When discussing 3D printing filaments, PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) is probably one of the first options that comes to mind. We’ve already compared PETG to ABS and PLA and broken down the differences. To summarize, PETG is most known for its high impact strength, lack of odor when printing, and heat, moisture, and chemical resistance.
The food safety of PETG has also been subject to debate as only certain brands are food-safe, and there is a potential risk of contamination during the printing process. Depending on your setup and filament, a few 3D printed kitchen tools may be in your future, too.
Due to PETG’s versatility, it’s suitable for almost any application and its print settings shouldn’t be that challenging to nail. In this article, you’ll get to see some free, creative, and useful designs that take advantage of those features.
However, if you don’t have a 3D printer or don’t want to buy PETG just to make one part or two, consider using a printing service through Craftcloud. With plenty of manufacturers and options all over the world, you’ll have your PETG parts delivered to your doorstep in no time.
Kitchen
PETG is capable of producing some useful prints to have around the house, especially in areas like the kitchen.
Jar Opener
Opening a jar of pickles can sometimes seem like a Herculean task, and for these times, you’ll probably wish you had one of these. This jar opener features three separate grips to accommodate nearly any jar size. The flexibility of PETG allows the openers to bend slightly but stay strong, allowing you to open even the most stubborn jars.
This design is made with two separate pieces, one PETG and the other TPU. The inner TPU section provides more grip as well as the flexibility to conform to the contours of the jar lid.
The designer recommends at least 2 mm wall thickness with 35% infill for the PETG part and at least 1.6 mm wall thickness for the TPU part. They also provided a single-piece version of the model for those without the ability to print TPU.
- Who designed it? thinngimaker
- How printable/popular is it? This design has over 4,000 downloads and 12 makes so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Multi-Purpose Jar Dispenser
This multi-purpose jar dispenser is a great kitchen tool for storing your daily nutrients, including your favorite cereals, coffee beans, pasta, and more. The dispenser is composed of three components: the valve, the body with threads to screw in a jar, and a bracket with two 5-mm holes for wall attachment.
Although the designer printed this with PLA filament, he mentioned that it’s possible to print with PETG as well. Since PETG features higher strength and durability than PLA, it can help avoid cracks or breakage. Food-safe filaments are available for PETG, so be sure to check them out if you’re planning to print this for your kitchen goodies.
You won’t need any rafts or supports to 3D print this kitchen tool. What you will need, though, is the right jar. The current design fits standard-sized 77-mm diameter containers. Some successfully tested jars have been repurposed from brands, including Bonne Maman and Doritos.
- Who designed it? Barbe_Iturique
- How printable/popular is it? This design has hit 5,200 downloads and 4 shared prints. Yours could be next!
- Where to find it? Cults
Kitchen Sponge Holder
A dry sponge is a happy sponge, and a safer sponge, too! Keeping your dishwashing sponge dry prevents bacterial growth, which is the last thing you want touching the dishes you’re trying to clean. An easy solution is a sponge holder with a drip tray to allow your sponge to drip-dry between uses.
Using PETG makes a lot of sense here, mostly for ease of cleaning, but also because of PETG’s resistance to moisture, which this print will be constantly exposed to. The two part design of the holder allows it to be disassembled for cleaning, and the drain spout at the bottom is a nice touch.
- Who designed it? cmerkle
- How printable/popular is it? This is a hidden gem, with over 1,000 downloads and 12 makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Lemon Squeezer
Do you want a nice cold lemonade in the summer or need some fresh lemon juice for a hot tea to cure that sore throat? 3D print this simple and very useful object to make the setup easier, whatever you might need it for!
This particular model was specifically designed to fit on the Ikea Pokal glass, although the maker states that it should work with other glasses as well.
This lemon squeezer is easy to print and requires no supports; PETG is best as the object will come into contact with food – acidic in this case. In any case, remember that it must always be thoroughly washed to remove all residue!
- Who designed it? Deeeeelson
- How printable/popular is it? This object has 3 makes and has been downloaded over 3,000 times.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Pasta Press
Eating pastries is delicious, but preparing them can be a bit of work. PETG is one of the safest 3D printing materials for food contact applications, making it a great choice for printing these handy kitchen gadgets!
These pasta presses can be used to fill your homemade pasta with a delicious filling, or you can print them scaled up and make pastries. This tool not only makes the task easier and faster, but you’ll also have fun in the process!
In the printing recommendations, it’s recommended to increase the infill density of the hinges to make them more durable. Several reviews have reported that using a piece of filament as an axle works great.
