Wood filament is becoming an increasingly popular material for 3D printing. The wood fibers mixed into the plastic filament give prints a realistic, natural wood look and feel. Wood filament offers a unique option for makers looking to create organic, earthy prints that stand out from the crowd.
What is Wood Filament?
Wood filament consists of standard PLA or ABS plastic blended with actual wood particles, typically 40-60% wood and 60-40% plastic. The wood used is micro-fine sawdust sourced from waste products like lumber trimmings.
Common types of wood used include maple, pine, oak, birch, bamboo, and cork. The wood particles are mixed into the plastic filament during extrusion, resulting in a material that can be 3D printed just like regular PLA or ABS. The wood provides an authentic look and texture, while the plastic binds everything together into a durable print.
The most popular brand of wood filament is ColorFabb, which offers both PLA and ABS variants like Woodfill Maple, Woodfill Bamboo, Corkfill, and Woodfill Pine. Other manufacturers like Fillamentum, 3DFuel, ProtoPasta, and Polymaker also produce wood composite filaments.
Benefits of Using Wood Filament
There are several advantages that make wood filament an appealing choice:
- Natural aesthetic – Prints have a real wood grain look, bringing an organic, rustic feel to your creations. The wood grain is visible but subtler with lighter filament colors.
- Tactile texture – The wood fiber gives prints a textured, grippy feel resembling real wood. ABS wood filament will feel slightly smoother.
- Matte finish – The filament has a flat, non-reflective finish that looks more natural than shiny plastic.
- Easy to work – Wood PLA prints, sands, glues, and finishes much like wood. No special tools needed.
- Earth-friendly – Made from recycled wood waste products like sawdust. PLA is also biodegradable.
- Strong and stiff – The wood adds rigidity for sturdy, durable prints that perform like wood.
- Low warp – The wood content helps reduce warping issues common with regular PLA and ABS.
- Aroma – When printing, wood filament gives off a pleasant, sweet wood smell.
Tips for Printing with Wood Filament
While wood filament prints much like standard PLA and ABS, there are some special considerations to get the best results:
- Print temperatures are similar to regular PLA/ABS, around 190-220°C. Some wood filaments print a little hotter.
- A wider nozzle size like 0.5mm is recommended over 0.4mm for reducing clogging since the wood particles can be abrasive.
- Print speeds of 40-60mm/s produce good quality prints. Faster speeds can lead to excessive oozing.
- Use low retraction settings around 1-3mm to prevent grinding the wood fibers.
- A steel nozzle is ideal for added wear resistance over brass nozzles with woodfill abrasiveness.
- Ensure proper cooling with part cooling fans to prevent heat creep jams.
- Wood PLA sticks very well to PEI and BuildTak-style print surfaces. Use gluestick for glass.
- Expect more dust when sanding prints due to wood particles. Wear a mask and sand wet.
Post-Processing Wood Filament Prints
One of the big advantages of wood filament is how easily prints can be sanded, machined, and finished just like real wood:
- Sanding – Grades 100-220 work well to smooth layer lines and shape prints. Sand perpendicular to lines.
- Staining/painting – Unfinished prints readily accept stains, paints, oils, and varnishes for custom looks.
- Polishing – Satin or gloss finishes can be achieved by wet sanding up to 2000 grit. Apply a varnish for sheen.
- Machining – Prints can be safely cut, drilled, and carved just like wood. Localized melting can occur with high speeds.
- Joining – Superglue and 2-part epoxy work perfectly for joining wood filament pieces.
With light finishing, wood filament prints can mimic authentic wood parts while offering the freedom and consistency of 3D printing.
Example Uses for Wood Filament
The natural beauty and feel of wood makes it a desirable material for all kinds of applications:
- Home décor – Vases, planters, jewelry, figurines, lamps, picture frames
- Furniture – Chairs, shelves, lamps, desks
- Toys & puzzles – Building sets, educational toys, board game pieces
- Cosplay & props – Wands, weapons, armor pieces, masks, ears
- Musical instruments – Guitar picks, violin tuning pegs, ocarina
- Tools – Tool handles, workshop organization, box making
- Sculptures & art – Decorative busts, nature sculptures
Many industries are taking note of wood filament’s potential. Wood PLA and ABS opens new doors for designers, DIYers, woodworkers, hobbyists, and more.
Key Takeaways on Wood Filament
Wood-infused filament provides an easy way to achieve stunning wood prints on any desktop FDM 3D printer. The key benefits of wood filament include:
- Realistic wood appearance and feel
- Easy printability resembling PLA/ABS
- Sands and finishes like wood
- Rigid, low warp, matte surface
- Eco-friendly material
With the right print settings dialed in, wood filament can produce jaw-dropping prints that mimic natural wood. It expands the capabilities of FDM printing into organic, earthy designs. Wood filament offers an accessible option for makers to create affordable wood prototypes, custom products, art pieces, cosplay props, and more.
