Stringing

Also known as: Oozing, Hairy Prints, Whiskers, Cobwebbing

beginner Print Quality

Thin threads of filament left between parts of a print during travel moves.

Stringing occurs when molten filament oozes from the nozzle during travel moves, leaving thin threads or “hairs” between parts of your print.

Common Causes

  1. Retraction settings too low - Filament isn’t pulled back enough
  2. Temperature too high - More fluid filament oozes more easily
  3. Wet/moist filament - Absorbed moisture causes extra oozing
  4. Travel speed too slow - More time for filament to drip
  5. Worn nozzle - Oversized hole from wear

Solutions

Adjust Retraction

  • Increase retraction distance (try 1mm increments)
  • Increase retraction speed
  • Enable “wipe” or “coasting” features

Lower Temperature

  • Reduce hotend temperature by 5-10°C
  • Run a temperature tower test to find optimal temp

Dry Your Filament

  • Use a filament dryer for 4-6 hours
  • Store filament with desiccant
  • PLA absorbs less moisture; PETG and Nylon absorb more

Slicer Settings

  • Enable “combing” to avoid crossing perimeters
  • Increase travel speed
  • Enable Z-hop to avoid stringing across top surfaces

Post-Processing

Light stringing can be removed with:

  • Heat gun (careful, brief passes)
  • Lighter (quick flame, don’t melt the print)
  • Craft knife or deburring tool