Finishing
What filament is best for vase mode?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle220–250 °C(428–482 °F)
- Bed70–90 °C(158–194 °F)
- Speed50–100 mm/s
- Dry65 °C · 6 h(149 °F)
- Density1.25 g/cm³
Heat resistance: HDT 78 °C (172 °F) (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) · Vicat 84 °C (183 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 81 °C (178 °F) · source →
Heat resistance: HDT 75 °C (167 °F) (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa) · Vicat 84 °C (183 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 81 °C (178 °F) · source →
Speed, Drying. Source: Polymaker TDS · Last checked 18 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polymaker · Polylite PETG | PETG | 220–250 °C428–482 °F | 70–90 °C158–194 °F | Datasheet | |
Open Filament Database, dataset imported 13 October 2026, lists a nozzle of 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F). The technical data sheet, drying checked 18 October 2026, lists drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h. No safety certification is listed. A score-54 comment says PETG trouble is moisture. That is not a watertight test. | ||||||
| 2 | Bambu Lab · PLA Basic | PLA | 190–230 °C374–446 °F | 35–45 °C95–113 °F | Datasheet | |
Technical data sheet checked 14 October 2026 lists a nozzle of 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 35–45 °C (95–113 °F), and blast-oven drying at 50 °C (122 °F) for 8 h. No safety certification is listed. Those titles are not a finish test. | ||||||
| 3 | ELEGOO · PLA Basic | PLA | 190–230 °C374–446 °F | 35–65 °C95–149 °F | — | |
US 10 kg page checked 14 October 2026 lists a nozzle of 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 35–65 °C (95–149 °F), and drying at 50 °C (122 °F) for 8 h. The page states 50 ± 5 °C (122 ± 9 °F). No safety certification is listed. This row is a second PLA window, not a vase-mode winner. | ||||||
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Vase mode is one continuous outer wall. It prints fast and uses less plastic because the slicer drops infill and extra perimeters. That is a toolpath. It is not a reason to call one polymer best. Smooth surface is layer height, flow, and ironing. Lamps and lithophanes is the clear-part page. Waterproof prints is the leak page, and it already says a single-wall vase will not hold water. Drying PETG is the moisture page the score-54 comment is pointing at.
Temperatures, not a vase ranking
PolyLite PETG lists 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F) in the Open Filament Database, dataset imported 13 October 2026. The technical data sheet, drying checked 18 October 2026, lists drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h. Bambu PLA Basic lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 35–45 °C (95–113 °F), and blast-oven drying at 50 °C (122 °F) for 8 h, sheet checked 14 October 2026. ELEGOO PLA Basic lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 35–65 °C (95–149 °F), and drying at 50 °C (122 °F) for 8 h on the US 10 kg page checked the same day. The page states 50 ± 5 °C (122 ± 9 °F). No safety certification is listed. The order is the material the moisture comment names, then two PLA rows whose titles show up. It is not a ranking.
What the community says
a Reddit thread in r/functionalprint likes vase-mode design.
a Reddit thread in r/FixMyPrint says it is PETG and it is always moisture.
a Reddit thread in r/FixMyPrint: A comment says that spool had too many bubbles.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The answer stays on the toolpath and on the one material comment, which is moisture.
- Print temperatures are the catalog rows, with the date on each source.
Cons
- No sheet here publishes a vase-mode setting or a leak rating.
- The organizer thread is a design compliment and a Printables link. It does not name a plastic.
Printer considerations
- A single-wall vase will not hold water because the wall is one line. Watertight prints are a walls-and-flow question.
- The score-54 comment says to dry PETG. PolyLite PETG's stored drying figure is 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h. A cheap-dryer recommendation in that comment is not a temperature.
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
- Open Filament Database, Polymaker PolyLite PETG other
- Polymaker PolyLite PETG technical data sheet datasheet
- Bambu PLA Basic technical data sheet datasheet
- ELEGOO PLA Basic product page manufacturer
- a Reddit thread in r/functionalprint reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/FixMyPrint reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/ender3 reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/FixMyPrint reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
Related questions
- How long and at what temp should I dry PETG?Drying
- What filament is waterproof?Watertight
- How do I get a smooth surface finish?Finishing
- What filament works best for lamps and lithophanes?Clear
Related data
- Cheapest filament per kg
- Cheapest PLA per kg
- Will my dryer cover this filament?
- Drying dataset
- How long to dry PETG
- PETG drying temperature and time
- PLA drying temperature and time
Questions
Should I print a vase-mode part in PETG so it holds water?
These comments do not show that. Waterproof prints is the leak page, and it says a single-wall vase will not hold water. Smooth surface and lamps are the finish pages. PolyLite PETG's stored drying figure, checked 18 October 2026, is 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h.
Why did a transparent PETG vase-mode print get dots or bubbles?
The supplied comment on r/FixMyPrint says PETG trouble is moisture. A comment says that spool had too many bubbles. Drying PETG is the time-and-temperature page.