1. Introduction: Why 3D Printing Tools Matter
3D printing isn’t just about the printer and filament. The tools you keep at your side can make or break your printing experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned maker, having the right tools helps you achieve cleaner prints, reduce failures, and make post-processing a breeze.
The right tools turn 3D printing from a struggle into a craft.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best 3D printing tools you should have on your bench, why they matter, and our top recommended brands and picks. We’ll also include affiliate links for trusted, affordable options so you can stock your workshop confidently.
2. Essential Hand Tools
These are the bread-and-butter tools every 3D printing hobbyist needs. They make cleaning up prints, removing supports, and maintaining your printer easy and safe.
Deburring Tools
✅ Pros: Cleanly remove edges and zits from prints, especially on holes and slots.
🎯 Best uses: Smoothing PLA, ABS, PETG edges. Making functional parts fit precisely.
Buy a good deburring tool here
Pliers & Cutters
✅ Pros: Trim filament cleanly, snip supports, pull stuck filament from extruders.
🎯 Best uses: Removing supports, maintaining nozzles, general bench work.
Look for needle-nose pliers and flush-cut side cutters. Many kits include these together.
Scrapers & Spatulas
✅ Pros: Safely remove prints from the bed without damage.
🎯 Best uses: PLA, PETG, and resin prints on glass, PEI, or other beds.
A stiff, thin-edged scraper helps you pop prints off without chipping your surface. Always slide under slowly and avoid prying too hard to protect the bed.
Check out a reliable scraper set here
Calipers
✅ Pros: Essential for measuring part dimensions and calibrating your printer.
🎯 Best uses: Checking first-layer height, wall thickness, hole diameter.
Digital calipers make measuring effortless. A good caliper can spot under- or over-extrusion quickly, helping you tune your slicer settings precisely.
Not sure which product is right for you? Take our quick 60-second quiz to get personalized 3D printer picks based on your needs.
3. Bed Adhesion Helpers
Bed adhesion is one of the most common pain points in 3D printing. The right tools and surfaces can reduce warping and ensure your first layer always sticks perfectly.
Glue Sticks & Hairspray
✅ Pros: Cheap, easy, widely available, great for PLA and PETG.
🎯 Best uses: Adding tack on glass beds, controlling warping on larger prints.
Just swipe a standard glue stick or spritz hairspray on the bed before heating. Let it cool and your print will pop off cleanly.
Get a pack of glue sticks here
PEI Sheets
✅ Pros: Fantastic all-around adhesion, easy to clean, long-lasting.
🎯 Best uses: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU—almost anything.
PEI is a gold standard for print surfaces. Heat it up and prints stick firmly; cool it down and they pop right off. It's durable and easy to maintain.
BuildTak Sheets
✅ Pros: Durable, reusable, great adhesion with minimal effort.
🎯 Best uses: PLA, PETG, ABS—especially for beginners.
BuildTak is a textured print surface that grips well without extra glues. Just apply to your print bed and go. Prints release easier when the bed cools.
Magnetic Flex Plates
✅ Pros: Easy part removal, dual-sided textures, quick swaps.
🎯 Best uses: High-volume printing, beginner-friendly upgrades.
These beds use spring steel and PEI for excellent adhesion. Just flex the plate to pop your print off. Ideal for printers like the Ender 3 and Prusa MK3.
🎯 Not Sure Which Printer to Pick?
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Take the Quiz →4. Maintenance & Cleaning Tools
Keeping your 3D printer clean and tuned is critical to long-term success. Here are the tools that make it easy to maintain your machine and keep print quality high.
Nozzle Cleaning Needles
✅ Pros: Unclogs nozzles, fixes extrusion problems fast.
🎯 Best uses: Cleaning partially blocked hotends or clearing cold pulls.
Use with caution—only at warm temps. Don’t force them, just gently remove softened residue.
Buy nozzle cleaning needles here
Wire Brushes
✅ Pros: Clean off melted plastic, debris, and filament residue.
🎯 Best uses: Cleaning brass and hardened nozzles, heat blocks, and extruders.
Brass brushes are safe on softer metals, while stainless ones are great for tougher cleaning. Keep them nearby for post-print maintenance.
Lubricants (PTFE/White Lithium Grease)
✅ Pros: Smooth motion, prevents wear, improves print consistency.
🎯 Best uses: Linear rods, lead screws, Z-axis stabilizers.
A tiny amount of lubricant can dramatically reduce friction and noise. Don’t overdo it—light coatings are ideal.
Spatulas & Resin Cleaning Tools
✅ Pros: Critical for resin printing safety and cleanup.