- Who designed it? mmOne
- How popular/printable is it? This snack machine has over 12,000 views, around 3,000 downloads, and 40 makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Stay Fresh Bag Clip
If you appreciate good coffee, you know that sealing the beans is critical to maintaining the flavor and aroma. With this unique clip, you will get rid of those jars that need to be washed and cleaned while protecting your coffee from oxygen and ambient humidity.
Making this part in PETG will ensure the hinge is durable yet flexible. In the printing recommendations, 15% infill, three perimeter layers, and a layer thickness between 0.1 and 0.2 mm are recommended.
- Who designed it? Jerry
- How popular/printable is it? This amazing clip has around 2,000 downloads and 46 makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Rotary Egg Dispenser
You can use this egg dispenser to store up to 12 XL eggs and up to 14 in smaller sizes. The creative design has a width of only 7 cm and can bring huge space savings to your fridge. Use PETG for this print to retain some flexibility and strength even in the cold temperatures of your kitchen fridge. No need to deal with those cumbersome cartons anymore. Egg omelet: Optimized!
You will need supports to print this, but a raft is not necessary and the infill is 10%. The designer has also added an optional anti-fall stop to the model to avoid any potential runaway eggs.
- Who designed it? ljhtom
- How printable/popular is it? This eggsellent design has 70 makes and several remixes between both sites. Now that’s a lot of eggs!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Paper Towel Holder
Sometimes, the most mundane objects end up being the most useful. This simple paper towel holder is perfect for the kitchen or, anticipating the next category, any workspace – it can be mounted upright or under surfaces.
To replace rolls, at least one of the arms needs to flex, which is where PETG comes in handy. Its ability to flex and return to the original shape makes it the preferred filament for this design. The hexagonal design also helps ensure the holder is lightweight and visually appealing.
- Who designed it? Lukes3D
- How printable/popular is it? With around 340 shared prints and over 16,000 downloads from all sites, this design is clearly printable and useful.
- Where to find it? Printables, Cults
Chip Bag Clip
PETG’s ductility and high impact strength make it ideal for compliant mechanisms, which can bend under stress but return to their original form. In a way, the part acts as its own spring without needing any metal components to maintain its shape.
The chip bag clip is a great example of a simple compliant mechanism. Its design allows the user to squeeze the wide end to open the clip and close it when released. Like a regular plastic clip with a metal spring, this is useful for any bag that needs to be closed, but not sealed.
When it comes to printing, the designer used 100% infill. Neither supports nor rafts were used, which means that post-processing should be a breeze. However, given the shape of the clip itself, it may be worth watching out for stringing.
- Who designed it? srwilson58
- How printable/popular is it? Over 150,000 downloads and just over 200 makes show that this design is one of the most popular compliant mechanisms.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Shoulder & Hand Bag Support
This handy device (pun intended) is designed to help you carry multiple bags in one hand with ease. If you’re the type of person that tries to carry all of your grocery bags into the house in one trip, this gadget is for you!
PETG helps the handle stay strong yet compliant under heavy loads. It also features a TPU section for added grip and comfort. The designer notes that the handle could even be worn over the shoulder to further maximize your carrying capacity.
There is some assembly required to fit the two parts together, and it’s suggested to use double-sided tape to join the TPU grip to the handle. The designer also suggests printing the PETG handle with 5 perimeters and 45% gyroid infill for multi-directional strength.
- Who designed it? Igoravg98
- How printable/popular is it? This design only has 3 makes and around 200 downloads so far. If you make it yourself, show the designer some love and post your make!
- Where to find it? Printables
Foldable Couch Tray
Okay, you’re unlikely to have a sofa in the kitchen, but it’s near enough. And this is a versatile device that can come in handy if you’re cooking…
Isn’t it nice to sit on the sofa, snacking or drinking something while watching a good film? We think so, but there’s always the risk of spilling things and ruining the good times, which is where this object comes into play. It’s also very convenient and easy to store, so you don’t have to worry about it taking up space.
Printed in PETG, it can withstand hot drinks that might cause problems with PLA in case you’re in the mood for some tea or coffee. The designer suggests it can also be used to roll up sushi – although you’ll want to check out a few food safety considerations in that case.
As for the printing, the author recommends a layer height of 0.2 mm and a 25% infill of the gyroid type – nothing that any normal printer shouldn’t be able to handle.
- Who designed it? AJRaven
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded more than 5,000 times and a make has been shared so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Workspaces
From pliers to Raspberry Pi enclosures, different workspaces have different needs, and PETG is here to assist!
