Frequently asked questions

How is the Kenai Kupholder made?

The Kenai Kupholder is made with a process called FDM 3D printing. Plastic filament (think something similar to weed whacker line) is fed into a hot extruder (similar to a hot glue gun but on a much smaller scale) and slowly built up with very thin layers, fusing one layer onto the next with a computer controlled print head. The process takes about 6 hours to complete one cupholder.

I’ve bought other 3d printed things on etsy before. won’t the material just melt in the sun?

Most of the 3D printed products on the market are made of a different material called PLA. This material has a low melt point, and is easy and fast to print but can be brittle, can deform if left out in the sun, and will actually break down in soil.

However, the material we use is PETG. It is a much more durable plastic, but takes more time and more sophisticated machines to print. We believe the tradeoff is worth it - PETG is UV resistant and heat resistant up to about 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do I need to care for my Kupholder?

You can hand wash all the parts with dish soap and hot tap water. Don’t, under any circumstances, put it in the dishwasher. The temperatures inside a dishwasher are too high and it could deform. You also never want to leave it in the sun inside of a hot vehicle, as the surface temperatures can quickly rise and cause the material to become soft (ask us how we know). If it does stay in your vehicle, keeping it low in the vehicle, out of direct sunlight should keep it from deforming. Also, try not to use it as an impromptu soccer ball. It is impact resistant, not impact proof.

What if i want to order several with my own artwork?

We would love to work with you on that! Please reach out to us for any custom needs or modification requests.

my favorite color is purple. can you print in purple?

We can! There are a number of other colors we can print in, we just haven’t invested in every color yet. We are looking for feedback on color choices so if you want to see something else added to the options, let us know!

it seems everything these days is designed to break. is this going to be any different?

That is our goal! We have tested it in real-world conditions over two fishing seasons and have gone through multiple iterations of design to provide the best product we can. While you probably shouldn’t throw it off a building, you don’t have to worry about it falling apart on you.

I want to purchase a number of units for resale. Do you offer wholesale pricing?

We do! Just shoot us a message and we can work out the details.

how soon can i get one of these cupholders?

When you place an order, we get to work on it right away. We have most variations in stock ready to ship. - in the case that we don’t it usually takes 24 hours to get it out the door to you. If it’s the middle of the summer rush, it may take a bit longer, but anything more than 2 or 3 days, you will receive an estimate so you’re not left hanging.