3 hobbies that become almost free once you own this tiny $200 3D printer

Published Oct 3, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT Patrick Campanale has been in the tech space for well over a decade, specializing in PC/gaming news and reviews, as well as maker-focused products to build small businesses. With a start in technology back in 2010 surrounding the Palm/webOS ecosystem, Patrick spent his formative years developing mobile applications as well as blogging for various publications, eventually leading to starting his own website in 2014. After running a technology blog for a few years, he stepped out of that role and into the world of high-end custom PC manufacturing and building, with a focus on YouTube video production and overclocking. Then, in 2017, Patrick joined the 9to5Toys team as an editor/writer/reviewer with over 14,000 articles being published during his time there, ranging from deals and roundups to in-depth reviews on the latest technology, video games, 3D printers, and more. In his free time, Patrick loves to create projects from wood using various robots and methods, including leveraging the technologies of CNCs and lasers. If Patrick isn't working on a computer or playing video games, he's likely in his 2-car garage workshop creating something unique. In addition to all this, Patrick is also the media director at his local church where he feels God has called him to serve, and he loves every minute of it. 3D printing is easier to access than ever, and part of that is because great printers are cheaper than ever. The best part of 3D printing is that it can actually enhance other hobbies in ways you might never expect, so here are three hobbies that 3D printing can make nearly free once you buy the printer itself. What printer should you buy? The answer might surprise you When it comes to what 3D printer to buy, there used to be just one option I'd recommend: Bambu Lab. While I'm a huge Bambu Lab fan, and I own several Bambu Lab 3D printers, they aren't the only viable option anymore. In the $200 price range, the Bambu Lab A1 mini is probably the best-priced printer around. If you're looking for a small form-factor and affordable price, the Bambu Lab A1 mini is hard to beat. However, if you don't mind stepping up the spending just a little, the Elegoo Centauri 2 is a fantastic printer. In fact, I was incredibly impressed with the print quality of this budget-focused 256x256x256mm 3D printer. At the end of the day, though, it's really hard to make a bad choice when it comes to modern 3D printers. Just please avoid the old Ender 3 V2 and its clones like the plague. They're just not worth it in 2026. Board gaming Organizers, upgraded pieces, and more are just a few cents of filament away Credit: slapp101 / MakerWorldCredit: copehill077 / MakerWorldCredit: ozarkexpeditions / MakerWorld You might not know that you can actually 3D print some board games almost entirely. You can also upgrade or adapt other board games with 3D printing. Either way, 3D printing can really take your board game setup to the next level. The biggest part of board gaming that 3D printing enables is upgrading existing games you might already own. Some games simply don't come with in-box organization — 3D printing can fix that cheaply. Other games charge an astronomical price for a deluxe edition of the game that is nothing more than upgrading the pieces, which 3D printing can help with, too. Other games, like Catan, can be almost entirely 3D printed outside of the cards themselves. Unlike most games, Catan actually has an open policy for you making your own parts of the game, even if they look like official parts. I love the capabilities that 3D printing brings to board gaming without breaking the bank. Board games are expensive enough themselves, so 3D printing is the best addition to it that I've ever made. Gardening Seeds are basically free anyway If you're looking for a hobby that is literally free outside of the plastic you use in the 3D printer, then gardening is perfect for you. You can already harvest seeds from many of the fruits and vegetables that you already eat, making them entirely free. That just leaves the accessories you need to plant them. With 3D printing, you can print things like plant markers (to tell you what is planted where), tools, dividers, and so much more. Really, 3D printing is a fantastic addition to gardening. Especially when you consider that some seeds need time to dry out before being planted. You could easily 3D print a storage container to house the seeds in, with an area to mark down when they were stored and what they were. All you have to do is head on over to a site like MakerWorld or Printables and start searching for gardening items. You'll probably be surprised at just how much you can 3D print for cheap instead of heading to the store to purchase it. Miniature scenery and dioramas Custom scenery has never been so cheap If you're into miniatures of any kind, like railroads, dollhouses, or dioramas, then 3D printing is the perfect hobby for you to pick up. The great part about 3D printing is that filament is often very cheap. For miniature printing, you'd expect to pay around $20 per kilogram roll on the high side, and about $10 per roll on the low side. If we average that out to $15 per kilogram, then each gram of filament is $0.015. Many miniatures take just a few grams of filament. My wife loves dollhouses, miniature furniture, and stuff to put in them, so I've 3D printed quite a few things for her. Most cost just a few pennies in filament and take just a couple of minutes. Instead of trying to go to the store and find a miniature made of wood that's in the style you want, only to have to paint it when you get home, you can simply 3D print the exact miniature that you want in white and paint it. Or, you can do multicolor prints to get a unique aesthetic that you can't get from store-bought items. 3D printing really opens up a new world for you to create that no other hobby does. Bambu Labs A1 mini 3D Printer Build Volume 180x180x180 Printing Speed 500mm/s Brand Bambu Labs Max Hot End Temp 300 °C Max Bed Temp 80°C Nozzle 0.4 mm Stainless Steel The Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 30 minutes. Offering full-auto calibration, this compact 3D printer features a 180mm build volume and is compatible with the AMS Lite for multi-color printing. It also features built-in vibration and flow-rate calibration, which are typically features only found on more premium printers. Elegoo Centauri 2 Brand Elegoo Build Volume 256x256x256mm Printing Accuracy ±0.1 mm Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi Heated Build Plate Yes, dual-sided flexible spring-steel plate Feed Type Dual-gear direct-drive extruder Elegoo's latest Centauri 2 brings all the features that we love about the Centauri 2 Combo to a more affordable package. With the same build volume, print speed, and even nozzle and bed temperatures, the Centauri 2 delivers an affordable yet capable 3D printer for the masses. 3D printing is the hobby that supports other hobbies While some hobbies exist unto themselves, 3D printing is the hobby that makes other hobbies easier to do. Still not sold on 3D printing? Check out these other hobbies that become even better once you add a 3D printer into the mix.