3D Filament Box - Keep It Dry

Hi & welcome to my first instructable - so please bear with me if i make any mistakes!

I wanted to store my 3d printer filament in a safe, dry container but still be able to use the filament straight from the box. So here it is, my version of a 3D filament dry box. I had an empty resealable box in the shed that had suet pellets in it for the wild birds, so I thought, hey i know what i can use that for!

Firstly I got a length of pipe and cut it to fit inside the box with about 6mm clearance on each side. Then I headed over to thingiverse & searched for a wardrobe (closet) bracket. The only one that i found that suited my needs was this : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2801062 (Thanks to Juscallmesteve). If you use a thicker pipe than i did then you may need to scale it up a bit!

I then drilled 4 holes in the sides of my box using a 4mm drill bit & then attached the brackets with the M4 bolts, nuts and a rubber seal each side. Then I made sure the pole fitted ok and slid on a couple of reels of filament to check clearance etc.

The next thing i had to do was to figure out a way to make holes for the bowden tubing but to keep it kind of airtight with no gaps. I could of simply just drilled some holes and inserted the tubing, but that i thought, would not be good enough, so off to thingiverse i headed to search for a bolt that would have a hole straight through. I found just the thing thanks to DarthxRinzler ! : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1750875 .

While i waited for them to print, I then drilled four holes into the front of my box. Then I attached the filament feeders not forgetting a rubber seal in each side of the bolts. Then I fitted a length of bowden tube through and it worked like a charm! I then chucked in some silica gel sachets and put the lid on. JOB DONE!

The only thing I had to do next was to take it all apart again, take photos as i reassembled it and then write this instructable!

If i forgot anything let me know in the comments :)

Below are the main supplies & I have given links to them. I am in uk so these are co.uk eBay links, but you should be able to find them in your country wherever you are!

1x resealable box or box with rubber seal,

8x rubber O-rings (4mm),

8x rubber o-rings (8mm),

4x M4 bolts 10mm & 4x M4 nuts

3d printer or know someone who can print you two 3d printed bar mounts,

4x 3d printed screwless filament feeders

A piece of metal pipe, doweling or rigid plastic tubing that will fit nicely onto the anchors, i used a 12mm diameter piece of metal pipe cut to length of my box.

bowden tubing (I bought 5 metres),

silica gel packets (as many as you want)

Gather all your parts together (list above) & make sure you have all the tools you need to hand. You will need the following tools:

A drill with a 4mm bit & a 7.5mm bit (I used ones for drilling wood).

A craft knife or your 3d printer snips.

A 1.5mm allen key.

4mm socket & 8mm socket or you could just hand tighten. (I over-tightened & snapped a plastic bolt so be careful).

A ruler or tape measure.

A fine tipped marker pen.

Cut a piece of tube so its around 6-8mm shorter than the width of your box. Put it aside for now.

Using the smaller drill bit, drill 2 holes through one side of your box, ensuring that it is the right height & in the centre. You can use the piece of pipe with a reel of filament on it to guide you. Use a marker pen to mark where you need to drill the holes if you would rather do that.

Repeat for the other side of the box.

Clean off any burring with a craft knife or cutters. Attach a bar mount to one side of the box using the two of the M4 10mm bolts & 2 of the M4 nuts. Don't forget to put a rubber o-ring on each side of the bolts. Tighten using the allen key but DO NOT over-tighten.

Repeat this step for the other side of the box.

Take the pipe & some reels of filament to make sure it rests on the mounts well without hitting the sides or bottom of the box.

Use a marker pen & ruler to get a straight run, as you don't want them wonky like mine ! Ensure that the holes will be in line with the filament that will feed to it.

Now drill 4 holes into the front of your box where you marked it using the 7.5mm drill bit.

Remove any burrs with your craft knife or snips.

6a Grab a plastic bolt & nut

6b Put an o-ring onto the bolt

6c Place the bolt through a hole in the front of the box.

6d Put another o-ring on the other side of the bolt.

6e Attach a plastic nut but do NOT over-tighten - I made that mistake and had to print more !

Repeat all the above for the other 3 holes.

Get your bowden tubing & cut it into 4 equal lengths.

Push a length through one of the holes & then feed one of your filaments through.

Repeat for the remaining reels.

Chuck some silica gel packets inside & seal up the lid.

You now have a good 3D printer filament dry box to keep your filament in from getting moisture in it.

Lastly I would like to hope that you enjoy making this & if you do then please feel free to show it off in the comments below.

Also please let me know if I have made any mistakes or forgotten to mention anything!

Thanks everyone.