Something As Elementary As Pipe Cleaners

[ophiuchus]

You’d think I’d have something like this figured out.

I rarely buy pipe cleaners now, because nearly a decade ago (in the time before Cigar International bought the P&C website) I went through a serious bout of PCAD (Pipe Clearner Acquisition Disorder) and continue to use pipe cleaners from this months-long episode to this day. BJ Longs are serviceable, and they made a variety of lengths and thicknesses. But they shed fuzz. I’ve put up with it for years, but it still bugs me. Fuzz.

I’ve tried Stanwell’s pipe cleaners. They don’t shed as much, but still, fuzz. Mac Baren’s? Fuzz. Fuzz! It’s driving me nuts!

Okay, it’s not that bad, but there’s room for improvement. I used to pick up Dill’s at the grocery store, but that was a long time ago, so I don’t know if there’s been any change in quality over the years.

So ... what pipe cleaners do you use? Do you like yours with bristles? Do you use pipe cleaners at all? If there such thing as a pipe cleaner that does not shed?

-Help!!

 

[tfdickson]

My favorite are Bj Long 7” available from P&C (yeah I know). They seem to shed less than the regular ones and the extra length comes in handy even on pipes that aren’t particularly long.

Blitz and Brigham are both good too- less flex in the wire and also minimal shedding, those are available at SPC.

 

[sallow]

I use the BJ Longs 'yellow'.

Funny my son didn't realize pipe cleaners were used to clean pipes. He thought they were craft supplies.

 

[shaneireland]

I love pipe cleaner discussions! Haha

So, I think that it’s a good idea to keep a variety of cleaners on hand for different things. Brigham Churchwarden length, or B.J. Long’s 9-inch are handy for Canadian, longer bamboo shanks, and Churchwardens (duh).

If you have a bunch of modern pipes with more-open airways, then skinny cleaners might not work well and you need fluffy, or tapered cleaners, the latter being more versatile for a wider range of airways.

Peterson, Brigham Regular & Brigham bristled are excellent and shed very little. Having said that, my all-time favorite are Blitz. It’s basically an “all-in-one” that’s lightly bristled, but still useable for all applications. They pretty much don’t shed at all and the wire is very firm.
Unfortunately, supply has been spotty lately and there’s a possibility that they won’t be available going forward.

We recently started carrying White Elephant cleaners from Germany and they’re similarly excellent. I think they’ll be my preferred cleaners going forward if I can’t continue to get my hands on Blitz.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've only used BJ Long bristled cleaners exclusively for many years now. Don't really notice any fuzz.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

BJ Longs - blitz(great)- Generics - the Fluffy and the sharp - doesn't matter I buy them all
My method: any Polyester(cheaper) sharp ones are used during cleaning - I get nicked and pricked EVERYTIME (hate 'em)
Cotton absorbant fluffy ones used during actual smoke and left in pipe afterwards to absorb gunk and moisture

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

I love pipe cleaner discussions! Haha

So, I think that it’s a good idea to keep a variety of cleaners on hand for different things. Brigham Churchwarden length, or B.J. Long’s 9-inch are handy for Canadian, longer bamboo shanks, and Churchwardens (duh).

If you have a bunch of modern pipes with more-open airways, then skinny cleaners might not work well and you need fluffy, or tapered cleaners, the latter being more versatile for a wider range of airways.

Peterson, Brigham Regular & Brigham bristled are excellent and shed very little. Having said that, my all-time favorite are Blitz. It’s basically an “all-in-one” that’s lightly bristled, but still useable for all applications. They pretty much don’t shed at all and the wire is very firm.
Unfortunately, supply has been spotty lately and there’s a possibility that they won’t be available going forward.

We recently started carrying White Elephant cleaners from Germany and they’re similarly excellent. I think they’ll be my preferred cleaners going forward if I can’t continue to get my hands on Blitz.

Wow ShaneIreland belated Welcome - didn't know you were here

 

[shaneireland]

Wow ShaneIreland belated Welcome - didn't know you were here

???????

 

[Jwebb90]

Here is my supply. Bought this from SP sometime last year and it has certainly been worth it.

 

[drrock]

Here is my supply. Bought this from SP sometime last year and it has certainly been worth it.View attachment 59353

How many bundles of pipe cleaners come in a box like that? I'm a big believer in running a pipe cleaner or two down my pipe as I smoke a bowlful so buying a box might be more cost effective...

 

[Spa32]

Here is my supply. Bought this from SP sometime last year and it has certainly been worth it.View attachment 59353

How many bundles come in that box?

 

[lightxmyfire]

I used to love the Decatur tapered cleaners. They had a nice stiff core so they wouldn’t bend and become unusable through a tight spot, they didn’t shed and they were fluffy enough at one end and skinny enough at the other. Sadly haven’t been able to find them in years so I’m using the Brigham’s. The Brighams are pretty good, don’t shed, I do find they will buckle if push through a tight spot which annoys me.

I just purchased the white elephants that @shaneireland just mentioned to give them a shot and so far they are indeed excellent. Both the regular and the bristle. They’ve a Got a strong core, good size, don’t shed! Might still need to stock the Brigham fluffy for the bigger drafts but so far I love these elephants!

 

[kcghost]

I buy the BJ Long's 7" ones and have no problem.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I use regular BJ Long. Haven't noticed an excessive amount of fuzz but I'm not anal retentive about that type of thing.

 

[Chasing Embers]

How many bundles come in that box?

Forty-eight

 

[bnichols23]

I normally use Zed bristles. Never noticed a shed problem.

 

[sablebrush52]

I mostly use BJ Long pipe cleaners, regular 6.5" for stems, tapered bristles, regular tapers, and fluffies, as well as shank brushes, for the shank. I haven't had much of a fuzz problem. Most of what I buy these days are pipe cleaners. You can't ever have too many of them.

 

[ophiuchus]

You gentlemen have me thinking that maybe I’ve been a little hard on the BJ Longs; a lot of fans here. I have been using them for years, they come in many lengths and thicknesses and they’re pretty inexpensive. Maybe I’m just being picky.

 

[ophiuchus]

I love pipe cleaner discussions! Haha

So, I think that it’s a good idea to keep a variety of cleaners on hand for different things. Brigham Churchwarden length, or B.J. Long’s 9-inch are handy for Canadian, longer bamboo shanks, and Churchwardens (duh).

If you have a bunch of modern pipes with more-open airways, then skinny cleaners might not work well and you need fluffy, or tapered cleaners, the latter being more versatile for a wider range of airways.

Peterson, Brigham Regular & Brigham bristled are excellent and shed very little. Having said that, my all-time favorite are Blitz. It’s basically an “all-in-one” that’s lightly bristled, but still useable for all applications. They pretty much don’t shed at all and the wire is very firm.
Unfortunately, supply has been spotty lately and there’s a possibility that they won’t be available going forward.

We recently started carrying White Elephant cleaners from Germany and they’re similarly excellent. I think they’ll be my preferred cleaners going forward if I can’t continue to get my hands on Blitz.

You’ve got me thinking that I’m going about this wrong. I sampled the hell out of tobacco blends; maybe I should be sampling the hell out of pipe cleaners. You and lightxmyfire have gotten me curious about White Elephant ... I may have to do something like order some from smokingpipes.com and try them out ...

 

[logs]

How many bundles come in that box?

48 according to the BJ Long website

BJ Long Pipe Cleaners – Superior Quality Pipe Cleaners Made in the USA

www.bjlong.com