Filament Clip
Once our beautiful 3D prints are finished, what do we do? Well, in most cases we remove the filament from the extruder, rewind the spool, and put the loose filament on one of the holes in the spool. However, this can stretch a bit the filament or twist the tip, almost always forcing us to throw away the excess that has bent.
Well, with this clip everything is solved: It’s a very simple object that prints in a single piece, without supports, and printed in PETG, it will be more durable and will also give the piece a certain elasticity, which is perfect given the type of object!
Mountable Vise
While crafting, sometimes you just need a third hand to hold one piece so your other hands can work freely. If metal tools are too rough, potentially damaging your object, 3D printing a vise using PETG can be a great solution. With this vise design, you can choose insets that offer two, three, or four jaws.
PETG, being a tough material, is a perfect choice to prevent moving parts from breaking. While the design states that you may use PLA for most of the parts, the screws must be printed with PETG for durability. To help you assemble this set, the maker designed an alignment tool for the screws. It was also noted that lubricating the moving parts with a bit of oil will help everything glide smoothly.
- Who designed it? Sneaks
- How popular/printable is it? With over 35,000 downloads and 356 makes, you can definitely tackle this project yourself.
- Where to find it? Printables
PTFE Cutting Tool
Whether for a Bowden extruder, multi-material system, or filament dryer, the most common and clean way to handle routing filament from one place to another is through PTFE tubing. If you’ve ever tried to cut a round tube with a straight blade, you know how difficult it is to make a clean, straight cut freehand, so a guide like this is very handy to have around.
There are many tools available for cutting PTFE tubing, but this tool features a couple of angled slots that allow for cutting the tubing at 45° and 60° as well as 90°. This allows for a tighter fit against the inside of some heatbreaks, leading to a smoother filament pathway.
- Who designed it? pekcitron
- How printable/popular is it? This design has over 13,000 downloads, 4 makes, and 6 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Self-Opening Pliers
Another compliant mechanism makes our list in the form of a very familiar tool. These self-opening pliers have integrated springs at the joint that allow the tips to close when the handle is squeezed, and then open when released.
Made entirely from PETG, they’re ideal for lightweight applications that still require a narrow, tight grip. There are four styles of pliers available and each consists of a two-part assembly. Although the designer also mentions PLA as an acceptable filament for printing, some makers have reported that their pliers snap in PLA, but succeed with PETG.
- Who designed it? ShawnGano
- How printable/popular is it? Many users have commented on how easy the design is to print and assemble, and it shows with over 31,000 downloads and 44 shared prints, and counting!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, Cults
Blade Scraper, Saw Handle, Wire Stripper
All makers need scrapers, saws, and wire strippers in their workshops, as they’re useful for many applications, such as cleaning tables from residues and getting wiring ready for projects.
While you can buy some of these, isn’t it even better if you 3D print them?
These useful objects can be printed with PETG, which will make them durable and very resistant during use. The author recommends not using bottom infill so as to preserve the stylish honeycomb texture. The models are easy to print, as they have a nice flat surface, although it’s worth noting you just need a bit of support for the M3 nut seat, which will be used to attach the blades to the tools.
- Who designed it? JanStech
- How printable/popular is it? While there are 3 different tools that can be printed, most of the 17 makes that have been shared are of the scraper.
- Where to find it? Printables
Reusable Zip Tie
Whether you call them zip ties, zip straps, or cable ties, one thing we can all agree on is that we can never have too many of these things. This design prints without supports and very quickly, so if you find yourself without a cable tie you can have one in under 10 minutes.
PETG makes sense as a material choice, as it will hold on tight but allow just enough give for the ratcheting mechanism to work. There are other cable tie designs out there that are meant to use flexible filaments, but these specifically call for PETG. And one thing that you can’t get from flexibles is that satisfying click sound as you tighten up the strap.
- Who designed it? vinchlet
- How printable/popular is it? This design only has one make and one remix, but as long as you have your first layer dialed in it should be a breeze to print.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Carbon Fiber Clamp
A huge benefit of being a maker is the ability to produce the tools you need for yourself, rather than purchasing them. By printing this clamp from a PETG and carbon fiber composite, you’ll have a strong and long-lasting tool. Although, it’s possible to get good results with regular PETG, as the comments show.
The use of carbon fiber further increases PETG’s durability, and this clamp is perfect to put these properties to good use. This tool will leave nothing to be desired relative to off-the-shelf models. While there are no print recommendations, printing with 100% infill will maximize the part’s strength. Nice makes posted in the comments report success with a 0.4-mm nozzle.
