3D Printing Tools - Top 10 Essentials, Optional and Safety Tools

When we bought our first printer we didn’t realize that there is a number of essential 3D printing tools to come with it. There are tools for the printing process and also for safety. Day by day we kept filling our toolbox with more essentials and now we have a neat workshop in a spare bedroom. It is important to know what’s needed in order not to overspend money. We have put together a list to give an idea of what’s required and to help find the right items.

3D Printing Tools – Top 10 Essentials, Optional and Safety Tools

Top 10 Essential 3D Printing Tools

Pre-Made Tool Sets

First of all, we do recommend to explore and search for tool sets. You may need to add more tools in due course. These kits became available just recently and may variate in price greatly. Remember, that bulk price for the set doesn’t always mean it is cheaper than buying particular items separately, some items may never be used and the quality of other items may deteriorate. Available on Amazon

Print Removal Tool

Helps to remove newly printed object from the build plate. Thin blade profile slides underneath prints. We use Pointing Trowel as it’s sharp and pointy. Available on Amazon

Nozzle Cleaning Kit

Part of 3D printer maintenance routine. The extruder nozzle cleaner is an essential item for any 3D printer owner. Every extruder nozzle must be cleaned regularly as part of maintenance. Available on Amazon

Knife Clean-Up Kit

Multi-blade knife set to clean prints. Easily removes supports, raft and other excess material from your 3D printed objects. Available on Amazon

Tweezers

Helps to remove oozing filament from a hot nozzle and to remove support. Great for removing 3D printed support material or cleaning up 3D Printer hot ends. Fine ends let you easily get to hard to reach places. Available on Amazon

Glue Stick

An adhesive is required to keep object in place during printing. It can be glue or hair spray. Stick glue is recommended for use on a build plate, heated or not heated. Prevents warping. A strong type of glue stick works better. Available on Amazon

Pliers

Must have tools. Preferably a set for all kind of tasks: to cut, clean, adjust, etc. These are used to cut the filament and to remove support. Different size of plier ends helps to get hard-to-reach parts. Available on Amazon

Spanners

A spanner is used when changing the nozzle. Yet again, as you planning to change the nozzle it’s more likely you will need replacement. There are all kinds of sets available (spanners+nozzles) for affordable prices. Available on Amazon

Desiccant Dehumidifiers

It is very important to store filament correctly. Extra moisture ruins the quality of 3D printing material. Desiccant should be always added to airtight containers where the filament is stored. Excess moisture changes the quality of filament. Available on Amazon

Masking or/and Kaption Tape Sticker Sheets

For those printers, which do not have a glass bed or smooth printing surface or bed got damaged ~~masking tape~~ stickers are essential. Wide range of all kinds of stickers sheets specially for 3D printing available on Amazon

Alcohol Wipes

Helps to clean glass and other printing beds. Available on Amazon

Hex aka Allen Key Set

An important tool for the maintenance of 3D printers. It is needed when changing extruder, adjusting the belts, fixing the heated build plate etc. We found that a hex key with a handle is especially comfortable to work with when dealing with a DIY 3D printer kit like Original Prusa i3 MK2. Available on Amazon

The list is sorted by: Essential, Safety and Optional 3D printing tools. As we went along and got deeper into 3D printing there were more and more items that became part of the whole process. We will be adding tools for decorating the prints, photo equipment, scanning stations, acetone vapouring products, etc.

Safety Tools

Goggles

This is a necessary protection during nozzle cleaning. Blocked nozzle may accumulate pressure inside which can cause a burst of molten filament. Available on Amazon

Smoke Detector

Make sure there is a smoke detector within a proximity of your 3D printer. There are both a complex electical device and high temperatures involved in the process. Available on Amazon

Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher ABC class. Available on Amazon

Dust Mask

Can be used when sanding and spray painting for example. Available on Amazon

Gloves

Disposable gloves good for any sort of dirty work including 3D printed object postprocessing. Spray Painting for example. Available on Amazon

Optional 3D Printing Tools

Cutting Matt

A wide range of self-healing protective mats is available. Sometimes support removing can be hard, that’s when these mats come to rescue. Available on Amazon

Heat Gun

Helps to clean your prints from strings caused by oozing. Especially with a thin focusing nozzle – helps to make curves to thin objects – for example, spiders’ legs. Available on Amazon

Soldering Iron

Easily embeds metal items into your plastic print, for example, bolts. Available on Amazon

Sandpaper

Sandpaper helps to smooth out your prints. Please note that it may discolour and leave dark marks on your object. If a print is decorated further, sandpaper is one of your essential tools. Available on Amazon

Electronic Digital Caliper

Good for measuring filements and objects. High precision measuring device. Offers extreme accuracy. The numbers displayed on the LCD screen are clear, large and easy to read. Can be used to measure length, depth, external and internal scope. Available on Amazon

Phone or Camera Holder

For amazing time-lapse videos. Available on Amazon

Photo Studio

Mini photo studio for the best pictures. Available on Amazon

3D Pen

Good for filling in the holes in your print and for other decoration purposes. Available on Amazon

Deburring Tool

This tool smooths sharp or rough edges after a brim or support is removed. It is less dangerous to use this tool compared to a knife. It is also less messy than sand paper. Available on Amazon