1 Topic by python

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Topic: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

Hey guys, I'd like to know if plastic filaments used by 3d printers are used by anything else other than 3d printers.

The reason I'm asking is i live in a small country where 3d printers are not heard of, so I'd like to know if there's anywhere here I could find filaments because they are used for other things, or if I'm out of luck finding anything in my country.

PS. Im aware of Filastruder and that I can get that and buy plastic pellets instead.

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

Welding rod, but that's usually 3mm.

Why not import filament to your country? Shouldn't be too expensive.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

3 Reply by python (edited by python 2014-02-21 16:19:31)

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

I think shipping is on average 20% of the price to my country.
if you order more than 1 thing in 6 months, you have to pay 32% of the price of the good (including shipping costs) as taxes. It's ridiculous.
The real problem is shipping time. it takes long to get anything here and the customs office keeps stuff for so long, it can take up to 40 days to get anything to your house.

Where can I learn more about "plastic welding rod"? Honestly cant find anything.

4 Reply by travis7s (edited by travis7s 2014-02-21 23:19:09)

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

I have seen youtube videos of people printing with nylon 'weed trimmer' line/string.

You should start a business of just importing filament and selling it wink

5 Reply by python

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

Never heard about that, googling it.

Importing and selling filament here would be pointless, there's like one dude who has a 3d printer and his been trying to sell it for few months now.

6 Reply by knowack

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

Perhaps a dumb idea, but what if someone sent you a 'gift' that happened to be some ABS filament?  Are such parcels treated differently in your country than purchased items?  I send gifts to my family in Europe; I have to declare the value on the customs form, but they don't have to pay taxes or anything.

7 Reply by elmoret

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

knowack wrote:

Perhaps a dumb idea, but what if someone sent you a 'gift' that happened to be some ABS filament?

I hope you are not suggesting mail fraud.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

8 Reply by python

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

It doesnt matter here if it is a  gift or a purchased item. If we buy from china and not through ebay, we try to ask them to write lower number for the price, most chinese sellers agree to do that. But the custom department workers have the right to ignore the written price and search in their database of goods or even the internet for the same or even just similar item and calculate the price and therefore the taxes themselves.

The only option to avoid this taxes is to ask someone to buy some for you and bring it with them in their flight case, and finding someone coming to the country and agreeing to do that might take loner than ordering by shipping and waiting up to 40 days to get it to your home.

9 Reply by knowack

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

elmoret wrote:
knowack wrote:

Perhaps a dumb idea, but what if someone sent you a 'gift' that happened to be some ABS filament?

I hope you are not suggesting mail fraud.

Not at all.  I would help a brother out by sending him a spool of ABS until his logistics get in motion.

10 Reply by knowack (edited by knowack 2014-02-22 15:50:27)

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

python wrote:

It doesnt matter here if it is a  gift or a purchased item. If we buy from china and not through ebay, we try to ask them to write lower number for the price, most chinese sellers agree to do that. But the custom department workers have the right to ignore the written price and search in their database of goods or even the internet for the same or even just similar item and calculate the price and therefore the taxes themselves.

The only option to avoid this taxes is to ask someone to buy some for you and bring it with them in their flight case, and finding someone coming to the country and agreeing to do that might take loner than ordering by shipping and waiting up to 40 days to get it to your home.

If you don't mind my asking, what country are we talking about?  This almost seems like a government-backed scam.

I checked the nylon line for my weedeater, and it's 2.4mm.  Doesn't look like that's going to work.

11 Reply by Tomek

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

Nylon weed cutting line is bad because of added chemicals and fiberglass. 

Plastic welding rod is probably his best option. I bought 10lbs for $100 locally at a welding supply company.


I agree that knowing what country we're talking about would help.

12 Reply by python (edited by python 2014-02-22 18:12:38)

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

I dont want to be hating on my country, but I dont mind telling that the Armenian government sucks. I believe most armenians will agree with me. If you want me to quote the exact law articles, i can do that too.

I dont know about the tax laws in other countries, but from what ive heard from foreign friends (US and China), its a little too high here in their opinion.

13 Reply by hugocpln

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

If you think your country is bad. You've heard of politicians who are convicted of corruption and still maintains the position, it happens here, but if we protest in the World Cup, we will be arrested as a terrorist.Today, in SP, one man recovered his car dismantled, he filed a complaint with police, and reinforced by putting on facebook, after finding the car in a "favela",after calling police to help him remove the drive from the favela, the police just said itself(policie force) could not do anything because it only had 1 car in the round and he(the guy) go get himself and what he did

14 Reply by danny

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Re: filaments used for anything else than 3d printing?

knowack wrote:

I checked the nylon line for my weedeater, and it's 2.4mm.  Doesn't look like that's going to work.

I got some nylon that was 1.7mm in diameter, after drying out it was printable, didn't clog the print head, but had trouble sticking to almost anything, (there are ideas for printing surfaces for nylon now).

but generally, yes, you'll find that weed eater nylon most common is too big for the solidoodle, and the thinner stuff is less common because it's basically crap in a weed eater (it breaks before the weeds do!

I'd suggest bulk buying filament from China or something similar, it'll be difficult to get around taxes...

regards the tax man thing. the customs people in EVERY country has the ability to assign a value to an item and charge a tax based on that REGARDLESS of the declared value, (there is a defined list in the UK).

Not only that, but if it becomes clear that you have requested a false declaration then you are committing a crime, and not only will they ignore your declaration and charge you import fees duty and tax based on the true value, but they may also come arrest you and charge you with fraud too! -those import declarations are legal documents!