The present invention relates to a sinter powder composed of polyamide which also comprises metal salts of weak acids, in particular metal carbonates, and fatty acid derivatives, in particular fatty acid esters or fatty acid amides, to a process for laser sintering, and also to moldings produced from this sinter powder. The moldings formed using the powder of the invention have marked advantages in appearance and in surface finish when compared with conventional products, especially when recyclability in the selective laser sintering (SLS) process is taken into account. Moldings produced from recycled sinter powder of the invention moreover also have markedly improved mechanical properties when compared with moldings based on recycled conventional nylon-12 powders, in particular in terms of modulus of elasticity and tensile strain at break. These moldings also have a density approaching that of injection moldings.