I set a print and forgot to turn on the fan on my E3D. Came back a minute later, the heatsink and extruder were hot to the touch, and the PTFE bowden tube melted inside the cold side and heatbreak. I was able to separate the heatbreak and cold side from the rest of the printer, now how do I clean out all that melted PLA and PTFE in the heatbreak and cold side? Someone suggested burning PLA for cleaning nozzles, but I don't know about doing that to the heatbreak and cold side. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661377#msg-661377 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:20:58 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661458#msg-661458 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661458#msg-661458 epicepee General Sun, 08 May 2016 01:50:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661399#msg-661399 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661399#msg-661399 Do you have a photo of the molten parts?
Cleaning PLA can be difficult, since it does not dissolve easily. Burning metal parts out can work, though you should only do that outside.
DO NOT burn it out if there is any chance that PTFE is in the mix. Burning PTFE will release toxic chemicals.]]> Srek General Sat, 07 May 2016 18:01:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661395#msg-661395 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661395#msg-661395 JamesK General Sat, 07 May 2016 17:48:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661377#msg-661377 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,661377,661377#msg-661377 kenblu24 General Sat, 07 May 2016 16:39:59 -0400