For storage between jobs
A suitable sealed container and maintained desiccant can make opened reels easier to manage. Check that the reels fit, that the lid seals and that you can identify the material without opening every bag. Storage is not a substitute for a manufacturer-recommended drying treatment when one is needed.
For a drying cycle
Check the material guidance, the dryer’s usable temperature range and the size of the reels it accepts. The number of reel positions is less helpful than knowing whether your widest spool fits and whether the lid will open in the space you have.
If you plan to print from the dryer, look at the exit path and how the reel turns. Capacity and controls matter less if feeding the printer becomes awkward. The SUNLU buying checklist covers those details.
Write down the treatment
Record the actual time and temperature, not just “dried”. Printing temperatures on a spool label are not drying instructions. Follow the instructions for the material and dryer; do not assume one cycle suits PLA, PETG and TPU.
For comparison tests, “printed the same day the bag was opened, without drying” and “dried before printing” are different conditions. Both can be useful, but they should not be mixed without explanation.
What a humidity display tells you
It describes the air around the sensor, not a measured percentage of water inside the filament. We record handling and print behaviour; we do not turn a dryer display into a material moisture-content claim.