How To Clean 3D Printer Nozzle

If your 3D printer is under extruding, clogging, printing unevenly, or even showing signs of motor stress, it could mean the nozzle is dirty.

In most cases, you’ll want to routinely inspect your printer nozzle and clean it on demand. Regular inspection will also let you know if the nozzle is worn out or if you have clogs or jams, before you break filament on them. 

Cleaning a 3D printer nozzle is normally a matter of heating the nozzle, extruding filament, and then retracting it to remove any build-up. However, you can also push debris through, use a wire brush, or even use acetone depending on how bad the nozzle is. 

Symptoms Of A Dirty Or Clogged 3D Printer Nozzle

If your 3D printer nozzle is dirty, the fastest way to find out is to inspect it.

However, you can also look for symptoms like: 

Under Extrusion 

Clogs or partial clogs will slow the extrusion of filament through the nozzle. This can result in under extrusion, especially if it’s evenly under-extruded across the full print.

However, issues with partial under extrusion might be because of an uneven bed, if part of the print is too close to the nozzle. 

Clogs and Jams 

If your filament breaks, refuses to feed through, or stops, it’s very likely to be a clog or jam. That normally means you’ll have to find the jam in the nozzle, the feeding mechanism, or the Bowden tube and push it out.

Here, hot and cold pulls are the best way to remove jams from the nozzle itself. However, if they extend to the Bowden tube, you can normally straighten the tube and push the jam out with a wire. 

Uneven Prints

A partial clog or dirt buildup can cause filament to extrude around the buildup. This may result in uneven extrusion on prints.

However, it can be difficult to pick this out as a clog-specific issue. Therefore, you’ll have to inspect the nozzle. 

Failed Prints 

If your printer is stopping, filament is refusing to feed through, or your prints are completely failing, the issue could be from a clog or jam.

However, there are a number of reasons that prints can fail, so you’ll have to inspect the nozzle to be sure. 

Clicking Motor 

A clicking motor can mean that the motor is working too hard. That may mean the filament isn’t feeding through as smoothly as it should.

In some cases, a clog or a jam will cause the issue. However, like many of the other issues, motors can click for several reasons. Therefore, it’s important to inspect the nozzle, the feed mechanism, and the PTFE tube to be sure. 

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7 Steps For Cleaning A 3D Printer Nozzle

Cleaning a 3D printer nozzle is normally a straightforward process. Often, you can also clean the nozzle while it’s on the machine. 

1. Collect Tools 

Cleaning a 3D printer nozzle means using tools that fit inside the nozzle. That often means preparing in advance.

In most cases, you’ll need: 

• A small wire brush 
• Fine needle nose pliers, such as for jewelry work 
• A nozzle cleaning tool, very fine drill bit, or very fine metal spike, such as an acupuncture needle. Plenty of shops sell custom tools. Make sure you pick one that fits the size of the nozzle you’re using. 
• Acetone and a glass jar with a sealing lid 
• Heat resistant gloves 

Chances are, you might not need all of these.

In many cases, you can get away with nothing more than a fine pair of needle nose pliers. 

2. Inspect the Nozzle 

Take the nozzle off and inspect it. Use a flashlight if necessary but try to see where the clog is.

For example, can you grab it with needle nose pliers from the top? Does it extend through the back? Is there a clog? Or, do you only have small bits of buildup clinging to the inside of the nozzle? 

3. Use a Wire Brush 

If you’re dealing with dirt or grime buildup around the edge of the nozzle, you can use a wire brush to clean it.

Here, you should normally remove the nozzle from the 3D printer to reduce stress on the arm. Then, carefully clean the nozzle with the brush.

Wipe the nozzle down with a microfiber towel to remove any dust or debris afterwards. 

4. Cold Pull 

If you have visible filament at the end of the nozzle, you can try the cold pull method to clean the nozzle.

1. Disconnect the Bowden tube.
2. Directly load the filament into the extruder.
3. Heat the printer to the melting temperature of your filament, e.g. 250°C or 200°C for PLA.
4. Feed the filament through to the print head either via the splicer or using the knob.
5. Let the printer cool.
6. Retract the filament slowly from the printer, either using the knob, the retraction setting, or by manually pulling the filament with the lever depressed. If the end is shaped like the nozzle opening, the cold pull worked, otherwise, repeat the process. 

Disconnecting the Bowden/PTFE tube allows you to directly remove any filament contamination without worrying about it breaking in the tube. Therefore, this is an important step. 

5. Atomic Pull

The atomic pull is very similar to the cold pull except you keep the filament heated for the full duration of the cleaning process. This means that it is important to be extra careful not to burn yourself.

However, it also works with less flexible filament than the cold pull. 

1. Disconnect the Bowden tube.
2. Directly load filament into the extruder.
3. Heat the nozzle to 250-260°C or 220°C for PLA.
4. Manually feed filament through the extruder until extrusion starts.
5. Lower the nozzle temperature (160°C for ABS, 90°C for PLA).
6. Retract the filament with the nozzle heated.
7. If the end of the filament is not shaped like the end of the nozzle, repeat the process until it is. 

