Top 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started 3D Printing

Starting 3D printing is exciting... until your first spaghetti monster (failed print) happens. 😂 Whether you're thinking about diving into 3D printing or you’ve just started, here are the top five things I wish someone had told me earlier. 

1. Not All Filaments Are Created Equal

PLA, ABS, PETG... oh my! Each type acts differently. Some are easy-going, some are drama queens. Knowing the right filament for your project can save a ton of frustration. 

2. Your First Prints Will Probably Fail — And That’s Okay

Layer shifting, warping, blobs — welcome to the club! 🎉 3D printing is as much about learning how to fix mistakes as it is about making cool stuff. 

3. Bed Leveling Is Basically a Sacred Ritual

If your bed isn’t level, your print will be trash. Period. Learning to manually level (or getting a good auto-leveling system) is a huge game-changer. 

4. Patience Is Half the Battle

3D printing is not fast. A simple keychain can take an hour... a big project can take days. It’s slow magic — but totally worth it. 

5. Tinkering and Tweaking Never Really Ends

Think you’ll set it up once and be done? Nope. 3D printers are like needy pets — regular maintenance, fine-tuning, and upgrades are part of the lifestyle.  Conclusion: 3D printing is a wild ride full of challenges, creativity, and victories (big and small). If you embrace the learning curve, it opens up a world where your ideas can literally come to life. 🛠️✨ Stick with it — future you (surrounded by cool prints) will thank you!