ANYCUBIC PETG Filament: The Strong, Stubborn Choice for Makers Who Don’t Mind a Little Drama

Alright, let’s talk about ANYCUBIC’s PETG filament—because if you’ve spent any time fighting with stubborn rolls of plastic at two in the morning, you know that not all filaments are created equal. This one struts into the workshop with a badge of honor for its tight tolerance (±0.02mm) and a promise of tough, impact-ready prints. Great for functional parts, sure, but that’s not the whole story.

Let me walk you through where it shines and where it totally side-eyes your hopes for a perfect print.

First things first: PETG is like the golden retriever of printing plastics—a bit too enthusiastic, resilient, and, okay, sometimes a menace with the drool (or, in this case, stringing). It’s built for strength and some flexibility, which is exactly what you want if your prints are more than just shelf candy. ANYCUBIC claims this stuff lands right on target for diameter and consistency, so you’re not left with wavering layers or weird bulges mid-print. And on most FDM machines, this rolls out smooth enough to please even picky printers (well, assuming the spool cooperates—more on that in a sec).

Visually, the prints usually come out with that signature PETG sheen—translucent if you go for the clear, and with a subtle glow if you use the gray. If you’re into showing off inner infill structures and details, you’ll probably dig it. But be ready: that color can be a little unpredictable. The gray, for example, tends to be more “fog after a rainstorm” than “striking spaceship hull”—not always as intense as you might hope, and sometimes drifting lighter or paler across the spool. Don’t bank on vibrant statement pieces with this one.

Now, durability—that’s where this filament stands tall. Prints resist a fair bit of abuse: knocks, drops, casual bending. If you want brackets or phone stands that survive family chaos or class projects, you’re in solid territory here. PETG in general (and ANYCUBIC’s offering, from what folks have poked and prodded) laughs in the face of mild chemicals and humid Philly basements. No warping nightmares or sad, limp corners either, as long as your first layer’s dialed in and your bed is hotter than a summer sidewalk.

But don’t let the tough talk fool you—it’s not all smooth rides and high-fives. Here’s where things get annoying:

• Stringing. Always with the stringing. No matter how many times your retraction wizardry saves the day, this filament sometimes insists on those fine wisps between details. It gets worse if your room feels like a swamp or if you’re lazy about filament storage. A filament dryer turns from “maybe” to “absolutely” if you want clean surfaces.

• Spool drama. Whoever packed these sometimes must have been watching a telenovela, because the filament loves crossing over itself or snuggling in the wrong places. Want to run a 12-hour print overnight? Better babysit the first few hours and check for tangles. If the feeder starts clicking or skipping, yeah, you probably hit one of those famously bad windings.

• Color mood swings. Like I said, the gray is more subtle than bold, more utilitarian than showy. This is not the filament for “wow” factor displays, but if you like practical, low-key prints, it works. For projects where color needs to match across prints, test first—consistency isn’t a guarantee.

• Packaging that doesn’t play ball. Sure, it arrives sealed with a desiccant. But good luck keeping it dry again after you open it unless you own a good airtight storage box (which, let’s be real, you should if you print with PETG anyway). If you’re the “shove it in a drawer” type, prepare for sadness and stringy prints later.

As for dial-in: don’t let the label boss you around too hard. Start in the 230–250°C range for your nozzle, 70–80°C for the bed, and adjust until the filament stops being a diva. Retraction is not “set and forget” here—if you’re seeing fuzzies, small tweaks make a big difference. And give those spools a twirl before hitting start… a messy wind can ruin your night faster than a Philly parking ticket.

So, should you give this filament a shot? If you need PETG’s brawn and don’t mind tinkering or babysitting your printer, there’s a lot to like. The diameter does stay nicely within spec, and the end result can be strong as heck. But if you crave a low-hassle, “just hit print” experience—or you’ll lose your mind over stringing or unevenly spooled rolls—maybe don’t bother. There’s competition out there with better winding, bolder color, and less attitude, even if the price per roll is a bit higher.

For me, this is a “use when you’re ready to tinker and troubleshoot” kind of spool, not my go-to for crowd-pleasing showpieces or overnight marathon prints. Handle it right and it’s a beast. Handle it wrong or slack off on storage, and you’ll be picking stringy spiderwebs out of your gears all week.

Oh, and pack your patience. You’ll need it.