🎯 Best uses: Removing prints from resin plates, filtering resin, cleaning tanks.
Use plastic spatulas for delicate parts and flexible silicone tools for easy cleanup without scratching tanks.
5. Storage & Environmental Tools
Moisture is the hidden enemy of 3D printing—especially for filaments like PETG, TPU, and Nylon. These tools help store your materials properly and create a controlled printing environment.
Filament Dryers
✅ Pros: Removes moisture to prevent stringing, popping, and weak prints.
🎯 Best uses: PETG, ABS, Nylon, flexible filaments.
Filament dryers like the Sunlu FilaDryer S2 keep spools dry before and during printing. Set your temp, pop in your roll, and print with confidence.
Dry Boxes with Desiccant
✅ Pros: Passive moisture control for daily storage.
🎯 Best uses: Budget-friendly protection of all filaments.
Use airtight containers and rechargeable silica gel packs to prevent ambient humidity from ruining your filament. Bonus: some dry boxes can also feed filament directly into your printer.
Printer Enclosures
✅ Pros: Stabilizes temperature, reduces warping, contains fumes.
🎯 Best uses: ABS, ASA, PC, Nylon—any material that warps or smells.
DIY enclosures can be made from IKEA Lack tables, or purchase a pre-made one. Also improves safety if printing around pets or kids.
6. Measurement & Calibration Tools
Calibration is the foundation of print quality. These tools help you get perfect first layers, accurate dimensions, and a well-tuned printer.
Feeler Gauges
✅ Pros: Ultra-precise for manual bed leveling.
🎯 Best uses: Leveling glass beds, setting Z-offsets.
Use a 0.1mm or 0.2mm feeler gauge under the nozzle to level the bed manually. Much more accurate than the “paper trick.”
Digital Calipers (Again!)
Yes, we mentioned these before—but they’re also indispensable for slicer calibration.
- Check wall thickness vs. design specs
- Verify flow rate and extrusion multiplier
- Validate tolerance fits between parts
If you skipped them earlier—get one now: Top digital calipers here
Bed Leveling Aids (Manual or Auto)
✅ Pros: Faster leveling, consistent first layers.
🎯 Best uses: All printers. Especially larger or warped beds.
Consider using auto bed leveling probes like BLTouch, or manual leveling tools like knobs with springs or silicone spacers. A level bed = fewer headaches.
7. Specialty Tools & Upgrades
Once you’ve got the basics covered, these specialty tools and upgrades can supercharge your setup, improve print quality, and automate your workflow.
Hardened Nozzles
✅ Pros: Handles abrasive filaments like carbon fiber and glow-in-the-dark blends.
🎯 Best uses: Long-term durability, engineering prints.
Upgrade from brass to hardened steel, ruby-tipped, or even tungsten carbide for consistent results over time.
Camera Mounts for Time-Lapses
✅ Pros: Monitor remotely, create cool print videos, improve print visibility.
🎯 Best uses: OctoPrint setups, TikTok/YouTube creators.
Mount a webcam or Pi Cam near the bed or frame. Works with OctoLapse, Obico, and other software.
Raspberry Pi & OctoPrint
✅ Pros: Wireless printing, job monitoring, plugin automation, live camera feed.
🎯 Best uses: Remote control, advanced printer analytics.
OctoPrint turns your 3D printer into a smart machine. Install plugins for tracking, auto-shutdown, webcam support, and more.
8. Recommended Tool Kits & Brands
Below are some trusted tool kits and brands we’ve used or reviewed. These affiliate links support the site at no extra cost to you.
- 3D Printer Starter Tool Kit – Includes scraper, pliers, tweezers, brush, etc.
- Nozzle Cleaning Kit – Everything for hotend maintenance.
- Filament Storage & Drying Box – Includes desiccant and temp display.
- Digital Calipers (Pro Edition) – Accurate, reliable, stainless steel.
We only recommend tools we’ve tested or verified through community consensus.
9. FAQ
What are the absolute must-have tools for beginners?
Start with a scraper, needle-nose pliers, glue stick, and a good set of calipers. These 4 tools will solve 80% of early challenges.
Do I need a filament dryer?
If you live in a humid area or use PETG, Nylon, or TPU—yes. Otherwise, airtight bins with desiccant work well for PLA and ABS.
How often should I clean my printer?
Brush off the bed after every print. Clean your nozzle weekly. Lube your rails every 30–50 hours of print time.
Can I upgrade my tools over time?
Absolutely. Most users start basic and build up their toolkit as they explore new materials and techniques.
✅ Still deciding? Let our smart quiz match you with the perfect 3D printer. Try it now — no signup needed.