Printer
FDM 3D printer
For a first machine, look for auto bed levelling, a direct-drive extruder and a removable spring-steel plate. Those three features remove most beginner frustration.
Build volume ≈ 220 × 220 × 250 mm
View on AmazonCustom 3D printing · Alberta, Canada
Printing your 3D vision come to life.
Quick Silver Deliveries turns your ideas, sketches and STL files into real parts, gifts and replacements. This site also shares the printers, filament and tools I use, so you can set up your own workshop.
current_job.gcodePLA
; layer height 0.20 mm
; nozzle 0.4 mm
M104 S210 ; hot end 210 °C
M140 S60 ; bed 60 °C
G28 ; home all axes
G1 Z0.2 F3000 ; first layer
; infill 15% gyroid · walls 3
Layer height0.08–0.28 mm
MaterialsPLA · PETG · TPU
Filament1.75 mm
Based inAlberta, CA
Workshop gear
What's on my bench
The equipment and supplies behind every Quick Silver print. Links go to Amazon.ca. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Filament
PLA filament
The everyday material for décor, gifts, prototypes and figurines. Easy to print, low odour, and available in dozens of colours, including silver.
1.75 mm · 1 kg spool · ±0.02 mm
View on AmazonFilament
PETG filament
Tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA. My choice for functional parts, brackets, and anything that lives in a hot car or outdoors.
1.75 mm · 1 kg spool · 230–250 °C
View on AmazonBuild surface
Textured PEI sheet
Parts stick while hot and pop off once the plate cools. Flex the sheet and the print releases without scrapers or glue.
Match your bed size, e.g. 235 × 235 mm
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Filament dryer
Filament absorbs moisture from the air, which causes stringing and weak, bubbly prints. A dryer box fixes it and keeps spools ready.
PLA 45–50 °C · PETG 65 °C · 4–6 h
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Finishing tool kit
Flush cutters, a deburring tool and digital calipers cover cleanup and measuring. Calipers matter most when a part has to fit something real.
Calipers: 0–150 mm, 0.01 mm resolution
View on AmazonReference
Filament guide
Starting temperatures for common materials. Every brand varies, so check the spool label and print a temperature tower to dial yours in.
| Material | Hot end | Bed | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190–220 °C | 50–60 °C | Décor, gifts, prototypes, figurines | Softens around 55–60 °C, so not for hot cars |
| PETG | 230–250 °C | 70–85 °C | Functional parts, outdoor use, containers | Stringing, and sticks too hard to smooth PEI |
| TPU | 210–230 °C | 30–60 °C | Phone cases, gaskets, bumpers | Print slowly; works best with direct drive |
| ABS / ASA | 230–260 °C | 95–110 °C | Heat-resistant and UV-resistant parts | Needs an enclosure and ventilation for fumes |
Print notes
Lessons from the workshop
Troubleshooting
Most failed prints start at the first layer
If the first layer is too high, lines sit on the bed as round strands and peel off. Too low, and the nozzle scrapes and the surface looks rippled. Aim for lines that are slightly flattened and touch each other. Clean the plate with isopropyl alcohol, re-level, and print a single-layer test square before a long job.
Materials
PLA or PETG for parts that live outside?
Alberta summers and car interiors get hot enough to warp PLA, and winter cold makes it brittle. PETG handles both far better and shrugs off moisture. For a planter, a trailer clip or a garage bracket, choose PETG. Keep PLA for indoor pieces where detail and colour matter most.
Maintenance
Dry your filament, even in a dry climate
Even in Alberta's dry air, an opened spool slowly takes on moisture. The signs are popping sounds at the nozzle, fine strings between parts, and rough walls. Drying the spool for a few hours before printing usually fixes all three. Store open spools in a sealed bin with silica desiccant.
Custom orders
Request a print
Have a broken part, a gift idea, or a file you found online? Here's how an order works.
Email: [email protected]
Send your idea
An STL file, a photo with measurements, or a description is enough to start.
Get a quote
I confirm size, material and colour, then quote the price and print time.
Approve and print
Your part is printed, cleaned up and checked against your measurements.
Delivery
Pick up locally or have it shipped to you.
About
Who's behind Quick Silver
Quick Silver Deliveries is a small 3D printing shop in Alberta, run by Shane, who has spent his career in IT and systems administration. The same habits apply here: measure twice, test before production, and keep notes on what works. This site shares those notes and the gear that earns its place on the bench.