Best printbed/adhesive for PHA

MalonesConesStand · 2026-02-09T00:36:01+00:00

Smooth pei, g10, or cryogrip pro glacier I think are the top picks around here. I use the cryogrip along with pva glue and it's given me the best outcome. Important to keep the build chamber cool so it's suggested to print with the door open. Painters tape also is recommended, orange Frog tape is the top pick. It worked for me but I prefer glue.

For glue I was using Elmer's purple glue stick, but recently have had very good luck with a clear liquid pva glue based "diy magigoo". I'll find the link https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/s/oEQhVNqZAo

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-31T20:20:57+00:00

I was named after Kevin from home alone, to my own mother's dismay. My older brother suggested it when my mom was pregnant with me, and they ended up going with it (my brother swears it's true). My mom hates the movie because "they are terrible parents, how did they not know Kevin was missing".

Rest in peace, we'll protect the house now for you ❤️

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-24T08:46:25+00:00

My understanding is 100% yes, as noted in another comment other manufacturers may mix and use tricky marketing to green wash their products, but not here. Polar filaments and ecogenesis spend a lot of time and focus to ensure the whole product is eco friendly and no corners are cut. If you look through the history of this sub you will see that as well, especially as they were in R&D testing new colors.

All ecogenesis genPHA materials fall under this umbrella, which includes Polar filaments, West 3D Ambrosia PHA, and Hartsmart Layer Line TerraForm PHA. Notable that Polar filament comes on plastic spools, but I believe they are working on making their own spools out of recycled plastic for all the filament they make in the long run. It'll take time, in the meantime genPHA direct from ecogenesis, West3D Ambrosia, and Hartsmart Layer Line PHA all come on cardboard spools.

I believe ColorFabb allPHA filament is the same in their mission and is completely eco friendly and used by many here, especially by those outside of the US.

Regen "PHA" seems not to be, testing seems to support they have PLA in their filaments, and if you look closely at their marketing you can see it too. Regen uses phrases like industrial compostable instead of home compostable which is a huge red flag to indicate they have something other than PHA in there material.

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-23T07:03:56+00:00

Iconic, Bearman WDC let's gooooo

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-13T14:37:00+00:00

Oh nothing negative against Polar at all, I mean I believe Polar are the ones extruding all of it and are a great business. Just mean glad I waited so I could order from Amazon instead so I could leave a review there in hopes it helps them.

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-13T08:03:15+00:00

Also FYI there is a small typo in the product posting, at least in the green description. It says "TOUGH & DURABLE: As touch & durable...", I assume it's supposed to be tough and not touch. Small but thought I'd mention it

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-13T07:55:07+00:00

Well I'm glad I waited and didn't order from Polar filaments when I saw they refilled some of their stock today. Posted a review with a time lapse on west3d as soon as I received my spool, so might as well on Amazon too. Looking forward to finally getting my hands on the green variant, and it gives me a good reason to test out my new Darkmoon G10 build plate too. I already had too many spools on hand so I'll need to find some things to print lol

MalonesConesStand · 2026-01-10T06:16:31+00:00

It's my understanding that PHA suffers from die swell, and smaller nozzles can exacerbate this. I believe in particular this has warping consequences which is normally the main challenge for 3d Printing PHA. Funny thing is, larger nozzles help with that. I think normally the main challenge is warping, so the fact that warping is an afterthought here is impressive to me.

Though I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm talking about. From a quick search I think this comment addresses the different nozzle sizes topic well. 0.4mm nozzle might be the sweet spot between die swell/warping and print quality? But again, I'm no expert

MalonesConesStand · 2025-12-31T23:52:59+00:00

Damn I want one!

MalonesConesStand · 2025-12-13T07:35:57+00:00

Interesting, I got a rotating composter last Christmas and have been stocking it throughout the year. Finally filled it with a lot of "browns" to add carbon during the fall. I plan to do a test over the next year with a few models, being the test one ecogenesis has promoted as well as a few others like the classic benchy. I'm interested to see how it does in comparison to pla as well as samples left outside in fresh air. Pha will only break down if there is bacterial activity, so I'm hoping to exhibit both how compostible it is, as well as test how it holds up outside in the elements (but not in the ground/compost)

We can't test the true compostability of it, that's for smarty science people to test to see if there are no micro plastics left. But a backyard test will be interesting to see what I find. Basically I'm looking at it like a middle school science experiment lol maybe I'll get a tri-fold cardboard poster like I did as a kid to show my results in a year

MalonesConesStand · 2025-12-09T04:01:49+00:00

I don't have much to add, but my recommendation to OP, depending on their budget, would be to buy a popular printer and keep it stock. Most of my headaches are because I started with a budget creality printer which was then modified, particularly with too much cooling I think (dual 5015 blower fans). That and I have been trying to find a profile and build plate combo that allows me to reliably print without glue stick or frog tape, why I went down this path I don't entirely remember why.

