Wood filament: how it is made and why it prints badly

What wood filament is

It is PLA with a share of wood fibres, usually around 20 to 40 percent. You get a matte brown surface that looks good and can be sanded or stained like wood. In principle it is a material similar to the wood-plastic composite used for garden decking.

Some filaments change shade with temperature, so when the temperature changes, darker stripes like growth rings appear.

Why it prints badly

• At higher temperatures the wood particles burn and clog the nozzle. You need a larger nozzle (0.6 mm or more).
• The print often smells of burnt wood.
• The filament is brittle and snaps in the feed.
• Fine detail is lost on the rough surface.

A wood look and our range

We do not print wood filament. We offer PLA (€8 per kg) and PETG (€9 per kg), which is only the material share of the price. Brown colours are available, but you will not get a wood grain on the surface.

If you want a wood look, print the part in brown and paint or varnish it at home, see painting. That is a separate step after printing, and we do not offer it. You can also hint at a wood texture with fuzzy skin, a slicer setting that makes the surface finely grainy. We do not promise to print wood filament, but you can write to jakub.novak@boostello.com.

What to do instead

The best result comes from dark brown PLA, light sanding and wood stain. A matte coat covers the layers and gives the surface a wooden character. For decorations such as signs or ornaments, that is enough. If you want real wood, go for CNC milling instead.

You will see the price and delivery date for a part in PLA or PETG in the calculator right after uploading a model, based on the real print preparation.