title: Blog
post: Dry Filament Storage
description: With Bowden tube on Lack Tower
date: 2026-07-18
comments: true
parent: 3d-printing
position: 37
---

For years the filament roll for my [3D printer](i3-am8.html) has just been hanging from the front of my [Lack tower](ikea-lack.html).
As I also often have long stretches of time where I don't use much filament, it tends to draw moisture from the air.
This reduces print quality, so it's recommended to keep the filament dry.

<!--%
lightgallery([
    [ "img/filament_storage_3.jpg", "Ares the cat demonstrating the old setup" ],
])
%-->

So I finally decided to upgrade my printing situation by adding an air-tight container for the filament roll, with a bowden tube running to my direct-drive extruder.

<!--%
lightgallery([
    [ "img/filament_storage_1.jpg", "Air-tight box on the lowest Lack tower level" ],
    [ "img/filament_storage_2.jpg", "Printer with bowden tube running to the extruder" ],
    [ "img/filament_storage_4.jpg", "Back of Lack tower with bowden tube" ],
])
%-->

The 3D printed coupling mount on the extruder is ["Sherpa Mini PTFE Coupler Holder (Reverse Bowden, PC4‑M10 coupler)" by sulli18](https://www.printables.com/model/462294-sherpa-mini-ptfe-coupler-holder-reverse-bowden-pc4).

I really like the cheap chinese box.
The kit already comes with everything except the bowden tube.
The filament rolls smoothly on bearings and it even includes a humidity meter.

<!--%
tableHelper([ "align-right", "align-right monospaced" ],
    [ "Part", "Cost" ], [
        [ ("3D Printer Filament Dry Box Storage Hot-Air Heating Storage Printing Material Holder Moisture-Resistant for Filaments Dryer Box", "https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005009970131564.html"), "16.49€"],
        [ ("Blue/Orange Indicating Silica Gel Desiccant Beads，Reusable Moisture Absorber for Storage，Closets，Electronics，3D Printer Filament (Blue-9oz)", "https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005010656898078.html"), "7.09€"],
        [ ("Ultra-Smooth PTFE Tube for 1.75mm filament with Cutter for Extruder,2.5mm IDx4mm OD Length Tube for Bambu Lab A1/P1P/P1S/X1C (White 4M cutter)", "https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005010436615944.html"), "4.89€"],
        [ "Sum", "28.47€" ]
    ]
)
%-->

I simply stuck a bag of silica gel in the bottom.
Only later I found out that the blue desiccant has toxic cobalt for coloring, so I'd recommend to buy the orange variant instead.