figured we would take some time to scroll through a lot of pages one time to make a hit-list of some of our favorites, and some of the filaments that we want to try in the near future!
We also discuss the some aspects of working with each of the various types of filament and provide some guidance & notes to help you in being successful in printing with each of them.
If you are looking for a broader overview of the various types of filaments that are out there, or why we chose to highlight types of PLA filament here – please check out my other post “It’s All About the Filament!” here.
Types of PLA Filament to Try
1) Glow-in-the-Dark PLA Filament
There are many different types of glow-in-the-dark filament. There are filaments that glow green, blue, pink, & now even rainbow (green, blue & pink all on one spool)! We have been using the Hatchbox glow-in-the-dark PLA filament because the phosphorescent material that is uses to glow is strontium aluminate (as opposed to zinc sulfide) – which, from our research, provides a more luminous glow. Please note – that the phosphorescent material is likely abrasive and can wear out printer parts like the brass nozzle and maybe even the extruder gear more quickly than they might otherwise would wear out! It doesn’t stop us from using it – but is just something to consider!
At the time I was writing this post a 1kg spool of this cost $28.71. Please click here to check current price @ Amazon.
Recommended Extrusion/Nozzle Temperature 180°C – 210°C (356°F – 410°F)
2) Rainbow Colored PLA Filament
Looking to add a little color “pop” to you prints? Rainbow multicolored filament might be just what you need! I think my girls are going to love this!
- Base Plate Temperature : No Heat Required / 50-70°C (optional)
- 3D Printing temperature: 190~230℃ 3D
- Print Speed : 50-100mm/s
3) Color Changing PLA Filament (Temperature)
There is color changing from green to yellow, yellow to orange, and even tri-color changing like this list- green to orange to yellow. I’m sure there will probably be even more color combination options by the time you are reading this.
The tri-color changing filament I have featured here indicates that under 31ºC (88ºF) it will appear BLACK. Above that temperature it starts turning RED – and when the temperature is above 45ºC (113ºF) the filament starts turning YELLOW.
We like to use this for stuff like logo’d keychains – since they are held in the hand and change color based on your hand’s temperature at the time. We used the green to yellow color changing filament.
I made my youngest daughter, Sophie, a giraffe toy out of this filament and she loved it! The night I gave it to her she must have run between the bathroom sink to the refrigerator at least 100 times! She would heat it up with the hot water from the sink – and turn the toy bright yellow in the process – and then immediately run over and put the toy in the freezer drawer of the refrigerator. She slept really well that night since she was so tired!
- Print Temperature: 190-220 °C
- Hot bed Temperature: 0-50°C
- Speed 50-90mm/s
4) Marble PLA Filament
Have a Greek god statue of Zeus or Apollo that you have been eager to print out? This might be just what you need! It comprised of a lighter PLA based filament with flecks of a darker filament interspersed with it. Probably not going to fool the curators at the Uffizi art gallery over in Florence Italy – but it can be fun all the same!
At the time I am writing this a 1kg spool is going for $24.99. Please click here to see current pricing on Amazon.
Recommended printing temperature ~215°C
5) Translucent PLA Filament
- Recommended PLA Filament Extrusion/Nozzle Temperature 190-210℃
- Build Plate – No heated bed is required
I don’t think you are going to be able to print your own replacement windows with this stuff – but if you are looking to print with a PLA filament that lets a lot of light through it and looks pretty cool – this might be what you are looking for!
At the time of writing this the “See Through” Blue filament was $18.99 (click here to see current pricing on Amazon) for a 1 kg spool and the clear cost $23.99 for a 1 kg spool. Click here for the current pricing on Amazon.
- Recommended PLA Filament Extrusion/Nozzle Temperature 215-230℃
- Build Plate 70℃
6) Flexible PLA Filament
Most flexible filament you see talked about is probably TPU – and not PLA. But we are focusing here on PLA filament – since it is generally the easiest type of filament for a beginner to work with & is the safest – I just want to be clear that this is flexible PLA filament I am linking to. We have not tried this yet – but are looking to do so soon. I am not expecting it to be incredibly rubbery – but rather to be a little less ridge & have a little bit of “give” to it.
At the time of writing this post this is selling for $32.99 for a 1kg spool. Click here to see current pricing on Amazon.
- Recommended printing temperature ~ 215-220℃
- Build Plate Temperature: 60℃
7) Metallic PLA Filament
Shiny GOLD, SILVER or COPPER look & pleasing to the eye – but no actual metal is in this filament. Still – it might be exactly what you need to make your print look great and give the appearance that it is metal! If you are really interested in having something printed in REAL metal – you might want to use a 3D printing service to have your model printed. Please check out my article “It’s All About The Filament!” at the bottom of the post where I talk about Exotic Materials & Filaments and using a 3D printing service. You can find the post here.
At the time of writing this post this 3 pack of Gold, Copper & Silver .5kg spools is selling for $40.99. To see the most current pricing on Amazon please click here.
- Recommended Printing Temperature: 205-230℃ (401-446℉)
- Recommended Printing Speed: 30-60 mm/s
- Recommended Heat Bed: 50-60℃ (122-140℉)
8) Wood PLA Filament
Wood PLA is generally PLA filament with some recycled wood particles in it – and some coloring to make it look like wood. We will probably be testing this out very soon – as I have a number of ideas for things to print that I would like them to look like they are made out of wood. Some wood PLA goes for the a darker walnut look, while there are also ones that offer a lighter bamboo – ish color and appearance.
At the time I am writing this the price for a 1kg spool of this filament is $30.99. Please click here to see current pricing on Amazon.
- Recommended extrusion temperature range: 190 – 220°C (374 – 428℉)
- Recommended Heat Bed: 0-50℃ (122℉)
- Recommended Printing Speed: 50-90 mm/s
I hope this helps you identify some new and exciting filaments to help you create even better 3d models that look and feel just the way you want!
Sincerely,
