I’ve seen a number of help requests lately that have to do with clogged nozzles. I’ll share how I go about unclogging nozzles, but I will also share how I deal with clogged nozzles afterwards.
To unclog a nozzle, the first thing I do is heat up the hotend as high as the software will allow. This can help break down any clogs that may be in the nozzle into smaller pieces and allow them to pass through. Next, I’ll take a small pin or needle and carefully push it into the nozzle and try to remove any material that I find there.
If that is not successful, the next thing I will try is a cold pull. Heat the nozzle up and then let it cool down completely. The idea is that (hopefully) any impurities will be absorbed into the filament so that we can pull it out when it solidifies. Next, I typically remove the bowden tube connection so that I can pull on the filament directly. Heat up the hot end and start pulling gently, but firmly on the filament. You will feel it start to give at a certain temperature. Pull it all the way out and cut the tip off. This should remove some of the impurities that were previously stuck in the nozzle. Do this 2-3 more times.
If you are not successful with either of these methods, I just replace the entire hot end. For most hobby printers, hot ends cost $10 – $20. I usually keep a spare on hand and just swap it out.