BJ Long Quality: Have You Noticed A Difference?

[BROBS]

it's part of the root actually!!!!

so they are harvested like peanuts?

 

[anotherbob]

so they are harvested like peanuts?

not quite. You know those civet cat coffee beans. Same kind of deal. They have to be aged through the right kind of digestive system first.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I have one bunch of bj long extra fuzzy cleaners that aren't very fuzzy, big chunks of lint come off, and the ends are super sharp and scratch bent stems badly. Two other bundles of the same brand, same size package, bought at the same time, from the same vendor, are fine, no sharp ends no lint balls coming off.

It might be a dull cutter. I’ve never seen pipe cleaners made, but it strikes me that they are probably very long, and then cut by a machine to the designated lengths they offer. If such a cutting implement became dull, that would create more ragged ends of the wire, as well as pull tufts of lint from the ends. Just spitballing. I don’t know. ?‍

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

It might be a dull cutter. I’ve never seen pipe cleaners made, but it strikes me that they are probably very long, and then cut by a machine to the designated lengths they offer. If such a cutting implement became dull, that would create more ragged ends of the wire, as well as pull tufts of lint from the ends. Just spitballing. I don’t know. ?‍

I never thought about how a pipe cleaner is made so I looked at one under a magnifying glass. There are two wires, not one. I'm guessing the threads are inserted between two wires then the wires twisted, then cut to length. Obviously in a high speed continuous motion automated machine. I'm also guessing the wires are sheared vs cut. Again, all pure speculation on my part.

 

[canucklehead]

It might be a dull cutter. I’ve never seen pipe cleaners made, but it strikes me that they are probably very long, and then cut by a machine to the designated lengths they offer. If such a cutting implement became dull, that would create more ragged ends of the wire, as well as pull tufts of lint from the ends. Just spitballing. I don’t know. ?‍

Sounds plausible for sure.

 

[lawdawg]

I have the habit of always running the pipe cleaner through my fingers a few times to remove the excess fibers on softies. I like Dill's the best, but even they too, shed.

Underrated statement right here. I do the same, and I've never really had a problem with any pipe cleaner. They're all good enough to do the job, and the tiny strands of fuzz they can leave behind have never seemed much of a problem in practice.

 

[Rattray]

That's a rather far reaching statement. Please cite some specific examples of pipe quality eroding. And everything else for that matter.

Absolutely not far reaching at all, but a fact.

 

[sablebrush52]

I've found the quality variable for years. Mostly it's excellent, but every now and then the amount of cotton gets pretty scraggly.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Absolutely not far reaching at all, but a fact.

Useless rhetoric without some facts to support it.

 

[Rattray]

Useless rhetoric? What is this, the Nature science journal? I am surprised you don't see it. When was the last time you bought a car, appliances, food, clothes, a house, a computer, furniture, to name a few? Must have been a long time, I suppose.

 

[snoopy311]

I prefer tampered Decatur cleaners but they have been out of stock at P & C for the better part of 6 months.

 

[hawky454]

That's a rather far reaching statement. Please cite some specific examples of pipe quality eroding. And everything else for that matter.

Interesting thread. I've never been satisfied with other pipe cleaner brands. I find the BJ Long standard cleaner to be the perfect size for everyday use. I've not experienced any serious issues with excessive lint.

Plus one. From time to time I’ll use Brigham cleaners but they are too thick for certain shapes, I have quite the investment in BJ Long cleaners... I probably have a lifetime supply of them by now.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Useless rhetoric? What is this, the Nature science journal? I am surprised you don't see it. When was the last time you bought a car, appliances, food, clothes, a house, a computer, furniture, to name a few? Must have been a long time, I suppose.

Actually, I've had extensive formal training in TQM (Total Quality Management) and pay very close attention to Quality and know enough about it to be quite objective. In the past 2 1/2 years, I've bought a second home, all new appliances and furnishings for it, new car, new flat screen TV, a new laptop and at least 40 new pipes. I think you supposed incorrectly.

 

[3rdguy]

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Yeah that guillotine cutter is exactly like what I was picturing in my head, although everything beforehand is way more complex than I imagined. If that guillotine got dull, that could probably cause those ragged sharp ends some of y’all got. Good find, 3rdguy.

 

[mso489]

I haven't noticed an especially linty batch. I have noticed that one end often works much better than the other in terms of being cut trimly and not having a little hook or barb on the end.

 

[donjgiles]

I have taken to keep a pair of wire cutters next to my smoking chair for trimming of those burred ends.
Frustrating, but not a huge deal.

 

[smknron]

I haven't noticed an especially linty batch. I have noticed that one end often works much better than the other in terms of being cut trimly and not having a little hook or barb on the end.

I've noticed the same thing. I thought it was just me fumbling around, but I noticed I couldn't even get the pipe cleaner started. I started looking at a few of them and one end was twisted nicely and the other end noticeably different, maybe a barb. The struggle lol

 

[3rdguy]

In the video they show the medical grade cleaners getting some flame to one end to help with shedding. I may try that and see if it does anything.

Doesnt cost me anything...

 

[Rattray]

Actually, I've had extensive formal training in TQM (Total Quality Management) and pay very close attention to Quality and know enough about it to be quite objective. In the past 2 1/2 years, I've bought a second home, all new appliances and furnishings for it, new car, new flat screen TV, a new laptop and at least 40 new pipes. I think you supposed incorrectly.

I guess this thing has become more like 'Total Quality Mismanagement', nowadays.

I stopped buying BJ Long a few years ago as there is much better on the market: Dill's, Dr. Plumb's, Chacom (I get them in the UK). I noticed Brigham makes half decent bristle pipe cleaners.