<p>If you are able to force the filament from the interior of the bowden tube without causing damage to the tube, you will be able to determine the cause of the clog. My bowden tube clogged recently, but it was because I left the system idle with old filament inside. The filament broke from brittleness and the edge of the broken pieces managed to wedge against the tube. </p>

<p>I was able to use a "healthy" piece of filament along with great force (pliers pushing close to the tubing end) and remove the damaged filament.</p>

<p>Once removed, the new filament slid easily within.</p>

<p>Your PTC fittings may not have to be replaced if the tubing is not damaged inside and if the existing spacing meets your requirements. A PTC fitting has a ring of teeth which gouge and/or grasp the outside of the tubing preventing removal. It is frequently necessary to push the tubing into the fitting, then compressing the release ring followed by pulling the tubing.</p>

<p>The PTC fitting at the end where only the filament exits is probably a stock fitting. The fitting which has the bowden tube extending through it has been drilled and may be challenging to find. Your best source for such a fitting is the original manufacturer.</p>

<p>It's clear in the video that the threaded portion of the two fittings are different.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-17T21:48:16.600Z
The problem is I can't force the filament anywhere. It's totally stuck even with pliers. The ptc fittings are also totally stuck in place even when the lock mechanism is released. I just bought a replacement
Matt
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-17T22:02:41.433Z
that's good that you have a replacement. With such damage, even if the filament was removed, it would probably give you problems in the future.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-15T23:14:02.630Z
2018-09-15T23:14:02.630Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I haven't tried this, but it's possible to melt filament inside a PTFE bowden tube; some have even used this for splicing filaments. The examples I saw were over a flame but controlled heating would probably be better. If you do this, weld the clog to another piece of filament then push or pull once it's started to cool.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T18:12:52.353Z
2020-04-19T18:12:52.353Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>Most standard filaments soften at 200 °C, meaning a pot of near-boiling water should soften whatever is stuck, allowing you to either fuse another strand of filament to it or use it to push it out of the tube.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-25T04:49:44.783Z
2022-01-25T05:12:57.780Z
2022-01-25T05:12:57.780Z
Avram Stanton
<p>As a short-term fix,  grab a twist drill bit that is on the order of  1.5 mm diameter (assuming a 1.75 mm tube).  Using a hand drill, slowly and gently drill out the clogged filament.  Obviously you want to try to avoid scarring the teflon lining, so better to use the thinnest drill that will work.  </p>

<p>With a little training and a little luck, you'll get the clog cleared. I would recommend removing the nozzle first so that the chips don't fall into the nozzle.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-25T09:02:54.270Z
Usually, the Bowden tube is 2 mm in inner diameter
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-25T22:35:42.823Z
@Trish 1.9 mm is also pretty common these days.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-17T17:34:42.707Z
2018-09-17T17:34:42.707Z
Carl Witthoft
<p>There's PLA filament clogged in my Bowden tube, is there a best practice for cleaning it out or do I need to replace the whole tube?</p>
<p>Also, the couplings are totally stuck, so I guess those would need replacement too or are there ways to get stuck couplings off?</p>
<p>Click <a href="https://streamable.com/bi73e" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> for a video.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:39:08.690Z
I use a pipe cutter and cut the last quarter inch off - what I want to know is why it happens in the first place
Robert
<pla><ptfe-tube><bowden>
Bowden tube clog
Matt
# Bowden tube clog

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-15)

There's PLA filament clogged in my Bowden tube, is there a best practice for cleaning it out or do I need to replace the whole tube?

Also, the couplings are totally stuck, so I guess those would need replacement too or are there ways to get stuck couplings off?

Click [here](https://streamable.com/bi73e) for a video.

**Tags:** pla, ptfe-tube, bowden

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I use a pipe cutter and cut the last quarter inch off - what I want to know is why it happens in the first place  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-09-17. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

As a short-term fix, grab a twist drill bit that is on the order of 1.5 mm diameter (assuming a 1.75 mm tube). Using a hand drill, slowly and gently drill out the clogged filament. Obviously you want to try to avoid scarring the teflon lining, so better to use the thinnest drill that will work.

With a little training and a little luck, you'll get the clog cleared. I would recommend removing the nozzle first so that the chips don't fall into the nozzle.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: Usually, the Bowden tube is 2 mm in inner diameter  
> **username_7**: @username_6 1.9 mm is also pretty common these days.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-09-15. Score: 3

If you are able to force the filament from the interior of the bowden tube without causing damage to the tube, you will be able to determine the cause of the clog. My bowden tube clogged recently, but it was because I left the system idle with old filament inside. The filament broke from brittleness and the edge of the broken pieces managed to wedge against the tube.

I was able to use a "healthy" piece of filament along with great force (pliers pushing close to the tubing end) and remove the damaged filament.

Once removed, the new filament slid easily within.

Your PTC fittings may not have to be replaced if the tubing is not damaged inside and if the existing spacing meets your requirements. A PTC fitting has a ring of teeth which gouge and/or grasp the outside of the tubing preventing removal. It is frequently necessary to push the tubing into the fitting, then compressing the release ring followed by pulling the tubing.

The PTC fitting at the end where only the filament exits is probably a stock fitting. The fitting which has the bowden tube extending through it has been drilled and may be challenging to find. Your best source for such a fitting is the original manufacturer.

It's clear in the video that the threaded portion of the two fittings are different.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The problem is I can't force the filament anywhere. It's totally stuck even with pliers. The ptc fittings are also totally stuck in place even when the lock mechanism is released. I just bought a replacement  
> **username_2**: that's good that you have a replacement. With such damage, even if the filament was removed, it would probably give you problems in the future.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-04-19. Score: 2

I haven't tried this, but it's possible to melt filament inside a PTFE bowden tube; some have even used this for splicing filaments. The examples I saw were over a flame but controlled heating would probably be better. If you do this, weld the clog to another piece of filament then push or pull once it's started to cool.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-01-25. Score: 1

Most standard filaments soften at 200 °C, meaning a pot of near-boiling water should soften whatever is stuck, allowing you to either fuse another strand of filament to it or use it to push it out of the tube.


---

