The humble Benchy has become a rite of passage for many new 3D printer owners, even though benchmarking modern 3D printers isn’t strictly necessary. But let’s say you’ve assembled a small armada of these toy boats, and now you’re wondering what to do with them.

Here are some ideas.

Benchy Shipping Co board game

Or use Benchy in other board games

Benchy Shipping Co is a “whimsical yet strategic” board game for two to four players, with each player requiring 30 Benchy pieces. Though it feels like a solution to the problem of having too many toy boats, for many it will require more Benchy models than you’ve probably accrued.

It will also need to be obvious which Benchy pieces belong to which player. Since your boats are probably different colors and filaments, you could use a system of stickers or something similar to achieve this. Once you’ve printed the board game with its 20 port city destinations, you’ll need to roll a dice to collect boats and then place these boats onto the map to form a shipping route.

The game is inspired by other route-building games, but you could also turn your Benchy into a player piece for other board games like pawns in chess or Monopoly pieces. If you need a dice, you could create a press and recycle your old PLA.

Keyrings

Benchy is keyring-ready

Credit: Tim Brookes / How-To Geek

Did you know that the hole at the bow of a Benchy (that’s boat lingo for front) has a hole that perfectly accommodates a keyring? I didn’t until I tried it, but it works surprisingly well for keys that mostly remain in the same static location (since Benchy makes for quite a large keyring).

Did I scratch the hull a bit putting the keyring on? Sure. But you’re probably more careful than me.

Practice sanding

Make your Benchy silky smooth

Credit: Tim Brookes / How-To Geek

Did you know you can sand your 3D printed models? Doing so is a great way to reduce the visibility of layer lines, and Benchy is a particularly good model on which to practice given its focus on unsightly stepped top layers and potential for ghosting on the hull.

Practicing on an item like this before you commit sandpaper to filament on a “real” print gives you a chance to make mistakes and get comfortable. The general consensus on sanding 3D prints is to start with a moderately coarse grit (around 80) and then move on to fine grits (120) through to very fine (220) to get a smooth finish.

Just be careful that you wear a mask and avoid sanding filaments that contain carbon fiber.

Experiment with priming and painting

Not just paint but technique

Credit: Rust-oleum

3D printers are a popular way to produce figurines, models, and miniatures. PLA also happens to be very paint-friendly, but for best results you should use a primer first. A popular choice is spray-on automotive primer, which can also help fill and hide layer lines.

Once you’ve primed, you should be good to paint with cheap acrylics (including sprays) or fancier model paints. Experiment with techniques to get your models looking exactly how you want, especially if building a miniature army is one of your main reasons for owning a printer.

If you’re terrible at painting miniatures (like I am), this is a great opportunity to try things out and follow community paint guides for achieving specific looks (like weathered and battle-worn tabletop units). When you’re done, you’ll have a much more interesting Benchy to sit on your desk.

Turn them into a Mecha Benchy

What do you call six Benchys in a trench coat?

Credit: Garfield / MakerWorld

It’s not exactly practical, and it’ll cost you another 36g of filament (which is like, one whole Benchy), but the combined robot Benchy is a pretty fun idea. It uses the “existing holes, protrusions, and recesses of the Benchy bodies” to bring everything together in the form of one big robot.

If all you’re doing is leaving your toy boats on the desk, or littering the space directly next to your 3D printer, this is a much more fun way to collect dust. Benchy is a standard print and so all the parts should fit (with tight tolerances, according to the uploader). That said, your mileage may vary depending on print settings and filament, so a thin layer of tape can help close the gap if things aren’t as snug as you’d like.

Give them to kids

At least someone will appreciate the boat

Credit: 

Sydney Louw Butler / How-To Geek

Kids love plastic tat; just look at how popular articulated 3D printed dragon slop is. While the Benchy doesn’t actually float, it might still make a decent distraction for a child. You’ve already created some waste plastic; someone might as well get some enjoyment out of it!

Just be aware that the chimney on the top of your Benchy could pose a choking hazard for very young children if it breaks off. Given the gray area that is PLA safety, you might want to avoid giving it to anyone who might put it anywhere near their mouth too.

Next time you buy a new printer, skip the Benchy and print one of these instead.