Do you need glue stick on textured PEI?

Do you need glue stick on textured PEI?

Not for PLA, PETG or TPU. Prusa and Bambu Lab both print those straight on bare textured PEI. For ABS, ASA, nylon and PC Blend, Prusa requires a glue stick on its textured sheet, and Bambu Lab says those four “may” need one. On this surface, glue is mostly a separation layer between the part and the coating.

The number

Textured PEI (polyetherimide) is PEI powder sprayed or powder-coated onto spring steel. That’s how Prusa’s textured steel sheet and Bambu Lab’s Textured PEI Plate are both made. Here is what each maker says about glue, material by material.

Material	Prusa textured sheet	Bambu Lab Textured PEI Plate	Bed temperature, Bambu Lab textured plate
PLA	No glue. Small prints may need a brim	No glue	45 to 65 °C
PETG	No glue. The sheet is “ideal for extensive printing of PETG”	Not needed. Glue optional to make removal easier	60 to 80 °C
TPU	No glue: “No need for glue-stick with flexible filaments”	No glue listed	35 to 45 °C
ABS, ASA	Glue stick required	Glue stick “may be necessary”	90 to 100 °C
Nylon (PA)	Glue stick required	Glue stick “may be necessary”	100 to 120 °C
PC	Glue stick required (PC Blend)	Glue stick “may be necessary”	100 to 120 °C

The glue guidance comes from Prusa’s textured steel sheet article and Bambu Lab’s build plate and glue wiki pages. The temperatures come from the Textured PEI Plate column of Bambu Lab’s filament guide.

Why

Glue on textured PEI rarely rescues a print that won’t stick, because the bare surface already grips. Bambu Lab says its textured plate “in most cases” holds prints “without the need for an adhesive”. Both makers say parts come free on their own once the sheet cools, which Bambu Lab puts at 35 °C or lower. The glue’s real job is to sit between the part and the coating.

1Powder-coated PEI texture2Spring steel3First layer on bare PEI4Glue-stick separation layer5First layer on glue

1. Powder-coated PEI texture
2. Spring steel
3. First layer on bare PEI
4. Glue-stick separation layer
5. First layer on glue

Prusa calls the glue stick it asks for with ABS, ASA, nylon and PC Blend a “separation layer”. Its first-layer guide explains why: some materials grip hard enough to damage a smooth PEI sheet, and glue “creates a protective separation layer”. Bambu Lab makes the same point about PETG on its textured plate. A part can be “difficult to remove”, and glue weakens the bond so the bottom doesn’t turn white when you force it off.

Any basic PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) glue stick will do, according to Prusa. You don’t need one sold for 3D printing. Bambu Lab is stricter about its own plates. It strongly discourages third-party glues and warns that glue stuck too tightly can make a sheet “bubble or crack”.

How to check it on your own print

Print PLA, PETG and TPU without glue on a sheet wiped with about 90 percent isopropyl alcohol. Reach for the glue stick only in these cases.

• PETG that won’t let go of a cold plate. Flex the sheet first. If the part still holds or comes off with white patches underneath, Bambu Lab says a thin layer of glue on the next print makes removal easier.
• Any ABS, ASA, nylon or PC print. Glue before the first print. Prusa requires it on its textured sheet, and Bambu Lab says for all four it “may be necessary”.
• White marks under a glued part. Bambu Lab traces these to glue residue that set during heating. An alcohol wipe on the underside takes them off.

Getting the glue off the plate is easy. Prusa uses dish soap and water on PVA glue. Bambu Lab soaks dried glue in water for about 30 seconds, then washes it off.

Sources

1. Textured steel sheet, Prusa Knowledge Base (accessed September 23, 2026)
2. First layer issues, Prusa Knowledge Base (accessed September 23, 2026)
3. Introduction to Bambu Lab Build Plates, Bambu Lab Wiki (accessed September 23, 2026)
4. How to use Bambu Lab glue, Bambu Lab Wiki (accessed September 23, 2026)
5. Filament guide, Bambu Lab Wiki (accessed September 23, 2026)