3D Printing in George: Getting Started with Creality in South Africa
Just Colours Team
PLA vs PETG vs ABS — Which Filament Should You Use?
You've got your 3D printer set up and you're ready to print — then you open the filament options and see PLA, PETG, ABS, Hyper PLA, Silk, TPU... and your head starts spinning. Don't worry. For most home printing, the choice comes down to three materials. Here's the plain-language breakdown of each one, when to use it, and which to pick up first.
TPU — The Flexible Filament Explained
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is for parts that need to bend, flex or absorb impact — phone cases, RC car tyres, gaskets, watch straps, vibration dampers. Shore hardness: 95A (firmest, feels like shopping cart wheel, easiest to print — works on most setups), 90A (firm rubber grip, best on direct-drive), 85A (very squishy, direct-drive only, very slow). Creality CR-TPU is confirmed 95A. Like PETG, it's hygroscopic — dry before printing. Use direct-drive, 20-35mm/s, near-zero retraction.
ABS — The Old-School Workhorse
ABS is what LEGO bricks are made from — tough, heat-resistant up to 85-95°C, and impact-resistant. Best for high-heat environments, parts needing drilling or tapping, and engineering prototypes. Downside: warps badly without a heated enclosure, and releases styrene fumes — always print in a well-ventilated space. Bonus: ABS can be smoothed to a mirror finish using acetone vapour. Recommended for experienced users with enclosed printers.
PETG — The Tough All-Rounder
PETG sits between PLA and ABS — noticeably more capable than PLA, without ABS headaches. Great for functional parts, water-resistant containers, car interior parts, and anything that needs to handle heat up to 75-85°C. Important for Garden Route makers: PETG is hygroscopic — in humid coastal climates like George, an open spool can absorb moisture within hours, causing stringing and weak layers. Store sealed with silica gel and dry at 65°C for 6-7 hours before critical prints. Print settings: 230-250°C nozzle, 70-85°C bed. We stock filament dryers in-store.
PLA — The Beginner's Best Friend
Complete beginner? Start with PLA — easiest to print, most forgiving, great results out of the box. Need something stronger or waterproof? Move to PETG — tougher than PLA, still fairly easy to print. Printing functional parts or engineering prototypes? Then look at ABS — but know you're taking on extra complexity. Not sure? Pop into our George store and we'll help you choose based on what you're trying to make.
Quick Answer — Which Filament Should You Start With?
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