Vase 964 – Today's DTC 3D Print Pick (May 19)

Today's pick is a free ribbed desk vase uploaded this morning on Printables — zero traction yet, Etsy comps running $16–$25, and it doubles as a pen holder so it lands in two search categories at once.

Vase 964 is a cylindrical, organically ribbed vase designed by xSteve (Steve Warren), a US-based maker who self-tests every design he publishes.2 The model description reads: "A pencil/pen vase to keep your favorite pens and pencils, or anything else, in."1 That dual framing — functional desk organizer and decorative vase — is the commercial hook: it shows up in "pen holder" searches and "vase" searches, covering two buyer intents with one SKU.

As of May 19, 2026, the listing shows 0 likes, 0 downloads, 0 makes, and 4 saves.1 That's not a warning sign — it's a first-mover window. The model went live today.

The STL is free to download with no paywall.1 However, the exact Creative Commons license tier (CC BY vs. CC BY-NC vs. CC BY-SA) could not be confirmed during research — Printables blocked all automated page fetches, so the license badge was not visible. Before printing for sale, open the model page directly and check the license panel on the right side of the page. A CC BY or CC BY-SA license allows commercial use; CC BY-NC does not.

The settings below are author estimates based on comparable ribbed cylindrical vase geometry — Printables blocked direct page access so no official slicer profile was retrieved. Treat these as a starting point; slice the STL yourself before a production run to verify.

Vase mode (a single-perimeter spiral print with zero infill) is the standard choice for this geometry. It produces a watertight wall, minimizes filament use, and keeps print time at the low end of that range. If you want a heavier, more rigid piece to sell at a premium price point, print at 2–3 walls with 10% infill instead.

PLA is the correct call for this model in all but edge cases. The ribbed exterior reads well in matte or satin filaments — avoid glossy finishes, which tend to wash out the surface texture in product photos.

Color strategy that moves units in this category: neutral tones (white, cream, terracotta, sage green) photograph cleanly on a plain background and attract the home-decor buyer; bold solid colors (cobalt blue, forest green, black) are better for the desk-organizer buyer who's buying for a work setup. Running two colorways from a single print file gives you two separate Etsy listings at no extra design cost.

Avoid TPU — the flexible walls would undercut the structural rigidity a pen holder needs.

Comparable 3D-printed pen holders and desk vases on Etsy are currently priced at $10.99–$44.99, with standard PLA models in the $16–$25 band.3 Geometric and ribbed modern designs dominate the top-selling listings, which is exactly the aesthetic Vase 964 targets.

Cost estimate (assumptions flagged):

These are back-of-envelope figures. Shipping cost is excluded because it depends on your carrier, box weight, and buyer location. Factor that in before setting your price.

The desk-organizer angle is also worth a separate listing title — "3D printed pen cup" and "pencil holder desk decor" are distinct search phrases from "vase" and pull in office-supply buyers alongside home-decor buyers.

Download the STL free on Printables. Confirm the license tier on the page before printing for sale.