Can you actually trust filament from a craft store?
Or should you stick with brands that are built specifically for 3D printing?
Recently, I came across PLA filament at Hobby Lobby for $14.99, sitting right next to all the other craft supplies. That immediately raised a question in my mind: How does that compare to a dedicated 3D printing brand?
To find out, I put it head-to-head against Anycubic PLA, which cost $15.99 at the time of purchase—almost the exact same price.
Same price. Completely different source.
So instead of just printing a Benchy and calling it a day, I ran both filaments through a full series of tests to see how they actually perform in the real world.
Let’s see what happened.
How I Tested the Filaments
To make this a fair comparison, both filaments were printed using the exact same settings on the same printer.
I printed several different test models that each highlight different aspects of print performance:
Test Prints
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Calibration cube (dimensional accuracy)
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Benchy (overall print quality)
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Detailed goblin head (fine detail and surface finish)
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Strength bridge (force meter testing)
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Functional Bag End dice tower door (moving parts)
This gave us a mix of precision, surface quality, strength, and functional performance.
Because let’s be honest—printing a cube is one thing.
Printing Middle Earth is another.
First Impressions: Color and Finish
One of the first differences I noticed between the two filaments was the appearance of the material itself.
The Anycubic PLA was noticeably:
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Brighter white
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Slightly glossy
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Smoother looking
The Hobby Lobby PLA was:
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More matte
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Slightly off-white
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Similar to a flat primer color
Neither is necessarily better—it really depends on the look you’re going for—but the difference was immediately noticeable.
Another surprising difference showed up during support removal.
Supports came off much easier with the Hobby Lobby PLA compared to the Anycubic filament.
That could actually be an advantage depending on the type of prints you’re making.
Calibration Cube Test
Calibration cubes are one of the easiest ways to check dimensional accuracy.
A perfect cube should measure 20mm x 20mm x 20mm.
Hobby Lobby PLA
Measured: 20.07mm
Anycubic PLA
Measured: 20.02mm
Both are extremely close, but technically Anycubic was slightly more accurate.
Visually, I also noticed that the Hobby Lobby cube showed slightly more visible layer lines compared to the Anycubic print.
Not a huge difference, but it was noticeable when looking closely.
Benchy Test
Next up was the classic 3D Benchy test.
Both filaments performed pretty well overall.
However, once again I noticed slightly more visible layer lines on the Hobby Lobby print.
The Anycubic Benchy appeared a little smoother overall, but the difference wasn’t dramatic.
If someone showed you both prints side-by-side, most people probably wouldn’t notice unless they were specifically looking for it.
Detailed Model Test: Goblin Head
For detail testing, I printed one of my goblin heads, which has a lot of small surface textures and organic details.
Both filaments actually did a really nice job here.
Skin details and textures printed well with both materials.
But again, I noticed slightly cleaner layer transitions on the Anycubic version, while the Hobby Lobby print showed a bit more striation in certain areas.
Still, both models looked very good overall.
Functional Test: Bag End Dice Tower Doors
Next, I tested something that actually matters in real-world prints—functional moving parts.
I printed the hinged doors for my Bag End dice tower design, which use pin hinges.
Both versions worked perfectly.
The pins inserted correctly, and the hinges opened and closed smoothly.
In terms of functional prints, the two filaments performed essentially the same.
Strength Test Using a Force Meter
Finally, I tested strength using one of my bridge test models with a force meter measuring Newtons.
Anycubic PLA
Broke at approximately 25 Newtons
Hobby Lobby PLA
Broke at approximately 28 Newtons
So interestingly enough, the Hobby Lobby PLA was slightly stronger in this test.
However, the way the materials failed looked different.
The Anycubic PLA fractured more cleanly, while the Hobby Lobby PLA flexed slightly before breaking.
This suggests the Hobby Lobby material may be a bit less brittle, at least in this specific test.
Final Verdict
Considering both filaments were nearly the same price, the results were surprisingly close.
Where Anycubic PLA Won
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Slightly cleaner prints
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Fewer visible layer lines
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Slightly better dimensional accuracy
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Brighter white color
Where Hobby Lobby PLA Won
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Slightly stronger in the force test
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Supports removed more easily
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More matte finish
But the biggest takeaway?
You really can’t go wrong with either one.
Both filaments produced solid prints, functional parts worked properly, and strength results were extremely similar.
At the end of the day, the decision may simply come down to color preference and availability.
Important Reminder About Test Results
Results will always vary depending on:
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Printer model
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Print settings
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Environment
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Dryness of filament
These results were produced using the same settings on the same printer for both filaments, but your results may differ.
⬇️ Download the Dice Tower
If you want to print the Bag End dice tower used in this video you can download it here: https://makerbuildit.com/products/hobbit-dice-tower
🧰 Gear Used in This Video - (Some links may be affiliate links which help support the channel.)
🧵 Anycubic PLA Filament - https://amzn.to/409E1vb
🧵 Hobby Lobby PLA Filament - https://amzn.to/4cxLCuW
🖨 3D Printer – https://amzn.to/40adfmm
💪 Digital Force Gauge - https://amzn.to/4cOQHPo
🥽 Safety Glasses (Because we test things properly) - https://amzn.to/4aE9snn
Would You Print With Craft Store Filament?
So now I’m curious.
Would you try PLA from a craft store, or do you prefer sticking with brands built specifically for 3D printing?
Let me know in the comments.
And if you’re interested in more real-world testing instead of marketing claims, make sure you check out more projects here on MakerBuildIt.com.
Because in the world of 3D printing…
Even the smallest spool can help decide the fate of the Shire.