CR PETG 3D Printer Filament — Worth Your While, Or Just a Hassle?

So, the CR PETG 3D Printer Filament claims to mix the best features of PLA and ABS: supposed to be sturdy, dimensionally accurate, not stinky, and easy to use, all tied up in one neat 1KG, 1.75mm spool. Sounds dreamy, right? On paper, yeah. But before you let this stuff anywhere near your printer, let’s take a walk through the perks and real headaches so you don’t go in blind.

PETG: The Middle-of-the-Road Contender

PETG sits right between the low-drama PLA and the more rugged (but tricky) ABS. You get a filament that doesn’t stink up the room but still promises a glossy, clear finish with a solid bit of strength. In theory, printing at 230°C or so on a 75°C-ish bed should do the trick. That’s what the makers say anyway. Reality, though, is choosier—drift too much from these numbers or slack off on prep, and things can go sideways.

Packaging & Winding: Sometimes Prim, Sometimes Primed-to-Snarl

This filament arrives sealed up to keep moisture out (or so it claims), with the kind of winding that should feed smoothly. Realistically, though? It’s a dice roll. A fair few folks have pulled spools out of the box only to find they look like a kindergarten friendship bracelet: tangled, looped, and ready to jam. When the winding goes wrong, your peaceful afternoon of printing quickly flips into a noodle-unraveling marathon.

Performance: When It’s Good, It’s Good. When It’s Bad? Buckle Up.

Set everything up by the book, and yeah, this filament can produce crisp, glossy prints—the dimension tolerance is tight. But it’s temperamental. Even small misses—say, a humid day or a couple of degrees off—can really mess with your outcome. If you don’t dry it carefully, your supposedly “moistureproof” filament turns squishy or brittle, and forget about layer adhesion: prints that seem sturdy can start fracturing or delaminating with just a little pressure.

Worse, if your roll happens to have wonky winding, you’ll get jams mid-project. Have you ever babysat a printer every half hour? It’s not my idea of productivity.

Problems That Just Won’t Go Away

Here’s the grit in the gears:

• Moisture is the filament’s kryptonite. Even sealed tight, once the roll’s exposed, the humidity monster creeps in fast. You get bubbling, stringing, and the horror of cleaning melted goo out of your nozzle. If you’re not drying this stuff religiously, don’t even start a print.
• Brittle prints that break your heart (and models): Instead of tough, you might end up with parts that break when you look at them the wrong way. It’s not 100% of the time, but often enough that I’d warn anyone relying on strong parts.
• Layer adhesion that isn’t always there for you: Sometimes layers stick great, but let your print room get a bit cool or your temp drift, and your model starts flaking apart. It’s more “fair weather” than “workhorse.”
• Super glossy finish can be a little much: If you want a subtle or matte look, this PETG’s shine actually highlights every single layer line. Looks nifty in some cases, distracting in others. For detailed models where surface finish counts, you might not love it.
• Winding issues aren’t rare, and they’re a royal pain: Nothing says “day ruined” like fighting an endless knot halfway through an important print. When the winding is bad, it is really bad.

If You Still Want To Try (or Are Stuck With a Roll)

Alright, maybe you just love the challenge, or you inherited a spool from a well-intentioned friend. Here’s how to make your life easier:

• Dry it first. No shortcuts. Use a filament dryer or improvise an oven solution (carefully—nobody wants melted plastic in their kitchen).
• Do a “tangle patrol” as soon as you open the box. Unwind a bit. See a knot? Straighten it out or, if you’re patient, re-spool the whole thing.
• Start with a calibration print—just a benchy, not a two-day dragon. Use it to test if your setting tweaks and humidity control are doing the trick.
• Adjust temps by feel—not all printers are built alike, so don’t worship the label instructions.
• Store the spool in a dry box. Your family might find it weird, but it’ll save you grief.

For Teachers, Tinkerers, and Busy Bees

If your classroom or project space doesn’t have time for high-maintenance relationships, the CR PETG just doesn’t fit the bill. The last thing anyone needs is to waste lesson time or energy troubleshooting mystery jams or fiddling with print temps for hours. If you’re a hobbyist who gets a kick out of problem-solving or you just love the glossy plastic look, maybe you’ll get your money’s worth (after a few headaches). For everyone else? There are easier PETG spools out there that aren’t so high-strung.

And The Call? Hard Pass Unless You Love a Challenge

Straight up: unless you actively enjoy fighting print gremlins, this filament isn’t for you. Once you factor in all the prep, drying, and the chance your model will come apart like bad cornbread, the risks don’t balance out the savings. There are PETG filaments that behave themselves and won’t leave your nozzle in a tangle or your models brittle.

In short, if you thrive when things are a little unpredictable and you want to wrangle every print setting, buy a roll. But if you value your time, sanity, or need predictable results for classroom projects, arch that eyebrow and keep shopping.

Happy printing—and may your spools never tangle and your models never shatter.