6. Wire or Pliers 

If you have a clog further in the nozzle, you may be able to push it out using a wire or pull it out from the front. 

• Disconnect the Bowden tube.
• Raise the nozzle to the highest point.
• Heat the printer to 200°C.
• Use needle nose pliers to pull the stuck filament out of the nozzle if it is accessible from either end of the nozzle.
• Use a wire or cleaning tool matching the nozzle to push the filament upwards from the nozzle.

Both of these methods can require significant patience, as it’s difficult to see what you’re doing. 

7. Acetone Soak 

If you still can’t get the clog out of the nozzle, it may be a good idea to take the nozzle off the machine and soak it in acetone. Here, you’ll normally want to soak the nozzle for 24 or more hours, or enough time to dissolve any stuck filament. 

In this case, you can simply place the nozzle in a jar, add acetone, close the lid, and leave it alone. When you remove it, use a wire brush and a strong needle to remove any remnants from the nozzle. 

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Maintenance Tips For Your Nozzle

A small amount of preventive maintenance can go a long way towards ensuring you don’t have to clean your nozzle with a brush or cleaning tool.

However, you’ll never be able to prevent the issue entirely. 

Clean the 3D Printer Regularly 

Dust, debris, and gunk can build up and cause filament to get stuck, cool too quickly, or break. This means that inspecting the bed and the nozzle before you print can save you a lot of broken filament and clogs. 

This is especially important when you switch filament types, as failing to remove all of the old filament can cause clogs and immediate breaks.

Here, you’ll normally want to double-check that there’s no old filament left in the nozzle or use the next maintenance tip when finishing prints. 

Manually Extrude 

Built-up filament is one of the most common causes of nozzle clogs and filament breaks. However, you can remove the old filament from the nozzle by manually extruding a few mm of filament to push the liquid filament out before it hardens.

To do so, simply use the knob or the menu to extrude a small amount of filament after every print. Then, retract the filament so you don’t waste it. 

Good Filament Storage

If your filament is exposed to dust, moisture, or other contaminants, it will result in clogs, breaks, and having to clean your nozzle more often.

Here, you also want to ensure you use good quality filament and use it within the recommended timeline for your brand. 

In every case, the ideal is to store filament in a cool, dry, and dark place. Using silica gel or other absorbents to reduce moisture is always a good idea. 

Heat Settings

If the heat settings are wrong for the material you’re using, you’re very likely to have to clean the nozzle. That’s true if it’s too cold and filament hardens too quickly or if the nozzle is too hot and the filament burns and blobs.

Always make sure you check the heat recommendations for your filament and adjust the hot end accordingly. 

In addition, you want to ensure that the room is not too cold. If filament cools too quickly as it’s leaving the nozzle, it can harden and clog. Or, if your thermistor is going out, the filament may be unevenly heated. 

Nozzle Height/Bed Leveling 

It’s important to ensure that you have a level bed at all times.

If the bed isn’t level, the nozzle could scrape the bed or be so close to the bed that filament can’t come out. When this happens, you’ll get a clog or a breakage. 

That’s also true if the Z layer is set too low. The first layer height must be, at minimum, the height of the filament. Otherwise, the filament may not have enough space to come out of the nozzle, which can cause clogs. 

Cleaning Filament 

If your filament has been exposed to air, you can wipe it down with a soft cloth before loading it into the machine. This will remove any particulate or dust that may have built up.

Here, it’s important to use a dry cloth. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about cleaning 3D printer nozzles, these answers should help. 

Can a dirty nozzle cause stringing?

If you print for a very long time with one material, that material can build up on the inside of the nozzle.

Eventually, this will cause stringing or oozing. Here, you can likely fix the issue by using a cold pull or an atomic pull. 

Do you have to clean nozzle after every print?

It’s not necessary to clean the nozzle after every print. However, you should check that it is dust- and debris-free.

You should also take steps to ensure that there’s no liquid filament left in the nozzle at the end of the print. In addition, you should always clean the nozzle or inspect it when changing filament types. 

How long do 3D printer nozzles last?

In most cases, a brass nozzle will last 3-6 months depending on usage.

However, if you’re printing PLA and don’t normally have clogs, the same nozzle could last a year or more. 

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Wrapping Up

There are plenty of reasons your 3D printer nozzle can clog. However, cleaning it is normally a simple process of heating the nozzle, extruding the filament, and then pulling the filament back. In other cases, you may want to use an implement to push the filament through. And, if that doesn’t work, removing the nozzle from the machine and soaking it in acetone will remove any built-up filament. 

Eventually, preventing problems from happening is a better approach than cleaning your nozzle when things go wrong. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to clean the nozzle preventively, inspect the nozzle for dust and debris, manually extrude liquid filament after prints, and store your filament properly. All of these steps will help to keep your nozzle clean and your printer in good condition.