Stringing (Thin Wisps)
Easy to Fix
Thin strands of plastic appear between separate parts of your print, like spider webs.
What Does It Look Like?
Thin plastic threads between print features
Wisps or cobwebs on travel moves
Small blobs at start/end points
Common Causes
Retraction settings too low
Temperature too high
Travel speed too slow
Wet filament (absorbed moisture)
Solutions (Try in Order)
Start with Priority 1 solutions. Make one change at a time and test between changes.
1
Increase Retraction Distance
Enable or increase retraction distance by 0.5-1mm increments
Retraction: Start at 5mm for Bowden, 2mm for direct drive
1
Increase Retraction Speed
Faster retraction pulls material back more effectively
Retraction Speed: 40-60mm/s for most filaments
2
Lower Print Temperature
Reduce temperature in 5°C increments
Try 5-10°C below current temp
2
Increase Travel Speed
Faster travel moves reduce ooze time
Travel Speed: 150-200mm/s
3
Dry Your Filament
Moisture causes bubbling and oozing
Dry PLA at 50°C for 4 hours, PETG at 65°C for 4 hours
Prevention Tips
- Save working settings for each filament type
- Perform regular printer maintenance
- Keep filament dry and stored properly
- Re-level bed before important prints
- Start with manufacturer-recommended settings
At a Glance
Severity:
MEDIUM
Difficulty:
Easy
Category:
Stringing & Oozing
Solutions:
5