Filament dry storage

[XLR8]

My filament dryer arrived today. I'm shopping for economical rechargeable desiccant packs to drop in the zip-lock bag for long term storage.
I've found these on ebay:

Over $6 each so not exactly cheap. Bulk silica beads in plastic jugs (i.e. 2lb) can be purchased for less but I'd still need to divide the beads into smaller containers for use in the filament bags that are porous and micro-wave safe for recharging. Using packs should be more convenient.
Anyway, I think perhaps there's a better solution so thought I reach out for some advise.

[morrisey0]

I keep my filaments in 5 gallon buckets, with screw on lids, and dehumidifiers in them. Each bucket holds 5 spools. Check on the dehumidifiers every now and then, and recharge them as needed.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home-Depot-5-Gallon-Orange-Homer-Bucket-05GLHD2/100087613
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Companion-5-gal-Black-Paint-Bucket-Lid-LD5GRLBK006/303808738
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0XFCS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[XLR8]

I keep my filaments in 5 gallon buckets, with screw on lids, and dehumidifiers in them. Each bucket holds 5 spools. Check on the dehumidifiers every now and then, and recharge them as needed.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home-Depot-5-Gallon-Orange-Homer-Bucket-05GLHD2/100087613
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Companion-5-gal-Black-Paint-Bucket-Lid-LD5GRLBK006/303808738
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0XFCS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks! That seems like an excellent solution.
By chance, are you also measuring the humidity in the buckets? Maybe knowing the humidity in storage isn't so important since you can always dry the filament when you're ready to use it? Thus, storing the filament in sealed containers with dehumidifiers reduces the time required to dry the filament before use??

Anyway, thanks for chiming in and posting the links.

[silvertriple]

By chance, are you also measuring the humidity in the buckets? Maybe knowing the humidity in storage isn't so important since you can always dry the filament when you're ready to use it? Thus, storing the filament in sealed containers with dehumidifiers reduces the time required to dry the filament before use??

Anyway, thanks for chiming in and posting the links.

I also use dessicant beads with color indication, and for the measure, I don't measure it. I feel like it is overthinking it, plus the fact that the measure is always relative regarding the content of the container and not related to filament.

Issues you may experience with filament which is not dry enough :
- PLA tends to break very easily when not dry : a break in the filament is a good indication the filament need to be dried
- PETG : stringing, adhesion issue
- Nylon : can't print with it
- ...

That being said, with a fast machine, if you print a lot, a one 1kg roll will be used quikcly. For what I don't use within the AMS I have, the external spool holder could be replaced by a dryer or by a closed IKEA container with dessicant beads and with a printed support inside so the spool can turn easily. Other spools remain in their bag, but you could apply the same principle with dessicant beads and printed support in IKEA boxes with a PTFE pipe that goes in so it's ready to use when needed...

[XLR8]

By chance, are you also measuring the humidity in the buckets? Maybe knowing the humidity in storage isn't so important since you can always dry the filament when you're ready to use it? Thus, storing the filament in sealed containers with dehumidifiers reduces the time required to dry the filament before use??

Anyway, thanks for chiming in and posting the links.

I also use dessicant beads with color indication, and for the measure, I don't measure it. I feel like it is overthinking it, plus the fact that the measure is always relative regarding the content of the container and not related to filament.

Issues you may experience with filament which is not dry enough :
- PLA tends to break very easily when not dry : a break in the filament is a good indication the filament need to be dried
- PETG : stringing, adhesion issue
- Nylon : can't print with it
- ...

That being said, with a fast machine, if you print a lot, a one 1kg roll will be used quikcly. For what I don't use within the AMS I have, the external spool holder could be replaced by a dryer or by a closed IKEA container with dessicant beads and with a printed support inside so the spool can turn easily. Other spools remain in their bag, but you could apply the same principle with dessicant beads and printed support in IKEA boxes with a PTFE pipe that goes in so it's ready to use when needed...

"Overthinking" is what I do; I'm an overthinker!
In all cases, the best you can do is measure the humidity for the air surrounding the filament, not the actual filament material.
Anyway, I believe I have my answers. Thank you both so much for your replies.
I'm gonna move ahead with sealed containers, color indicating desiccant and call it good.