Bucket Desiccant Standoff

thingiverse

I keep my filament dry by storing it in 5-gallon buckets. I used to use small containers for desiccant, but they weren't sufficient for the amount of filament I had. Every couple weeks, I'd have to dry it out again. So, I needed a solution and poured about 10mm of desiccant into the bottom of each bucket. This approach is working well for keeping things dry, but if I ever need to access the spool at the bottom, I'll have to remove the embedded desiccant from it. To make that process easier, I created a device that lifts the bottom spool 15mm above the desiccant and keeps it out of harm's way - it's 195mm in diameter. I use standard 5-gallon buckets available at home improvement stores. For lids, I opt for screw-on designs like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Gamma2-4123-Gamma-Seal-Lid/dp/B0089QJQTS/ref=pd_yo_rr_bia_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=772EGX9Y79P7NSW75B83. I've mounted a hygrometer/thermometer, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E4WGCBA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1, to the lid so I can monitor humidity levels and know when it's time to recharge the desiccant.