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4L Storage Box Anti-Humidity Clip

This clip will save your filament over time as many of the 4L storage boxes will leak allowing moisture to enter.
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updated January 14, 2024

Description

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Many of us use 4L Storage boxes to store our rolls of filament to keep them clean and dry. These are easy to find on Amazon or at local kitchen supply stores.
 

I found that the most popular storage boxes in use have a design flaw! During storage, simply caused by atmospheric pressure due to the variable weather, the ‘easy pour lid’ does not seal well and allows air to enter and exit from the storage container!

If air is coming in and out of your storage box, then so is humidity! The main purpose of using these storage boxes is to protect our filament from becoming ‘wet’ from humidity. So, this is a slow failure mode that most people don't think about.

You can test your box lids for leaking by squeezing the sides of the box. If you hear air escaping (place your ear close to the lid) or the box sides flex and not hold firm, then your lids are leaking.  Keep in mind that they may leak slowly vs quickly. A slow leak will also cause problems during atmospheric pressure changes. It could cause your box lid to pop open a bit when you least expect it. Most of these box lids don't have a clip to keep the lid from opening. The box sides are flexible enough to not worry about major pressure differences.


I designed this simple clip to securely hold the lid on tightly, preventing air and humidity infiltration, even over time. Now the storage box will properly protect your filament!!

 



Here is a nice storage box from amazon at a reasonable price: https://amzn.to/3SjgUuI

To help keep your filament dry in the box, I suggest color changing desiccant beads. These work well and are non-corrosive:
quart size https://amzn.to/3tOMKGz

if you have more than 10 containers consider the 1 gallon size: https://amzn.to/3Hjl3IR

 

There are many desiccant boxes available to print, or I suggest that use these very inexpensive organza storage bags to hold your desiccant. Put some desiccant beads in the bad and then place the bag in the bottom of your storage box. I find these easier to use than dealing with the printed storage boxes:
https://amzn.to/3HjIwK8

 

This is an easy print. Print it in PLA, or anything else. Pick your favorite color or consider using different colors to help organize your storage containers.
 

To install the clip, as shown in the photo, tilt the clip and slide it into place, while catching the lid retaining clamps. To open your box, reverse this procedure, sliding the clip off the end of the storage box.
 


 

As a suggestion, you could also add text on each clip using Bambu Studio to label each clip to help organize your storage boxes.

 

I also designed a gasket out of TPU to help seal the lid, but I found that this clip seems to do the job without the gasket. If you think you would also like the gasket, please leave me a message and I'll also share the gasket design.

Please like and share this design. I invite you to leave comments or suggestions. I'd also like to see photos of your storage boxes in use!

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The author marked this model as their own original creation.

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