Refurb: Creality K1 SE FDM 3D Printer w/ Flexible Build Plate & Auto-Leveling

Lovellholiday

Jul 24, 2025 02:42 PM

67 Posts

Joined Nov 2016

LovellholidayJul 24, 2025 02:42 PM

67 Posts

Jumped onto that deal quick. I upgraded from a Ender 3 V2 Neo to a K1, night and day difference in quality, features and reliability. Sub 200 for the same quality for my small printing business is a no brainer.

3

2Quik

Jul 24, 2025 02:56 PM

361 Posts

Joined Mar 2013

2QuikJul 24, 2025 02:56 PM

361 Posts

I've been on the fence with this and the Elegoo Centauri carbon. Not sure which would be the best choice?

MisterTedster

Jul 24, 2025 02:57 PM

270 Posts

Joined Nov 2005

MisterTedsterJul 24, 2025 02:57 PM

270 Posts

Quote from 2Quik

:

I've been on the fence with this and the Elegoo Centauri carbon. Not sure which would be the best choice?

Centauri carbon, without question. Larger build plate and fully enclosed. Elegoo has a better track record for customer service and quality.

7

jjofnwa

Jul 24, 2025 03:06 PM

69 Posts

Joined Dec 2011

jjofnwaJul 24, 2025 03:06 PM

69 Posts

Quote from 2Quik

:

I've been on the fence with this and the Elegoo Centauri carbon. Not sure which would be the best choice?

I believe the Centauri Carbon firmware is closed, versus the K1 SE that uses klipper. Also the Centauri Carbon is $300+. That said, I really hope Elegoo releases the Centauri model at the $200 price point. That would be an instant buy from me versus this K1 SE, but who knows if they will ever release it, and if they do will the quantities be there? When will it ship? etc

4

PopoSheeSho

Jul 24, 2025 03:17 PM

551 Posts

Joined Apr 2018

PopoSheeShoJul 24, 2025 03:17 PM

551 Posts

Quote from 2Quik

:

I've been on the fence with this and the Elegoo Centauri carbon. Not sure which would be the best choice?

Never printed on the K1 but I have no regrets getting the Centauri Carbon. It's fantastic. Pretty comparable results to my X1C.

1

ChrisBobson

Jul 24, 2025 04:33 PM

5,285 Posts

Joined Nov 2012

ChrisBobsonJul 24, 2025 04:33 PM

5,285 Posts

Every time the cheaper refurbished models are posted on here, there are always comments about how crappy they are and trying to get Creality to fix something is like pulling hair, otherwise you have to fix it yourself. So it just seems like if you want this particular brand, get it new.

2

WittyCircle2310

Jul 24, 2025 04:48 PM

90 Posts

Joined Jun 2020

WittyCircle2310Jul 24, 2025 04:48 PM

90 Posts

I just got the flashforge ad5x and I love it. just another printer for thought. plus customer service is top notch

1

ZeeDuck

Jul 24, 2025 04:48 PM

2,347 Posts

Joined Feb 2013

ZeeDuckJul 24, 2025 04:48 PM

2,347 Posts

I suspect the K1 bugs have been worked out by now and the Orca support should be good. However, if the deal is still on, the Flashforge 5M new for under $210 seems like a possibly better deal. The Elegoo CC for a bit over $300 is also tempting but I doubt it prints better or faster than this printer (likely similar in both cases).

I think the big question is how much does the cost difference matter. If you're budget is tight, yeah, this is a good value if the refurb is quality. While a property enclosed is preferred, a budget DIY enclosed for this would allow you to do things like ABS etc. Now ideal but possible.

1

Jhustine

Jul 24, 2025 04:49 PM

781 Posts

Joined Feb 2016

JhustineJul 24, 2025 04:49 PM

781 Posts

just get a centauri carbon. it's not on pre-order anymore.

klae17

Jul 24, 2025 04:52 PM

46 Posts

Joined Dec 2019

klae17Jul 24, 2025 04:52 PM

46 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank klae17

I returned 11 of these bastards. Get the centuri.

5

1

2

doctorevil30564

Jul 24, 2025 05:15 PM

714 Posts

Joined Aug 2006

doctorevil30564Jul 24, 2025 05:15 PM

714 Posts

Quote from ZeeDuck

:

I suspect the K1 bugs have been worked out by now and the Orca support should be good. However, if the deal is still on, the Flashforge 5M new for under $210 seems like a possibly better deal. The Elegoo CC for a bit over $300 is also tempting but I doubt it prints better or faster than this printer (likely similar in both cases).

I think the big question is how much does the cost difference matter. If you're budget is tight, yeah, this is a good value if the refurb is quality. While a property enclosed is preferred, a budget DIY enclosed for this would allow you to do things like ABS etc. Now ideal but possible.

As a Pre-Order K1 owner, yeah all the initial issues for the K1 were fixed, either by the updated version of the extruder, swapping out the stock hotend for a Micro Swiss Flowtech hotend, firmware updates or The awesome project that allowed us to fully unlock klipper functionality. The most in depth thing I had to do was use the skip tooth method to adjust my bed to get the variance between the lowest points of the bed mesh and the highest points of the bed to just over 0.3mm. I do advise to use hair spray instead of a glue stick when printing on the stock smooth finish bed plate, and to make sure you either print play with the cover removed or spaced using a riser with ventilation holes. I bought the CFS upgrade kit for mine, but haven't installed it yet. I'm still working on the multiple issues I have had with the Anycubic Kobra S1 I made the mistake of ordering. Anyone who thinks Creality stuff is crap, should have to buy an Anycubic printer to use. If you hit the lottery and get one that doesn't have issues you're good to go, but if you don't get a good one it's one headache after another. My remaining issues are pending me getting the funssor upgraded undercarriage piece to go along with the replacement 8mm thick replacement bed kit I just got. The undercarriage kit just started showing up on AliExpress or I would have ordered both at the same time.

2

zbb0674

Jul 24, 2025 05:24 PM

146 Posts

Joined Nov 2014

zbb0674Jul 24, 2025 05:24 PM

146 Posts

How does this compare to Bambu A1 mini?

lckillah

Jul 24, 2025 05:38 PM

74 Posts

Joined Dec 2014

lckillahJul 24, 2025 05:38 PM

74 Posts

Quote from jjofnwa

:

I believe the Centauri Carbon firmware is closed, versus the K1 SE that uses klipper. Also the Centauri Carbon is $300+. That said, I really hope Elegoo releases the Centauri model at the $200 price point. That would be an instant buy from me versus this K1 SE, but who knows if they will ever release it, and if they do will the quantities be there? When will it ship? etc

I have the K1 Max and the Centauri Carbon. Centauri Carbon hasn't failed me yet, while K1 Max, had to fix the bed, ghosting issues, crooked lead screws.

1

CEOTheNetwork

Jul 24, 2025 05:42 PM

149 Posts

Joined Nov 2018

CEOTheNetworkJul 24, 2025 05:42 PM

149 Posts

Quote from ChrisBobson

:

Every time the cheaper refurbished models are posted on here, there are always comments about how crappy they are and trying to get Creality to fix something is like pulling hair, otherwise you have to fix it yourself. So it just seems like if you want this particular brand, get it new.

Haven't had any problems with my K1C.

Refurb: Creality K1 SE FDM 3D Printer w/ Flexible Build Plate & Auto-Leveling

$179

$279

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