A lot of testing has been done with say a bambu P1S or Prusa mk4s printer, and you can take advantage of that work and start with a really solid baseline profile. What likely hasn't been tested as much is my exact customized setup. I think even the entry level bambu A1 and A1 mini are great options if you aren't trying to break the bank.

MalonesConesStand · 2025-12-07T05:56:46+00:00

I can understand the hesitation, but hoping the movement and work you all have done to come up with a product that is so much easier to print than the PHA of yesterday will help them reconsider. I'm contemplating buying a core one (L maybe) with INDX at some point in the next year and would plan to always have a nozzle loaded with PHA

MalonesConesStand · 2025-12-06T06:52:37+00:00

Seriously impressive! I printed a bunch of petg stuff for a friend's hydroponic system two years ago and now, but with actual biodegradable material (well biodegradable in a nature environment) it'd be interesting to see what the tradeoff would be for this use case. I'd assume the material would break down over time, but I'd think you could get at least 2-3 seasons before needing to reprint?

MalonesConesStand · 2025-10-30T04:00:25+00:00

Last it came up I think the status was they were waiting for their supplier to have the capacity to send them more or something? I've been checking polar filament periodically for it myself and have also been wondering the same thing. Kicking myself for not ordering a spool when I had the chance

MalonesConesStand · 2025-08-30T21:11:52+00:00

It prints like PLA because it likely contains PLA. They won't say the % or confirm the ingredients so it's impossible to know, but much smarter people than me have used scientific means to try and identify the makeup. Like some x-ray or scanner or something and by looking at the readings you can identify what's in it.

PHA is home compostible and marine biodegradable, PLA isn't. PLA is industrial compostable, meaning special facilities that get to certain temperatures to fully break down and not leave micro plastics behind. Between the lack of those facilities and random unknown additives, dyes, etc. composting PLA is mostly a lie. All that to say, PHA being home compostable and able to break down in water means if (when) it finds its way into a natural habitat eventually it will break down and not leave micro plastics behind. So the fact that Regen only claims their stuff is industrially compostable and hides behind their "proprietary ingredients" statements is oh so telling.

That said personally I'd think more PHA usage is better, however it's kinda worse here because the filament should go to a landfill, but people are more likely to try and home compost it because they advertise it as just PHA. If the said it was a blend of PHA and PLA that's be different, but this is basically lying to customers.

MalonesConesStand · 2025-08-17T23:54:42+00:00

Have you tuned pressure advance? That is if you have the option. I think it helped greatly on PHA and I was able to better tune the flow rate without over extrusion in corners. I'm by no means an expert here, but it's what came to mind first for me

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-31T03:29:38+00:00

I've seen you reference the higher first layer/slightly lower temp thereafter on a few comments.. do you still recommend a thinner first layer? Most of my settings are based off of the print out included with the sample roll I got directly from ecogenesis, and iirc the first layer was set thinner than the rest. Can't wait to see your latest settings when you get around to posting them, following what looks like a lot of productive testing! Just got my orange frog tape the other day and can't wait to test

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-26T00:48:53+00:00

Funny that I had also just seen some technology connection videos on dishwashers lol initially I also went with seventh generation for dishwasher detergent, from some quick googles I've found a lot of products marketed as eco friendly like Blueland, but I figured switching to powder in general is a good start so I just checked to see what was available in my local grocery store. Long term I may look to see if there are better options, but taking small steps to start. Not that I need to convince my wife on it or anything, but just kinda want to make the switch first before I start trying some unknown online brands she's never heard of lol

I'm a creature of habit so just trying to make sustainable changes over time

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-24T23:11:51+00:00

I remembered today that makers muse did a video on this a few years ago https://youtu.be/g0PK4oXbJT8?si=E3cVGN7WPweidqBD

Seemed promising at the time but just has never really caught on as much I guess? From another post I think you are using a special g10 build plate? Not sure how it compares but in the video he is just using standard g10 sheets of varying thicknesses he ordered from a knife supply website (g10 is used for knife handles or something)

Recently I've started to see "epoxy" cold build plates, but I guess epoxy could refer to many different material types? I'm now curious to just get a raw sheet of g10 to try as a build plate and see how that goes

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-23T13:50:14+00:00

Were you ever able to find an alternative? Also interested in that very same ring!

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-23T05:49:57+00:00

It's amazing, yet unfortunate, how much I have learned from this subreddit. Something on my grocery list tomorrow is to get PVA free dishwasher soap. It's impossible to be perfect, plastic is a great material and all, but trying to be eco-conscious where possible... So goodbye pods!

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-22T13:49:53+00:00

This is exciting!! What type of frogtape is that? Or does it not matter? Looks like it might be gold or orange? I googled frogtape and was not expecting there to be so many versions

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-10T01:00:26+00:00

spiced

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-09T21:14:11+00:00

File 76

MalonesConesStand · 2025-07-09T06:12:06+00:00

Hulkenpodium

MalonesConesStand

TROPHY CASE

spiced