// HONEST MATH · DIY vs PROPBUILDS

Should you print it
yourself instead?

Plug in your real numbers below. I'll show you what DIY actually costs once you factor in time, filament waste, and the things that don't fit in a spreadsheet. If the math says DIY is the right call for you, go build something cool.

// YOUR INPUTS
// THE MATH
DIY TOTAL
$0
Filament + failed prints$0
Hardware$0
Electricity$0
Printer (amortized)$0
Cash subtotal$0
Your time (0h)$0
PROPBUILDS TOTAL
$0
Kit price$0
ShippingFREE over $100
Your time (25 min assembly)$0
// VERDICT
Loading the math…
Browse the kits →
// TIME TO YOUR SHELF

Dollar cost is only half the story.

Here's how the two paths actually unfold once you commit.

DIY PATH
2-4 weekends
  1. Day 1Decide. Hunt for files, order filament if low.
  2. Day 2-4Wait for filament + hardware to arrive.
  3. Day 5Slice files. Test print a part. Adjust settings.
  4. Day 6-12Run the full print queue across multiple days. Handle 1-3 failed prints.
  5. Day 13Remove supports. Sand rough spots. Source any hardware you're missing.
  6. Day 14+Final assembly. Hope tolerances landed. If not, reprint.
PROPBUILDS PATH
3-7 days
  1. Day 1Order from the site.
  2. Day 2Kit ships from my workshop (within 48 hours, every order).
  3. Day 3-7US Ground Advantage delivers to your door.
  4. Same dayOpen box. Read the printed instructions. Assemble in 10-25 minutes.
  5. Same dayOn your shelf.
// WHAT THE MATH DOESN'T SHOW

A few honest things to know about DIY.

These aren't reasons to avoid printing your own. They're the parts of the experience the dollar math leaves out.

01
Failed prints don't just waste filament. They waste hours.
A first-layer detachment 14 hours into a print means you start that part over from scratch.
02
Matte finish takes settings, not just filament.
Layer height, infill, cooling, and orientation all matter. Most first-time prints come out shinier than the in-game item.
03
Color matching is harder than it looks.
"Orange" filament from two different brands often reads as two different orange props on a shelf.
04
Hardware sourcing is its own project.
M2 vs M2.5 screws, length tolerances, dowel diameter. Easy to order the wrong thing and wait another shipping cycle.
05
CAD files don't exist for free.
Random STLs online vary wildly in quality and rarely capture the multi-part disassembled aesthetic of a true replica.
06
The first one is the learning curve.
Most home printers need 2-3 iterations to get from "recognizable" to "displayable" on a new model.
// WHAT'S IN EVERY KIT

If you go the buying route, here's what arrives.

A 3D-printed kit isn't quite like a normal shelf product. Here's what's actually in the box.

Polymaker Matte PLA partsEvery part printed in matte PLA, in colors chosen to match the in-game item. Each part inspected before packing.
Pre-counted hardwareM2 / M3 screws, dowels, and decorative pins where applicable. Sized to my CAD tolerances so you don't fight the fit.
Printed assembly guideStep-by-step photo instructions so you don't have to guess at order of operations.
Foam-lined packagingCustom-cut foam inserts and parts bags. Built to keep everything safe in transit.
Personal QC + a thank-youEvery kit is hand-packed by me with a small thank-you note. Not dropshipped. Not warehoused overseas.
// REAL CUSTOMER BUILDS

Built and on shelves around the world.

A few photos sent in by people who already made the call.

Customer build photo
Customer build photo
Customer build photo
Customer build photo
Customer build photo
Customer build photo
// READY TO SKIP THE PRINT QUEUE?

Pick a kit. I'll have it shipped within 48 hours.

  • ✓ Ships within 48 hours, every order
  • ✓ Free US shipping over $100
  • ✓ Hand-packed in a one-person workshop
  • ✓ Matte finish + color matched out of the box
Browse all kits → Join the Discord
// COMMON QUESTIONS

A few things people ask before ordering.

How fast do orders ship?
Within 48 hours of order placement. US Ground Advantage typically arrives in 3-5 business days, so most US orders are on a shelf within a week.
What if a part arrives damaged?
Reach out with a photo and your order number and I'll try to make it right. Every kit is print-to-order so I can't accept returns of opened or built kits, but I stand behind anything that arrives short or broken.
Are PropBuilds kits officially licensed?
No. PropBuilds kits are fan-made, designed from in-game reference. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Facepunch Studios. The disclaimer ships with every kit.
Can I customize the colors?
I print in the colors matched to each in-game item. If you want a one-off variant, drop me a note in the Discord and I'll let you know when I'm running custom batches.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. International shipping is calculated at checkout. Most international orders arrive in 7-14 business days depending on destination.
What 3D printer should I get if I want to DIY?
A Bambu A1 mini around $300 is the cheapest I'd trust for display-quality output. A Bambu P1S around $700 is what I'd recommend if you want to skip the learning curve. Either way, plan for 2-3 weekends to get from "I want to print this" to "it's on my shelf."
// HOW I COMPUTED THIS

Per-kit data is real numbers from my own production farm. Filament grams include support material at typical 15% infill, 0.16mm layer height. Print time is at a Bambu P1S running standard quality settings (slower hobby printers will run 2-3x longer). Hands-on time covers post-processing, support removal, sanding rough spots, and final assembly. Failed print waste assumes your failure-rate input applies to filament burned in failed jobs.

The printer amortization assumes you'll print 8 kit-equivalents worth of stuff over the printer's lifetime. Buying a $300 printer for one kit gives you a $300 amortized cost per kit. For 8 kits, it's $37.50 per kit. Adjust mentally if your usage differs.

This calculator is intentionally honest. If the math says you should DIY, do it. The whole point of running this comparison is so we both end up where we should be.