How getting a replacement part made works
One post reaches makers with 3D printers, CNC machines, lathes and laser cutters. You compare quotes, pay through the platform, and the maker is paid when you confirm delivery.
From broken part to a working one
- Post the partOn The Spool List, describe the part and what it does, add photos from every side with a ruler or calipers in shot, the measurements that matter (overall size, hole sizes and spacing), the make and model number, and how it is used: heat, sunlight, water, load. Posting is free.
- Makers quoteMakers reply with a price and a lead time, and often with questions. Check their machines, past jobs and reviews. Ask how they will model the part, which material they suggest, and whether a test piece is included.
- Pay with payment protectionAccept one quote and pay by card through Stripe. The platform holds the payment and releases it to the maker once you confirm delivery. There is no buyer fee on top of the quote.
- Receive, fit and confirmFit the part when it arrives or when you pick it up. If it matches what you agreed, confirm delivery. If it doesn't, talk to the maker; unresolved problems go to The Spool List's dispute process.
The part is small. Replacing the whole thing isn't.
When one clip, knob or gear stops a machine you otherwise like, a maker can often remake it from the broken original or from photos and measurements. Own a 3D printer, lathe or CNC? Quote on repair jobs near you.
Post your part →Why spare parts matter
Figures with their sources (European Commission estimate cited by the European Parliament, April 2024; Open Repair Alliance data on about 208,000 repairs, summarised by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, October 2024; ITU/UNITAR Global E-waste Monitor 2024). Links on the Savings page.
Why post the part here instead of asking around
One post, several makers
Makers with printers, CNC machines, lathes and laser cutters see the same brief. Compare price, lead time, material and reviews.
Paid only after delivery
You pay when you accept a quote. The platform holds the payment until you confirm the part arrived.
No buyer fee
The maker's quote is what you pay. The platform adds no buyer fee.
Reviews tied to orders
Ratings come only from completed orders, so you read feedback from buyers who actually received parts.
Photos are enough to start
No CAD file needed. Photos with a ruler in shot and a few measurements get you quotes; makers ask for more if they need it.
Disputes handled
If the part doesn't match the agreed brief, open a dispute in the app. Unresolved disputes are reviewed by The Spool List.
The brief is the contract. Write down what the part must do and which dimensions must match, because that is what the maker quotes on and what you check the part against. The brief builder in the tools section turns your measurements into a ready-to-paste description.
Remaking a part has honest limits. A maker who works only from photos may need a second try to get a snap-fit right. Modelling a one-off from scratch is skilled work and is usually the largest part of the price; a ready 3D file makes the job cheaper. Makers can decline any job.
Some parts should never be remade by a maker, whatever the price: brakes, steering and suspension parts, gas fittings, mains-voltage parts, pressure parts, childcare and medical equipment, anything that holds a person or a heavy load, and e-bike battery parts. The safety page lists them.
Makers on The Spool List are independent businesses and hobbyists. Some are near you and offer pickup; others ship. Availability varies by area and by process, so a metal part may get fewer quotes than a plastic one.