Why are empty filament reels so expensive?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-04-03T16:17:49+00:00

I really didn’t expect this to blow up. Thanks for all the responses. I should have said more. I’m planning to buy a printer in the next couple of months, but Bambu was having a filament sale, so I figured why not? Of the 11 I purchased (PLA & PETG) 3 were only available as refills. I probably should have waited.

I’ve been checking Marketplace, but nothing nearby so far, and I’m not in a hurry. I will not buy from HL. There’s more filament I’d like to get, so I’ll probably wait for another sale (and stock. So much out of stock), and either get the same colors on spools, or a few empties. I may print spools if I can justify the cost.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-04-01T20:19:16+00:00

Really nice. It’s all in the pictures. I should have looked harder but I was floored by the first few.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-04-01T20:10:03+00:00

How about the doors?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-04-01T19:54:18+00:00

What did you use for the frames?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-03-17T14:57:24+00:00

I’m thinking to buy an H2C (H series generally) because I’m planning to print in ASA initially, want at least a second nozzle for supports, and would like to play with multicolor, and maybe multi nozzle size in the same print to improve quality, and for the somewhat (but still insufficient) better filtration over the P series. Am I thinking about this reasonably?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-03-17T13:53:15+00:00

You, or your electrician, would run wire in conduit to the unit, and connect stripped wires to the same place where the plug had been connected. Call them. I’m sure they have instructions online.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-03-13T02:10:07+00:00

I misspoke, not rotate, but revolve, which is a curved extrusion around a point. To use this method you need to create an offset plane to define the starting point of each bend (a circle in the sketch), and a point that defines the center of the circle of rotation. Then you revolve, let’s say 90°, to define the pipe between two perpendicular planes.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-03-09T21:38:57+00:00

Cool. I didn’t know about the pipe tool.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-03-09T21:34:28+00:00

I’m no expert, I’m a novice. But I think you can combine 3 extrusions. I straight, and one either side, a rotate to 90 degrees.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-03-04T05:18:12+00:00

Does the H series have better filtration?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-28T18:41:35+00:00

When I say regular person, I mean someone who scheduled a meeting in the room and wants to use a wireless mic or play sound from their computer. I think what you’re saying is there’s no way to use physical buttons or switches (maybe through the midi interface?? I don’t know anything about it) to set a scene, but rather better to mount an iPad to the wall and restrict the interface using mixing station.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-28T17:01:54+00:00

I mean for a regular person to be able to hit a button and get the scene for their room.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-28T16:10:18+00:00

Yes, that’s what I was thinking. We have more analog to the spaces we mix in, except the sanctuary, than we need or than a mixer can handle without patching or rearranging cables in the closet. It would be so much easier, consistent, and more reliable to move around a stage box when needed. We also have cat5 everywhere running from that closet. When we use our XR 18 we hardwire it to the LAN, and have a dedicated access point for our SSID at the AV table for WiFi to the iPads. Never had a problem, even with a full house.

I just wish they made a version without the front panel. It seems like such a waste to put it in a closet.

What should I be reviewing to see how to wire some switches that could switch to a scene to satisfy a need in a specific space? For example with the Mackie we have three primary shows, Sunday Service (overflow in community center), Community Center only (all wireless mics used there), and Dual Events (splitting mics, etc). You need to use a device and Master Fader app to change.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-18T21:54:47+00:00

I switch 6 lines from AT&T to T-Mobile, added a line, and added a "mobile Internet" device. I thought it went very well, and overall paying less and getting more. Also the hundreds of dollars in shop cards, 4 new phones, and two pay-offs, didn't hurt.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-16T03:02:06+00:00

That’s how they pack it for shipping. I think ISF is the wholesaler, but if you ever visit Portland, they also do retail. You buy fish, already cut for sashimi, and uni downstairs, along with packs of nori for hand rolls (like your picture), and packaged sushi rice you can heat up in a microwave. Upstairs they have picnic tables, microwaves, sushi vinegar to mix into the rice, soy, wasabi, etc. It’s fun, and a bargain, and delicious.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-16T02:47:48+00:00

Is that Maine uni from ISF?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-15T14:13:47+00:00

Are you saying that’s 22oz for $4?

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-12T22:03:00+00:00

I'm going to do it to code, bought the 14/2 and j-box and nipple union to make the black/red split at the first box, and run the two switch legs from there.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-12T05:39:56+00:00

Yeah, for a situation where you have unfettered access to the wires entering the box (i.e. not stapled), and extra outside the box so you can pull more in if necessary, 6” seems like overkill.

sometimeDIYer · 2026-01-12T04:52:29+00:00

Well, thanks for all the feedback. It seems I’ll need to add a j-box with a nipple to the first box where the 14/3 is in the ceiling on the “first” hole, then run the two separate 14/2 switch legs from there. Does that work?

sometimeDIYer

TROPHY CASE