6 useful 3D prints to help you finish other projects this weekend (May 15 - 17)

Published May 15, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek, Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog. Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf. Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. For many of us, the weekend means finally getting around to other hobbies and outstanding tasks that have been piling up. Rather than putting your 3D printer at the center of your weekend project, why not use it to make your other projects a bit easier? Here are some useful 3D prints that you’ll be glad you made when you’re fixing, painting, and soldering. Painting cones for mess-free painting Credit: mais / MakerWorld Painting cones sit underneath objects, elevating them so that you can get the job done with less mess and frustration. The author has designed this particular model so that the cones don’t stick to whatever you’re painting or leave marks on the finish. They don’t just work for paint; you can also use them for staining, polishing, varnishing, and any other potentially messy tasks. The cones are 50mm high by 60mm wide, making them stable and secure even when used with heavy objects (they are triangular, after all). You could also scale them up or down in your slicer to suit. Each cone requires around 4g of filament, and you’ll be able to use them time and time again. Soldering wire holder Credit: Chefkoch / MakerWorld My soldering skills leave much to be desired, but that’s something I fully intend to work on. Sometimes, determination alone isn’t enough. Why make a job harder than it needs to be when you have helpful, printable models like a solder wire holder to help you? As the name suggests, this print will hold two wires in place so you can heat them and apply a dab of solder. This particular model uses a screw-tightening mechanism to hold the wires securely in place, with some post-print assembly required. The author has since revised their design into a complete soldering station, if you want a do-it-all device. Requiring only 45g of PLA, this is a relatively cheap but durable print. Helping hands for soldering Credit: CafeAsh / MakerWorld If you want to do more than just solder two wires together, you’re going to need some helping hands. Though it’s tempting to buy something purpose-built, you also have the option of using 3D-printed helping hands—perfect if you can’t be bothered leaving the house or are just starting to solder and aren’t sure if you’ll be sticking with it. The design uses ball joints so that the hands can be positioned precisely. You can attach up to six arms to the relatively wide base, and you can even screw the whole thing to a workbench using the holes in the model. There are many tales of success in the comments, with both PLA and PETG being used. At 87g of filament, the material cost is still probably cheaper than buying something comparable. Screw dispensers Credit: nicehatthanks / MakerWorld Why carry a whole box of screws around for a small job? This rather clever screw dispenser is designed to keep your workspace tidy and supports a variety of screw sizes. Simply put some screws into the funnel and slide them out of the end when you need them. The design features text on the top of the dispenser so you know which screws are inside, but you can disable this to use a single filament color (and just write the screw name on manually instead). Never finish a job with a bunch of screws in your pocket again! Rotate and tilt model painting clamp Credit: ThreeDimensionalThings / MakerWorld A clamping stand that titls and rotates can help you paint small objects easily, without having to pick them up (ruining your work) or contorting yourself into uncomfortable positions. It allows you to get comfortable and set up lights and paints in one position, without worrying about moving around or knocking everything over. In addition to the main clamp, there's an optional smaller set of clamps plus a paint tray. This model relies on two additional 10mm M5 bolts, and requires about 370g of filament for the main print. Bending jig for electronics components Credit: flugtN / MakerWorld An incredibly simple model that makes life a lot easier if you’re keen to build projects that depend on electronics, this bending jig allows you to get perfect bends on common “through-hole” components like resistors and diodes. It’s designed for 7.5mm, 10mm, 12.5mm, 15mm, and 17.5mm widths. Perfect for your next ESP32 project! Prusa MK4S 3D Printer Build Volume 250 x 210 x 220 mm Printing Speed 170mm/s The Prusa MK4S 3D Printer is one of the most well-known and well-loved 3D printers on the market. As one of the main companies behind the open source initiative of 3D printing, the Prusa MK4S still supports open-source software and firmware when other companies are building their own closed-source alternatives. As the 2025 iteration of the classic Prusa 3D printer, you'll get all the modern amenities including fast and reliable printing, easy setup, and Prusa's proven reliability. Bambu Lab P2S Build Volume 256x256x256mm Printing Speed 600mm/s The Bambu Labs P2S 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 15 minutes. It features up to 20-color printing with the AMS unit, has an upgraded built-in camera for remote monitoring and time lapses, and has an enclosed body for printing even high-temperature filament. Make sure you catch up on last week’s satisfying 3D printing projects.