Most Porima filaments in our store come in two variants: Spool (classic) and Eco — spool-free (refill). What exactly does the second option mean and when does it pay off?
What is the Eco version?
It’s exactly the same filament — the same 1.75 mm diameter, the same ±0.02 mm tolerance, the same colours — factory-wound on a lightweight core instead of a full plastic spool. You mount it on a reusable spool you already own.
How much do you actually save?
In our price list the difference is usually about 10 zł per kilogram (e.g. PLA: 59.90 zł instead of 69.90 zł). At 3–4 spools a month that adds up to 350–500 zł a year — in other words, several free kilograms of filament.
And there’s a second win: less waste. An empty spool is roughly 200–250 g of plastic that usually ends up in the bin. If you print regularly, that’s a dozen or more spools a year saved.
What do you print a refill from?
- A reusable spool — a split spool (e.g. MasterSpool-style systems) that the whole refill clips into. Mounting takes a minute.
- An empty spool from a regular filament + printed side walls — popular, free spool-adapter designs you can print yourself.
- A dryer / AMS with a refill holder — some modern dryers and feeding systems handle refills directly.
Three rules for trouble-free printing with refills
- Don’t remove the straps before mounting — the refill keeps its shape thanks to the straps; remove them only once it’s secured on the spool.
- Mind the filament end — after each print, clip the end of the filament into the spool’s hole to avoid tangling.
- Store it dry — like any filament: a sealed bag or container with a desiccant, especially PETG and technical materials.
When should you choose the spool after all?
If you’re just starting out and don’t own a reusable spool yet — make your first purchase the classic way and keep the spool. From the second kilogram onwards you can buy refills only and start saving.
You’ll find the Eco version on most of our filaments — just pick the “Eco (spool-free)” variant on the product page, e.g. for Porima PLA or Porima PETG. The full list of materials is in the Porima range, and temperature ranges in the temperature chart.