Best PLA for 3D Printing

Build PLA from MatterHackers is great for projects that require finishing (sanding, painting and so on). I have about 12 rolls of it in my workshop and use it for large projects, including my Mandalorian armor or cosplay swords. The dimensional accuracy -- how consistent the diameter is along the length of the roll -- is good, but it's nothing mind-blowing. It's well within the sweet zone.

Post-processing is where Build Series PLA shines. It's easy to sand and holds paint well if you use a good primer and filler first. Like all PLA, it holds together well using superglue or 3DGloop, and takes putty and Bondo without complaint. 

Glow in the dark filament can often be hit and miss as sometimes the glow is weak. This Inland PLA is bright and easy to work with when charged in standard daylight. Just make sure you run it at the highest temperature if you're using a fast 3D printer.

A word of warning though: glow-in-the-dark filament is abrasive and can damage your nozzle if you aren't careful. Try to use a hardened nozzle to keep from ruining them.

There aren't a lot of filaments that blow my mind as much as iron PLA from Protopasta. Because of iron dust infused into the PLA, once it's printed, you can use a solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to make it rusty. It's such a unique way to change the way the standard material looks without painting it. It's a little expensive, but well worth it once you have the exact model you want. Test prints in normal PLA first so you don't waste this pricey material.

Iron infused is another filament best printed with a hardened nozzle as it can be quite abrasive.

Burnt Titanium PLA is the only filament I have on a subscription from Amazon. I get a fresh new roll every month. The mix of purple, blue, black and silver flecks makes layer lines vanish and gives one of the nicest finishes you can get on a 3D print that you haven't sanded and painted yourself.

With the advent of fast 3D printers a new type of PLA was needed. High-speed PLA has a lower viscosity than standard PLA and can be printed at higher temperatures with print speeds up to 600mm/s. I was hesitant at first to believe it, but when printing bulk models, or models that are going to be painted or otherwise post-processed this stuff works wonders.

PolyTerra is my go-to budget option when I'm looking for a matte material with beautiful colors. The matte finish makes the PLA look almost pastel and it's stunning when printed. It's also super cheap, so can be used for most applications including sanding and painting.

If you own a Bambu Lab AMS system this might not be the best material though as the cardboard reels can damage the internals.

Flexible PLA is a little easier to print with than TPU, the standard for flexible filaments, but has many of the same properties. Ataraxia Art is the best flexible PLA I've used and seems to produce the nicest results. It's perfect for adding flex to your cosplay pieces. I made a helmet for my daughter so she could use it without worry.

Be warned though: It takes a lot of dialing in to get it to print perfectly and you need to keep it dry if you want to avoid stringy prints. If you don't mind spending a little bit of time with it, you can accomplish wonders.

Cookiecad makes some of my favorite filaments. The dimensional accuracy is great and the wife-husband team is always inventive with their color choices. The mint chip I've chosen here reminds me so much of the ice cream that it makes me nostalgic for home and walking along the beach with my mum.

There are cheaper filaments out there, but there are few that capture a feeling with the colors quite like Cookiecad does.