I was thinking...

monty55 · Apr 27, 2014

Anybody else cut their pipe cleaners now and then for whatever reason? I find myself doing it to get a fresh end on my cleaner if I use it to get a gurgle out, or to cut one in half that has two dirty ends. Am I alone?
I looked around a bit on the web and found nothing, but what about a tamper tool with a built in wire cutter. Surely I'm not the first to have this cross my mind. My vision was something of a normal looking tamper, but with a small hole in the side of it. Insert pipe cleaner in hole to desired spot and bush down tamper on a firm surface or between thumb and forefinger and it cuts the pipe cleaner. Kinda like a tiny guillotine blade inside the pipe cleaner.
If they existed, would you buy one for under $20.00?

petes03 · Apr 27, 2014

I've never really done that, but I've heard of lots of other guys that do.

And yeah, I'd probably buy such a tool!

bubblehead33 · Apr 27, 2014

I have done that monty. I just use a little multi-tool, it seems to do the trick but your idea does sound like a winner.

mrenglish · Apr 27, 2014

When I worked in a B&M we had a customer who would always buy churchwarden pipe cleaners and clip them as needed. I have not done this but if a tool was handy, it is a good idea.

condorlover1 · Apr 27, 2014

I believe its called a cigar cutter!

dottiewarden · Apr 28, 2014

I tend to cut my pipe cleaners in half, otherwise I'd be wasting the entire clean section in the middle. I clean my pippes after every second bowl to avoid mid smoke clogging.
As for you tool, a regular pipe tool goes foor about $4.00, so if you're asking if I'd pay $16.00 more just to cut my cleaners, I don't think so.
On the other hand, if the cutting feature came included with an extremely tempting pipe tool, I supose I would be happy to have the added benefit.
As for now, a pipe tool is exactly that, a $4.00 tool.

mrmotoyoshi · Apr 28, 2014

I wouldn't advise using a cigar cutter to snip a pipe cleaner. You're going to damage a blade that needs to remain as sharp as possible.
I have some churchwarden cleaners. Haven't been smoking my wardens recently and started snipping the pipe cleaners in half and using them on my smaller pipes. A scissor is more than sufficient.

andystewart · Apr 28, 2014

Ummm I think I'm too profligate with my pipe cleaners! I use about 6 a day to clean after smokes and swab out any gurgles. Never even thought about cutting them in half. Tool sounds like a great idea though if - as the Warden says - it's in a tool I'd want/need and the price was right.
Andy

cosmicfolklore · Apr 28, 2014

Just throw the pipe cleaners in with the laundry. I suggest drying them on the clothes line, verses the drier. The heat can shrink them :wink:

allan · Apr 28, 2014

I send them to the dry cleaner...
Seriously though, Monty's idea sounds really good
I'm not an environmentalist, but I do feel wasting for no good reason just isn't smart. 3/4 of my pipe cleaner is thrown away when I'm on and about and when I'm home, well, I just don't think about it
I think that I'd buy that tool if it existed

surlysoul · Apr 28, 2014

I don't usually cut them, but I have and used a toenail clipper.

phil67 · Apr 28, 2014

I do on occasion. At times I simply hate the idea of tossing out what is a perfectly good/usable pipe cleaner just because the end is dirty. I have a fingernail clipper where I usually smoke and it does the trick.

12pups · Apr 28, 2014

No, you're not alone. I don't like sending a dirty pipe cleaner end into the bit. But I don't necessarily want to get a fresh pipe cleaner if I just flipped it to tend a gurgle a couple times. So I'll snip that end off a little down to clean pipe cleaner.
But I'm against buying extra specialty tools. I'd have to have Batman's utility belt if I got all the tinker toys I wanted. A friend on here sent me some tampers, and I do try to carry those. But even then, if I have tobaccco, pipe and matches... I'm already doing pretty good for myself. Buying a special tamper? For me, probably no. I try to make do with what's on hand. In the office, a scissors. In the truck, my multitool.

foggymountain · Apr 28, 2014

I have done it when near broke.

larrylegend · Apr 28, 2014

I cut mine in half and use them as filters for my cobs. I just use wire cutters for them and cut up about 50 at a time and keep them with my pipe stuff. When I need more I cut more. I have never thought about cutting them to use for cleaning, but I might give that a try.

cortezattic · Apr 28, 2014

:idea: How about a pipe cleaning tool constructed along the lines of a gun barrel patch holder -- just smaller.
Hmm... maybe this post belongs in the What Are You Smoking thread. :lol:

beefeater33 · Apr 28, 2014

I cut mine in half lengthwise, its a little tedious, but I get the full length of the swab!

derfargin · Apr 30, 2014

I use the entire cleaner for the smoke. I use the ends for the "gurgles", and then when I'm done with the bowl, I bend it in half and dip the unused portion in Everclear and do a shank scrub. I then wipe out the bowl with the still wet and somewhat dirty cleaner. I then follow with a second pipe cleaner and repeat the process. I do this every time I smoke a bowl.
Pipe cleaners are pretty inexpensive so I don't mind using them often to keep the pipes sweet. If I was worried about my having to spend money on extra pipe cleaners, then I'd never pull the trigger on buying more tobacco.

I was thinking...

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