Essentials
The tools I use everyday.
These are the tools and materials I personally use and recommend in my shop—everything here has been tested and proven in real projects.
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printers
Bambu Lab p2s
My go-to printer—fast, reliable, and built for consistent, high-quality output with minimal tuning.
Bambu Lab p1s
A solid workhorse—reliable, fast, and consistent. I’ve logged over 5,000 print hours on this machine, and it continues to produce high-quality results without constant tuning.
Bambu Lab A1
A great entry into Bambu printers—fast, reliable, and easy to use. Perfect if you want high-quality prints without spending time tuning and troubleshooting.
Bambu Lab A1 Mini
A great entry-level option—easy to use, reliable, and supports multi-color printing with the AMS. Perfect for getting started without the usual setup and tuning.
Filament
PLA Filament
(Bambu Lab)
This is what I use for most general prints—easy, consistent, and great for dialing in designs before moving to stronger materials.
PETG Filament
(Bambu Lab)
My go-to filament for functional prints—strong, durable, and prints fast. Great for parts that need to actually hold up.
PLA Filament
(SUNLU)
This is what I use for most general prints—easy, consistent, and great for dialing in designs before moving to stronger materials.
PETG Filament
High-Speed (SUNLU)
My go-to filament for functional prints—strong, durable, and prints fast. Great for parts that need to actually hold up.
Filament Dryer
2 Spool (Creality)
I use this to dry filament and avoid print issues—especially important for PETG and other materials that absorb moisture.
Filament Dryer
4 Spool (Sunlu)
A higher-capacity option for drying multiple spools at once—great if you’re running multiple printers or keeping a lot of filament ready to go.
Tools
Plastic razor blade kit
Great for cleaning build plates and removing supports without risking damage — these are a staple in my setup.
Flush Cutters
(Precision Wire Cutters)
Perfect for cutting filament and removing supports cleanly. Sharp, precise, and great for getting into tight areas without damaging your prints.
MicroSD Card
(Firmware & Storage)
Useful for firmware updates, transferring files, and general printer use. Not exciting, but something you’ll definitely need at some point.
USB SD Card Reader
I use this for transferring files and firmware updates—simple, reliable, and makes working with SD cards a lot easier.
Build Plate Adhesive
I use this to improve adhesion and prevent lifting, while also making prints easier to remove. Helps with consistent first layers and fewer failed prints.
Glue Stick
A budget-friendly way to improve adhesion and make prints easier to remove. Not fancy, but it works and gets the job done.
Assembly & Mounting
Neodymium Magnets
(Strong Rare Earth)
I use these for magnetic designs—small but extremely strong, and perfect for adding clean, removable functionality to prints.
Super Glue
I use this for securing magnets and bonding multi-piece prints together—fast setting, strong, and something I always keep on hand.
3m vhb tape
I use this for mounting parts and clean installs—super strong, easy to work with, and eliminates the need for screws in a lot of cases.
Maintenance & Upkeep
White Lithium Grease
(Z-Axis Lubrication)
Used for lubricating Z-axis lead screws—keeps motion smooth, reduces noise, and helps prevent wear over time. A simple but important part of regular printer maintenance.
Precision Lubricating oil
(General Lubrication)
I use this for light lubrication on rails, bearings, and moving parts. The needle tip makes it easy to apply small amounts exactly where needed without overdoing it.