Weighted Blanket Filling Tool

PVC Speed Challenge - AKA a great excuse to share something I made to help Wiferneer with her weighted blankets!

What you're looking at here is a highly specialized conical input device that is friction fit onto a polyvinyl chloride tubular single manifold.

Or we can just say I made a fancy funnel that goes on a PVC plastic stick...

The important part is that it works great and it's easy to use! Read on to find out how to make yourself a simple tool to help you easily fill those tiny little weighted blanket pockets.

If you'd like to read more about making weighted blankets, here is Wiferneer's Instructable on the subject: https://www.instructables.com/Weighted-Blanket-Including-What-to-Know-Before-You/

That's the TLDR version, if anyone's interested drop a comment below and I'll share more of the backstory...

PS - While writing this Instructable I learned that PVC is the third on the list of most used plastics and it's in a bunch of other things I didn't realize, like credit cards. Here's the Wiki link if you're interested in learning more about what makes PVC, um PVC?!

Affiliate links to the products used in this instructable:

A length of 1 inch PVC pipe

Technically I'm using schedule 40 CPVC which is why it looks a little more yellowish than some PVC. This is exactly what I have, but normal 1" schedule 40 pipe like this will also work just fine.

Someway to cut the PVC pipe

A pipe cutter or a hacksaw will work great

3D Printer

This was printed on my Flashforge Creator Pro

PLA Filament for your 3D printer

Other filaments will likely work fine but haven't been tested.

File attached to this step

The file attached is the 3rd iteration and the one we currently use.

I've attached a .stl file for 3D printing and model files including the native Fusion 360 file if you want to modify it to suit your needs.

(*PVC pipe sizing can be a little confusing, 1" pipe refers to the inside diameter, but even that isn't always exactly 1" diameter... plus then there's schedules and grades... I found this site helpful to decode PVC pipe. https://formufit.com/pages/pvc-101 )

*Note: My posts may contain affiliate links to products I use and feel comfortable sharing. Which means when you click the marked product links in my post nothing changes on your end, and I earn a small % on qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!*

Load the .stl file into your slicer software. It should import correctly with the large part of the funnel facing down. If it doesn't, rotate it until it looks like the first picture in this step. I designed it to print without supports in this orientation.

I am printing this in PLA plastic, here are my printer settings:

Flashforge Creator Pro, .6mm nozzle, .38mm layer height, 218*C hotend temp, 45*C bed temp, 60mm/sec print speed. 2 shells, 3 bottom layers, 3 top layers, 20% infill.

The print took a little over 2 hours to finish.

If you don't have access to a 3D printer you can get a funnel on my website here: https://www.makerneer.com/product-page/weighted-blanket-filling-tool

*Note - This is designed to be a tight friction fit onto the PVC tube. If you'd prefer to glue yours on, you might want to consider scaling it up slightly in your slicer before printing.*

Update - I've made one in PETG now, it works great!

PETG settings: Flashforge Creator Pro, .6mm nozzle, .38mm layer height, 245*C hotend temp, 65*C bed temp, 45mm/sec print speed. 2 shells, 3 bottom layers, 3 top layers, 20% infill.

Cut your PVC tube to the length you want. Ours is 32" long and this seems to work well.

If you don't have pipe cutters a hacksaw works fine too.

Next, get the PVC tube started in the funnel. From here turn it over and drive the tube all the way to the shoulder of the funnel.

This is designed to be a tight friction fit onto the PVC tube. If you have trouble getting the tube into the funnel it may help to chamfer the the outside edges of the tube and/or lightly sand the 3D printed part.

Initially I designed it with a friction fit instead of a permanently gluing it on so I could try different designs as needed. After using it for a couple years now without glue, it's held up fine and hasn't tried to fall off mid blanketing so I left it as a friction fit.

I believe it is now mandatory to pretend it's a trumpet. "Duah, dooo, dud da doo!!"

All finished, I told you it was simple but effective!

OK, so here's how to use it - You put your right foot in. You put your right foot...

No, not funny?! fine...

Unfortunately we don't have any weighted blankets in process right now, so I've recreated things a bit and included a couple pictures to help show the improvements this version has over the previous cardboard tube and funnel.

-Start by picking up the funnel using the recessed finger groove. This groove might seem irrelevant, but trust me, after 100+ pockets having a dedicated place to grab onto the funnel helps so much with muscle memory you can almost put yourself on autopilot.

-Slide the tube down into one of the pockets in the blanket.

-With your other hand, pour in the pellets that you've already weighed out.

-Now move onto the next pocket and do it all over again. This part is pretty simple and repetitive.

For more info on the rest of the process to make a weighted blanket, Wiferneer's Instructable has a lot of great info, check it out here: https://www.instructables.com/Weighted-Blanket-Including-What-to-Know-Before-You/

Before you go, I thought I'd tackle a few common questions I've received plus throw in another action shot with doggo just because.

Can I use this for liquids? - Not really. It wasn't designed to be water tight and will probably leak a little.

Can I use a larger diameter pipe and/or a different type of pipe? - Yes, and I've included the model file so you can make a custom funnel to fit whatever pipe you want to use. We chose 1" PVC pipe because it's small enough to easily fit into the blanket pockets but large enough the pellets easily siphon through without getting stuck. Cardboard is too flimsy, metal would work but I would be concerned about it possibly being sharp and cutting the blanket.

Why not print the whole thing? - PVC pipe is inexpensive and readily available. Printing the tube portion is possible, but would cost significantly more than a length of PVC pipe and take longer than raiding your garage or driving to a hardware store.

Bonus points - Here's another 3D printed PVC pipe adapter I made to dispense KCups for my coffee maker!

Alright, no more pro-craft-inating, Time to go make that blanket you've been wanting!!!

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Note: My posts may contain affiliate links. Which means when you click the product links in my Instructable nothing changes on your end, and I earn a small % on qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!