- Who designed it? Prusament
- How popular/printable is it? With over 850 downloads and 29 makes, this clamp can help you too.
- Where to find it? Printables
Self-Watering Rectangular Planter
PETG is ideal for prints that hold or come in contact with water, so much so that water bottles are often made from it. And we benefit from having lovely plants in our workspaces, so why not print this?
Of course, you can also use it for herbs and add it to your kitchen, as some makers have.
This self-watering planter puts an interesting spin on PETG’s water-tightness by acting as both a planter and reservoir for small plants. It even comes with a floating water level indicator, so you’ll know exactly when your plant is getting thirsty.
- Who designed it? MikolasZuza
- How printable/popular is it? This planter checks all the boxes when it comes to balancing practicality with aesthetics, which is why it has amassed over 100,000 views, around 215 makes, and more than 23,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
Upcycled Desk Fan
This upcycled desk fan, dubbed the Prusavent, is a great fan to keep you cool in summer! Using PETG filament material, you can print it in 25 hours. With a weight of only 271 grams, you can easily carry it wherever you like. PETG is preferred due to its long-term durability and impact resistance that ensures this fan can keep you cool all summer long, even on the go.
In addition to the 10 STL files for this model, you will also need some additional materials such as an empty Prusament spool, DC PWM speed controller, DC jack, LED installation socket, as well as some nuts and bolts to bring it all together.
It may take some work, but in the end, you’ll have an awesome upcycled fan (with adjustable speed!) that you can proudly show off. Check out the accompanying YouTube video to see a completed fan in action.
- Who designed it? Maaarsl
- How printable/popular is it? This cooling fan has over 250 downloads, 2 makes, and a remix offering alternative sizes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Raspberry Pi 3 Enclosure
The heat resistance of PETG makes it useful for electronic enclosures. Paired with its ductility, you can have an enclosure that snap-fits together without screws, such as this Raspberry Pi 3 enclosure.
The design not only protects the onboard components of the Pi, but also prevents heat build-up from affecting its performance, as the Pi logo and various cutout vents throughout the case dissipate any excess heat. If you’re looking for a slightly different functionality than what this case can offer, we’ve already compiled a list of cool cases for Raspberry Pi and your Arduino boards, too!
- Who designed it? Malolo
- How printable/popular is it? From the different sites, this design has over 200 successful shared prints and 76 remixes, making it one of the most popular Raspberry Pi 3 cases available!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory, Cults, Printables, Thingiverse
Torque Wrench Handles
Swapping nozzles can sometimes be a challenge with a limited range of motion and lack of small tools. In this case, the strength and ductility of PETG are here to save the day once again with the torque wrench handles. A standard torque wrench consistently applies the same rotational force when the wrench is fastening a screw or nut.
For the printable torque wrench handles, the internal rotor contains fins that will trip when rotated with a certain force. This indicates that the threshold torque was applied. The design comes in four different torque values between 10 and 30 Newton-meters, perfect for non-permanent fastening needs. The designer recommends printing with 100% infill.
- Who designed it? A_R_B
- How printable/popular is it? With over 300 makes and 41,000 downloads across both sites, these torque wrenches have definitely been a hit among functional 3D printed tools!
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Outdoors
Ready to explore the great outdoors? Don’t forget any of these prints!
Small Watering Can
You could buy a small, useful watering can or 3D print your own. Which option do you think we went for at All3DP?
And this one is just right for us: beautiful, practical, and easily printable in PETG!
Printing it was a breeze, as the model doesn’t need supports and you can scale it as much as you need to (although the original size is a great fit for limited workspaces). The designer suggests opting for a slightly slower print speed – 40 mm/s – and recommends adding more bottom layers to ensure that there won’t be any accidental leaks.
And you can get playful with the dazzling PETG choices and opt between different colors and material translucencies to get something unique!
- Who designed it? shmeeed
- How printable/popular is it? We’re not the only ones with one of these in our offices – 82 makers have shared their takes, while the 3 designs have been downloaded 30,000 times, on average.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Awesome Bee Feeder
If you’re concerned about living organisms, both animal and plant, this bee feeder is a great sustainable ecosystem tool to help boost the bee population. It features a honeycomb-structured tray that is easy for bees to land on to take a sip of water. This is particularly important on warm summer days when they need to be constantly hydrated.
The advantage of using PETG filament is its relatively higher resistance to UV light to avoid potential degradation or deformation of the feeder, especially on bright summer days. When it comes to putting prints under sunlight, PETG will fare much better in the long run than ABS or PLA.
