PLA Welding Rods - Recycle Your Scraps!

You know all those small scraps left over from 3D printing—supports, brims, purge? Too much material to just toss out, but impossible to feed through your printer. Following up on my previous project that helped you use up the last few grams of your spools (PLA Welding Rod - Use the last 20g), here is the next step: a model designed to help you get rid of actual print scraps!   This model is a hollow cylinder with a dedicated cap designed to turn your actual print scraps into hot glue gun refills. It allows you to directly "weld" your 3D printed parts using recycled PLA instead of standard silicone glue!   With only about 3g of filament needed to print the capsule, you can pack away and salvage 10g of PLA waste scraps—even more if you chop the pieces down tightly (even smaller than I did) to eliminate empty gaps.   Boost MeTesting this project thoroughly to get the right clearances, making the video, replying to comments, and refining every detail takes a lot of time. If you find this design helpful and want to support my work, feel free to leave a boost!  💡 Why Use It? Zero Waste: Recycle everyday printing PLA waste (supports, purge lines, small scraps). Efficient Ratio: Invest ~3g of filament to trap and melt 10g+ of plastic waste. Structural Welding: Fusing PLA parts with matching PLA creates an ultra-strong, material-matched bond far superior to standard silicone glue. Modeling & Repairs: Ideal for joining large cosplay seams, reinforcing hidden joints, or filling surface gaps. Standard Diameter: Sized to fit standard 11 mm hot glue guns once loaded. 📋 How to Pack & Use It Chop It Small: Cut your scraps into very small pieces (even smaller than shown in my video). The smaller the bits, the fewer air voids you leave inside, resulting in a denser and more consistent feed. Print at Least Two: Due to the compact height required to fit standard build volumes and the natural air gaps inside, a single stick can feed through relatively quickly. Always print at least two cylinders and have a backup loaded and ready to go! Cap It Securely: Fill the cylinder tightly, press the plug/cap into place, and feed it into your glue gun just like a standard glue stick. ⚠️ Warnings & Usage Tips This DIY method works great for me as a budget alternative to a 3D pen and as an effective way to cut down your print waste, but requires a few important precautions: Temperature: Make sure your hot glue gun reaches at least 180°C to allow the PLA to melt properly. My advice is to measure or check the temperature yours reaches, unless you want to try while keeping in mind that you might ruin a low-power hot glue gun. Gradual Pressure: Don't force the trigger! Wait for the PLA to soften completely inside the heating chamber, and then pull the trigger carefully. Dedicated Gun or Purging: Ideally, use a cheap hot glue gun dedicated solely to this purpose. I don't recommend using your main hot glue gun because, to return to normal use with silicone glue, you'll have to purge it thoroughly, and traces of PLA might still remain during subsequent uses. Safety: Take all the precautions you deem necessary, such as working outdoors or using proper ventilation to avoid inhaling fumes, and always keep in mind that the hot glue gun gets extremely hot. I'm happy if the project can help you save money, get good results and recycle your scraps, I'm not happy otherwise, so please take all the necessary precautions and share your experience! I’d love to see what you build and repair with this! Share a photo of your welds, let me know your scrap-chopping setup, and keep the feedback constructive in the comments! 😄✌🏻   - GB