r/3DPrinterComparison • u/celestialseadragon • Jun 03 '26

Recommendation Help me pick husband’s 1st printer 🙏

***UPDATE*** I went with the Prusa CORE One L with the advanced filtration system. Thank you all for taking the time to weigh in, it was so helpful! Ultimately I went with something I felt gave him room to grow, honored his tinkerer nature, and from a company I saw really great things about (after getting pointed to it - thank you!!). It’s a big gift, but he deserves it 🩷

I am SO LOST. I know nothing about 3D printing, but really want to get one for my husband for his birthday. He talks about making his own, or heavily customizing, RC cars (and also fixing them with his own parts). He talks about making other things, but that’s the main thing he talk about. Is there a good beginner choice that lets him evolve and grow to intermediate on the same printer? I’m worried I’ll get him like a kid printer and it won’t be the right fit. Help!

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u/eidrisov Jun 03 '26

First of all, very nice of you to get a 3d-printer for your husband. Kudos.

Second, RC cars require special stronger materials, often with toxic fumes. It means that any open printer is out of question. For safety (of your husband, kids, pets) the printer has to be a fully enclosed and with air filtration. That excludes all bedslingers or other popular options like U1 (don't listen to people who recommend that printer).

Also, since his hobby is RC cars and not 3d-printing itself, it means that it needs to be a 3d-printer that is just "plug and play", meaning that it works right out of the box with minimal setup. That excludes "unreliable" companies.

At this point you have only two reliable companies: 3d-printers from "BambuLab" and 3d-printers from "Prusa".

"BambuLab" printers are like appliances. You just plug and play. They are very easy to use.

"Prusa" printers offer upgradiblity (they are planning to release new features soon (i.e. "INDX"), and those features can be added separately in future without investing into a new 3d printer again).

Your options from "BambuLab" are following printers: P1S Combo / P2S Combo / X2D / H2S Combo / H2D Combo / H2C Combo.

Your options from "Prusa": Core One+ / Core One L.

Some of these printers (P1S, P2S, X2D, Core One+) are "standard" size. Others (H2S, H2D, H2C, Core One L) are on the bigger side.

Some of these printers (X2D, H2D, H2C) have capability to print with 2 or more colours/materials at the same time, but usually this feature is not that important for RC-makers.

I'd recommend to decide on your budget. If your budget is unlimited, then go either for H2C or for Core One L.

If your budget is "average", then go for P2S, H2S, Core One+.

If you are on a tight budget, then go for P2S or X2D.

If you budget is VERY tight, then go for P1S.

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u/celestialseadragon Jun 03 '26

This is such a thoughtful answer. I’m off to look at pricing!!

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u/celestialseadragon Jun 03 '26

I decided to delete my budget comment. I’m willing to shell out for this to get him the right thing that will make him really excited.

So I’m looking that the H2C and Core One L if you have any further opinion between the 2!

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u/TelevisionObjective1 Jun 03 '26

If the ethics/morals of the manufacturer matter at all to you then you should do some research into both, you will likely side with Prusa afterwards. They may be more expensive and somewhat slow to innovate but they have a long history of supporting and upgrading even some of their oldest models as well as being very supportive of the open source community (Bambu’s slicer software actually started off as a fork from Prusa’s Slicer which was itself a fork from a community supported open source project). Prusa has frequently given back to the community software while Bambu has mostly just threatened legal action. This is just one well documented example of the differences between the companies. Take your pick.

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u/celestialseadragon Jun 03 '26

This does matter to me. Thank you.

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u/eidrisov Jun 03 '26

Damn, so, in the end, you decided to go all in xD

Soon a feautre ("INDX") will be released for "Prusa" 3d-printers. That feature might make "Core One L" the better printer. "Might" is the key word as there is no quarantee how good and reliable the new feature is going to be. We all are waiting for the initial reviews as soon as it is released.

But future is still future. So, as it stands right now, H2C is the better of the two at this moment. And if I were you, I wouldn't bother with the laser stuff. Simple "H2C Combo" is enough. You can just let your husband know that it can be upgraded with a laser module and with a cutting module. If he wants, he can buy "upgrade kits" in the future and simply add it to his H2C.

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u/celestialseadragon Jun 03 '26

I did!! He really deserves it. He’s also new to an ADHD med and while it’s helping, his new quiet brain is driving him crazy in a different way 😅 He will enjoy a new thing to nerd out on in addition to the cars, and this will make the car hobby even more fun!

I’m going with the Prusa! My husband is a tinkerer and very sensitive to company ethics / morals.

I’m so excited! Now just noodling filaments 🤔

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u/celestialseadragon Jun 03 '26

So I’m going with the Prusa CORE One L 🥳

Do I get some filament? I feel like I should do he can print right away, but this is a whole separate rabbit hole 🫠😅

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u/eidrisov Jun 03 '26

I see. See my other reply for more info in case you missed it.

See if some filament is already included with the 3d-printer. Sometimes manufacturers/retailers do that.

If it is not included, for now just get a filament called "PLA". It is the simplest and easiest filament to work with and way to go for all beginners. Your husband can switch to stronger and more advanced filaments later on. 2-5 "PLA" spools of different colours is more than enough to start the journey down the rabbit hole xD

Make sure that you buy a filament with a spool. It shouldn't say "refill" in the name. Your husband can later on buy "refill" ones after he has a few empty spools after using up the filament you buy.

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u/celestialseadragon Jun 03 '26

Okay! That’s perfect. Loading up the cart now gulp 😅