The bee feeder weighs only 225 grams and takes 20 hours to print. It’s recommended to print in an upside-down position for a nice finish, as makers have reported issues attempting otherwise. You just need a plastic water bottle filled with water to attach to the feeder after printing.
- Who designed it? NicG
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 78 makes posted by some caring bee lovers and there are 7 remixes available with slightly tweaked designs, depending on your needs.
- Where to find it? Printables
Bike Stand
This small and simple bike stand could be just what your messy garage needs. Place it on the wall of your garage to keep the bike stationary while doing maintenance or cleaning. Or use it as a dedicated parking station to avoid staining the wall with tire marks.
The two-part design enables you to use just the right filaments for the task. PETG should be used to print the outer shell to provide reinforcement that withstands the weight of the bike. The inner part should be printed with soft TPU to effectively grab the bicycle wheel.
This particular part is designed to fit a 2.25″ mountain bike tire, but there is also a thinner road bike version. No details on print settings were provided, but you’ll probably want to opt for high infill to make them strong.
- Who designed it? 3DPrintingWorld
- How popular/printable is it? With around 700 downloads, this support will make a difference on your wall.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Desk Bag Hook
Don’t feel like putting your bag on the floor or hanging it around your chair? Then this desk bag hook can hold it up for you! The simple yet useful design applies pressure to both the surface and undersides of the table to create a counteracting force that can support your bag. It’s also convenient because it can fit various table thicknesses.
If printed in PLA, the hook is at risk of cracking or snapping under a heavy load, but with PETG, the hook will bend before it breaks. Once you’re done, just slip the hook into your bag for the next time you’ll need it.
- Who designed it? PieSupplies
- How printable/popular is it? At over 220 shared prints between all sites, this well-designed hook surely gets the job done!
- Where to find it? Printables, Cults, MyMiniFactory, Thingiverse
Squeeze Fan
Unlike most squeeze fans which are like useless toys, the ruggedized squeeze fan actually generates sufficient wind to cool you down! This design will be most durable if printed with PETG. After all, the trigger and gears need to withstand repeated force and torque applied by your fingers to avoid cracks or breakage of the fan.
Printing this fan is a breeze (heh) and you won’t need any supports, though there are several components needed. The designer has also updated the files to make its blade 78% larger than the original one to give you even more of that cool breeze.
- Who designed it? GeorgeZSL
- How printable/popular is it? Judging by the over 200 makes posted between both sites and many positive comments, this cool fan can be reliably printed.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Rugged Waterproof Box
Whether it’s a rainy day or you’re headed to the beach, there’s always a possibility that your valuables can get wet. When printed in PETG, this rugged waterproof box will prove useful in these scenarios.
Kept closed with a silicone gasket and a snap-on cam latch, the box takes advantage of the moisture-resistant and ductile properties of PETG. A foam insert can also further protect the box’s contents when dropped. The design is also customizable to create different shapes and sizes, so the sky’s the limit!
- Who designed it? zx82net
- How printable/popular is it? Although this is the second iteration of the popular original design, this version has developed quite a following with over 20 makes posted.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Proteus Key Holder
First things first: always check that you’ve got your keys, wallet, and cell phone before closing the door behind you.
If you have too many keys or find yourself struggling to find the correct one, this key holder can organize them for you. This Swiss army-style key holder has a PETG outer shell that keeps all your keys in one place. It will also prevent that ominous key jingling noise when you walk.
When fully folded, the holder serves the double purpose of protecting other belongings from getting scratched by your keys. To take full advantage of PETG’s durability, an infill of 50% and up is recommended.
- Who designed it? ProteanMan
- How printable/popular is it? Popular due to its highly functional yet novelty design, this model has over 120 shared prints from all sites.
- Where to find it? Cults, MyMiniFactory, Thingiverse
Prusa PRO Face Shield
The Prusa PRO Face Shield was designed in just three days by the Prusa Research team during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The team consciously made the design open source to reach as many people as possible. Their filament of choice? You guessed it!
PETG was highly recommended due to its chemical resistance, especially when the face shields need to be disinfected in high-risk environments such as medical facilities. Since the pandemic, designs such as this have helped thousands of essential workers and demonstrated how 3D printing can bring about positive change in the world.
This design is the successor to the already extremely popular Prusa Face Shield RC3. However, this version meets the official EN 166:2001 standard for personal eye protection. Not only is it a straightforward print, but there’s also an official instructional assembly video.
- Who designed it? Prusa3D
- How printable/popular is it? This certified face shield design has over 37,000 views, 6 makes, and almost 10,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
License: The text of "The 30 Most Useful Things to 3D Print in PETG" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.