The Spool List matches buyers with verified local makers for 3D printing, CNC, laser and embroidery. No buyer fee; maker plans from $0 to $499/month.
Researched and fact-checked by Bartu Cavusoglu · Updated October 26, 2026
Visit The Spool List Website →
The Spool List is a marketplace app, available on iOS, Android and the web, that connects buyers with verified independent makers in their city. A buyer posts a job and is matched to a maker whose machine can run it. Core disciplines are 3D printing, CNC, laser etching and embroidery, with further markets such as woodworking, ceramics and metal fabrication.
The company is run by its founder, Merlin, and operated by The Spool List Ltd, incorporated in Delaware, USA. Buyers deal directly with the maker rather than a middleman, and every order is payment protected through Stripe. The site also lists free tools, including an STL checker and cost estimators.
The process has three steps. A buyer describes the part, attaches files or photos, and sets a budget and deadline. The network then finds verified makers nearby whose machines can run the job, and the makers send quotes directly. Buyers compare price, lead time and reviews before hiring.
The buyer pays through Stripe, chats with the maker, and confirms delivery. The maker is paid only once delivery is confirmed or the dispute window closes. If something goes wrong, either side opens a dispute in the app with photo evidence, has 7 days to resolve it, and can then escalate to The Spool List.
Trust features carry much of the product. Makers verify each machine individually with proof of ownership and sample output, KYC is required before payouts, and reviews are limited to buyers who paid for an order. Matching is per machine and per material, so makers only see jobs they can run.
Beyond job matching, Forge is a marketplace of maker-built products with shop pages, variants and CSV bulk upload. Ember builds a 3D concept from 2-4 photos and posts it as a job in one tap. Inventors get NDA-by-default matching, watermarked files and version threads that track each prototype round.
The Spool List is a marketplace that matches buyers with verified independent makers in their city. It covers 3D printing, CNC, laser etching, embroidery and other crafts, and is available on iOS, Android and the web.
Buyers pay no platform fee and only pay the maker's quote. Makers can start free with a 10% commission per completed order, or pay $14.99, $29.99 or $499 per month for lower commissions of 7%, 5% and 4%.
Yes. Buyers pay through Stripe, and the maker is paid only when delivery is confirmed or the dispute window closes. Disputes are opened in the app with photo evidence.
Makers verify each machine with proof of ownership and sample output. Identity verification (KYC) is also required before any payout.
Ember turns 2-4 photos of an object into a 3D concept that can be posted as a job for makers to print. It has a free tier of 1 concept per month and paid plans with more concepts.
Yes. Jobs from inventors run under NDA by default, files are watermarked, and previews are locked to matched makers who accept the NDA.
The site lists a Free STL Checker among its free tools, alongside a cost estimator, a material selector and a filament cost calculator. The sources do not describe how the checker works.
It suits buyers who need custom parts or small runs made locally, and makers who want matched jobs for their machines. Inventors, makerspaces and suppliers are also served.