Oh… so sad… dumping working 3d printers

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I dropped off four printers at the electronics recycling center at the dump today. Two Mendels; the old Ender3 which we modded like crazy for the podcast and the Anycubic pro that we bought for $64. Also the last of the metal Simples that we had and my old original Flashforge Creator (with the plywood case). So sad. All worked fine too. Next are the Rep2s. Three of them…:(.

[david merten]

That is sad, working printers gone to the grave...

Just a crazy thought are there any "old folks homes" around that might be interested? My mother in law loved watching my old printers run back when she lived with us. 

Heck I am having a hard time just taking my old non working printers apart for parts to be used in future projects....why is it so hard to let go...

                 David

On Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:57 PM 3D Printing Tips and Tricks <3d-printing-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I dropped off four printers at the electronics recycling center at the dump today. Two Mendels; the old Ender3 which we modded like crazy for the podcast and the Anycubic pro that we bought for $64. Also the last of the metal Simples that we had and my old original Flashforge Creator (with the plywood case). So sad. All worked fine too. Next are the Rep2s. Three of them…:(.

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[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I considered giving them away to retirees, but the reality is they are obsolete and a new user will be way better off buying a new machine. 

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

They are old - and obsolete - but, it's Still SAD! Too bad you didn't give them away to local schools...

[Ray Price]

I too have some old printers (prusa mk 2 and mk 3 I think) as well as my hand built D-bot from back in the day.  Parts alone (duet control board, 300x300 cast aluminum plate and ac heater, aluminum extrusion cage) seems like it has some value, but only for an experienced tinkerer looking for a project.  I wonder if it would be better to break it down and sell the parts on marketplace or sell it whole. 

Selling for parts might get more traction with broader set of tinkerers 

Otherwise, off to the recycler

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[Ray Price]

Of course Kurt already knows all about the D-bot, since it was in the background of my spell check picture 😂😂

[Kurt A 3d]

Other Kurt here 

Ray count yourself lucky.  I currently have 3 printers here;

1) My XL

2) My sons Maker Gear M2 (used when the XL is busy :-) ) - lives here because my son has 5 year olds and no time

3) My Monoprice iiip a machine that I hate that caused me to buy the XL -- I won't turn it on, but I can't throw it out, it was a gift from a departed cousin about a year before he died.

See,  I would love to dump #3 - but it has sentimental value .... it's the last thing my cousin ever gave me

Kurt-A

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Ray - and even Kurt my Doppelgänger - Why throw old machines in the Dump or to Recyclers? There are schools that would gladly take them. Like a high school Science teacher - that might already HAVE a printer or Two - but, ones like yours - that are Older - they could indeed consider taking them apart - or even upgrading them. Heck - with some of the mechanics in your machines - one could actually expand them in 1 or 2 or maybe all Three axis - to increase print volume. Sure - they may need a newer controller board - but, a bit of the mechanics COULD be Reused!

At least I think so...

And - K-A, if you Re-home it, then that might be a good thing for the sentimental valuations!

-K

[Jeff Ratner]

Just put any old printer out on your front lawn with a for sale sign. Within a few hours someone will steal it. 

[Kurt Gluck]

The Monoprice iiip is a machine that would cause a normal person to leave the hobby. It was probably only COVID that kept me useing it.

Every single time you print something you have to level the bed … sometimes you wish you could do it while printing. I almost always used a raft :-(.

The MakerGear M2 on the otherhand is solid for its generation.

Kurt-A

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Yo Jeff - that is HYSTERICAL!!!!!

Will admit - your house looks nice - but, your  4 Sale sign has the printer WAY OverPriced!   Ha ha ha...

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I had no idea that the IIIP was that bad! Dang...

-K

[Jeff Ratner]

Kurt - if I put what it was really worth on the sign no one would want to steal it.

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

HA ha ha - True...

Nice House!

[Lee Foulkes]

I broke some of my older ones for parts - steppers, linear rails, bearings etc. Got them stuffed in a draw in the garage. Doubt I'll ever use them. I should really go to a hoarding therapist.....