PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the world's most popular 3D printing filament. It's made from plant-based materials like corn starch — biodegradable, low-odour and very easy to work with. If you've just unboxed your first printer, PLA is what you should have loaded.

What PLA is great for:

• Figurines, models and decorative prints

• Phone stands, desk organisers, cable clips

• Cosplay props and accessories

• Prototypes and design mockups

• Educational models and school projects

Where PLA falls short:

• Heat sensitivity — softens at around 55–60°C, so don't leave prints in a hot car or near heaters

• Not waterproof — fine indoors, not for outdoor use

• Brittle under stress — will snap rather than flex if overloaded

Just Colours tip: We stock SA Filament Hyper PLA (locally made, great value) and Creality Hyper PLA for high-speed printing. SA Filament is a great starting point — quality South African made.

PETG sits between PLA and ABS in difficulty — noticeably more capable than PLA, but without the headaches ABS brings. When PLA isn't strong enough, PETG is your next material.

What PETG is great for:

• Functional parts — hinges, clips, brackets, enclosures

• Water-resistant containers and outdoor items

• Mechanical components that take some stress

• Car interior parts — handles heat up to 75–85°C, well above PLA's 55–60°C limit

• Parts that need to be slightly flexible without snapping

Where PETG falls short:

• Hygroscopic — absorbs moisture from the air. Important for Garden Route makers: in coastal or humid climates like George, an open PETG spool can absorb enough moisture within hours to cause stringing and weak layers. Store in an airtight container with silica gel and dry at 65°C for 6–7 hours before critical prints. We stock filament dryers in-store.

• Strings more than PLA — usually resolved by drying the filament and correct retraction settings

• Needs slightly slower print speeds than Hyper PLA for best results

Print settings tip: PETG prints best between 230–250°C nozzle temperature and 70–85°C bed temperature. If you're seeing stringing despite good settings, a wet spool is usually the culprit — dry it first before changing anything else.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is what LEGO bricks are made from — tough, heat-resistant up to 85–95°C, and impact-resistant. But it's the most demanding of the three to print: it warps, releases fumes, and needs an enclosed printer.

What ABS is great for:

• High-heat environments — near engines, appliances, outdoor sun

• Parts that need machining, drilling or tapping after printing

• Acetone smoothing for mirror-smooth finishes

• Engineering prototypes requiring rigidity

Where ABS falls short:

• Warps badly without a heated enclosure

• Releases fumes — always print in a ventilated space

• Much harder to dial in than PLA or PETG

ABS warning: ABS fumes contain styrene, a mild irritant. Always print in a well-ventilated space. If you're unsure, PLA or PETG will handle most jobs safely.

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is the filament you reach for when a part needs to bend, flex or absorb impact without cracking. Phone cases, RC car tyres, gaskets, watch straps, grip handles — if it needs to squish or bounce back, TPU is the answer.

Understanding Shore Hardness — What Does 90A and 95A Mean?

The Shore A hardness rating measures resistance to indentation — a rubber firmness scale. Lower number = softer and more flexible.

• 85A — feels like a shoe insole. Very squishy. Hard to print, direct-drive only, very slow speeds.

• 90A — feels like a firm rubber grip or soft car tyre. Excellent shock absorption. Best on direct-drive setups.

• 95A — feels like a shopping cart wheel. Firm but still bends. Easiest TPU to print — works on most setups. This is what Creality CR-TPU is rated at (confirmed 95A).

Tensile strength explained: Creality CR-TPU (95A) delivers ~44–55 MPa tensile strength with over 600% elongation at break — it can stretch 6× its length before failing. Both 95A and 90A are more than strong enough for everyday prints.

Which to choose:

• Start with 95A — most forgiving, widest machine compatibility.

• Choose 90A for softer grip surfaces, vibration dampers and parts that compress under load.

TPU tip: Like PETG, TPU is hygroscopic — store sealed with desiccant and dry at 65–70°C for 4–6 hours before printing, especially in coastal climates like George. Use direct-drive, print at 20–35mm/s, keep retraction near zero.

South African conditions — particularly along the coastal Garden Route — make filament storage more important than most online guides suggest. George sits at roughly 60–80% relative humidity in summer. PETG, TPU and Nylon absorb moisture faster than PLA, causing stringing, surface bubbles and weak layer adhesion. Store spools in airtight containers with silica gel desiccant and reseal immediately after use. Dry wet filament before printing: PLA at 45–50°C for 4–6 hours, PETG at 65°C for 6–8 hours, TPU at 65°C for 4–6 hours. A dedicated filament dryer is the most reliable solution — we stock them at Just Colours in George. If prints are stringing or snapping despite correct settings, a damp spool is almost always the cause. Browse our filament range here

At Just Colours in George we stock a full range of filaments — PLA, PETG, ABS, Hyper PLA, Silk, Matte, Glow-in-the-dark, Rainbow and TPU — from Creality, SA Filament and eSun. Buy in-store and start printing the same day, or order online for nationwide delivery.

Standard shipping from R99, free over R1,500. Most orders 3–5 business days. Call us on 044 873 2899 or email info@justcolours.co.za.