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Wood filament

PLA with real wood fibre: prints that look, feel and smell like wood.

With wood filament you print objects that look like real wood. Fiberlogy FiberWood is PLA with real wood fibre: you smell the wood while printing and you can sand and stain the prints just like ordinary wood. It prints almost as easily as standard PLA and comes in six shades, from natural to black. Below the products you can read how to get the best result. Read more…

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What is wood filament?

Wood filament is PLA with fine wood fibres added. The plastic makes it easy to print; the wood fibre gives the print the colour, matte texture and smell of real wood. The result feels warmer and more natural than ordinary PLA, and you can finish it like wood: sanding, staining, varnishing or oiling.

3D printing with wood: the right settings

  • Nozzle: 190–210 °C. A slightly higher temperature often makes the colour a little darker, a lower one lighter.
  • Print bed: 50–70 °C.
  • Nozzle diameter: use at least 0.5 mm. The wood fibres can clog a smaller nozzle.
  • Speed and cooling: as with PLA, with the fan at or close to 100%.
  • After printing: do not leave the filament hot in the nozzle for long. Burnt wood fibre can clog the nozzle; during a pause it is better to lower the temperature.

Something going wrong? Our article on solving 3D printing problems covers the most common problems and how to fix them.

Finishing: sanding, staining and varnishing

You can treat a FiberWood print like a wooden object. Start with coarse sandpaper (grit 120–180) and finish with finer paper (240–400). Then stain, oil or varnish it; stain soaks in best on a sanded surface. You will find more examples and tips in our article on printing wood with FiberWood.

The pros and cons of wood filament at a glance

Pros

  • Looks and feels like real wood
  • Prints almost as easily as standard PLA
  • Can be sanded, stained, varnished and oiled
  • Matte texture on which layer lines show less
  • Six wood tones, from natural to black

Cons

  • More brittle than ordinary PLA, so less suited to parts under load
  • Needs a nozzle of at least 0.5 mm
  • Less suited to very fine detail
  • Like PLA, not resistant to high temperatures

Uses of wood filament

  • Home: vases, bowls, coasters, photo frames and lamps.
  • Model making: buildings, scale furniture and landscapes.
  • Gifts: key rings, name plates, jewellery and boxes.
  • Art and decoration: figurines and objects that resemble woodcarving.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is wood filament real wood?

    Not entirely. It is PLA with fine wood fibres in it. That makes it look, feel and smell like wood, but it prints like a plastic. So it is not solid wood.

  • Which nozzle do I need for wood filament?

    Use a nozzle of at least 0.5 mm. With a smaller nozzle the wood fibres can get stuck and clog it. A hardened nozzle is not needed.

  • Can I sand and stain a wooden print?

    Yes. Sand first with grit 120–180 and finish with 240–400. Then you can stain, oil or varnish it as with real wood. Our article on FiberWood shows examples.

  • How strong is wood filament?

    Less strong than ordinary PLA: the wood fibre makes it a little more brittle. It is ideal for decoration, models and gifts, but for parts under load, standard PLA or PETG is a better choice.

  • Does wood filament smell while printing?

    Yes, a little. You smell a light scent of wood, as in a woodworking shop or with fresh sawdust. The smell fades after printing. As with any filament, a well-ventilated room is sensible.