Out of Pipe Cleaners

[Brad H]

well, I have used everclear to help assist in cleaning a pipe. It helps to remove any stuck on carbons. But I use them in conjunction with pipe cleaners.
use a paper Towel and you can clean out the bowl at least.
An air compressor can blow some serious air into the stem of a pipe, not sure how good it would work out for you but might could blow the gunk out of it if you did a quick everclear down the stem.

Things I wouldn't suggest, Carburetor cleaner, gasoline, diesel.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I see it written "pipecleaners" and "pipe cleaners" in various different places online. Why do we put the space between them? "Pipecleaners" makes more sense to me, but my spellchecker goes bonkers. And, "spellchecker" is the correct spelling. why not "spell checker" instead of "spellchecker" if we can't have "pipecleaners"?

 

[MisterBadger]

I see it written "pipecleaners" and "pipe cleaners" in various different places online. Why do we put the space between them? "Pipecleaners" makes more sense to me, but my spellchecker goes bonkers. And, "spellchecker" is the correct spelling. why not "spell checker" instead of "spellchecker" if we can't have "pipecleaners"?

The Middle Way: pipe-cleaners.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The Middle Way: pipe-cleaners.

Or... the middle-way, pipe-cleaners might just get past spell-checkers. Ha ha.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

You can probably pick up some cheap pipe cleaners at a grocery store or WalMart if you wish. Use a water flush if not. For 4 bowls, you should be fine without anything. Pipe cleaners are so cheap, I add 20 packages or so to any order I place for tobacco.

 

[Servant King]

I would focus all your time and energy into creating a time machine, and then either go forward to the weekend and get your pipe cleaners, or go back in time and do the same, back before inflation went completely bugf**k. Not the most practical solution, I know, but if you succeed, you'll make a ton of money off of it, and be able to buy an absurdly large amount of pipe cleaners. If you fail, well...you'll just have to figure out a Plan B at that point.

Happy to help!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Also, on eBay, there is/was a guy who sold them a gross at a time, so I would get about 144 packs of JB Longs at a time, and they would last me a couple of years. I won't have to order again for a few months, but I always look on there. I just keep them all in a box under one of my tables in my pipe room. I rebuy more when I get to the last couple of packs.

 

[sardonicus87]

You can also just use wadded up paper towel for the bowl... though that won't help much with stem or shank (the main areas that need cleaning).

I have a set of those shank/stem brushes, but I only use those for deeper cleaning. I suppose if I ever wasn't paying attention to my stock of pipe cleaners and ran out, I could use those.

 

[Brad H]

You can also just use wadded up paper towel for the bowl... though that won't help much with stem or shank (the main areas that need cleaning).

That is exactly what I do for my bowls. Dry paper towel and clean the bowl, it cleans the bowl without removing the desired cake.

 

[dottlejockey]

Congrats. One more lesson learned...bulk up, bud! I stocked up last time i was in Gainesville, but getting down there myself. When i get to my last pack or two i'll grab more. Was just hoping to have been back down south by now, so holding out a little longer than usual.

As an aside, I like the bottle brush idea, especially as a backup.

 

[JOHN72]

You can wrap a few turns of napkin paper or a thin cloth around a wire of the appropriate thickness. Wire is easy to find in any hardware store.

 

[Mike N]

I too like to add a few packs of $1.99 tapered pipe cleaners to every online order once I reach the free shipping threshold. One of these with the built in drill bit is handy to have around, too, when the shank is blocked.

 

[jpberg]

If you’re out of pipe cleaners and smoke just one pipe, break it down after your last bowl of the day and run hot water through the stem and the stummel/ bowl. Dry the bowl with paper towel, give the stem a good blow, put the pipe back together and let it rest overnight, bowl down.
It’ll be okay.

 

[PApiper63]

One of the codgers I smoke with recycles pipe cleaners by wiping them off with a paper towel after each swab. You probably smoke 6 to 8 bowls a day and only uses two or three pipe cleaners for the whole day.

 

[ziv]

One of the codgers I smoke with recycles pipe cleaners by wiping them off with a paper towel after each swab. You probably smoke 6 to 8 bowls a day and only uses two or three pipe cleaners for the whole day.

Pipe cleaners don't grow on trees, ya know!

 

[NomadOrb]

Some individuals do believe in washing and reusing their pipe cleaners.

I am not one of those people. You could be though!

I'm sorry, but that sounds absolutely vile.

 

[geoffs]

You guys clean your pipes?

 

[Sigmund]

Ive reused pipe cleaners that came clean when I left them outside and it rained. Im cheap but it is just too much work to clean a pipe cleaner. I do snip the ends to extend their use but just once.

 

[Infantry23]

My go-to would be water rinse and paper towel wipe / dry.

However, am I correct that we are two pages into this and not one of my brethren here has suggested to this young man that it would just, assuredly, be better if he bought a new pipe while he waits on the purchase of said pipecleaners / pipe cleaners / pipe-cleaners??

I mean, he lives in Dublin..... if only we knew of a pipe shop there

 

[anotherbob]

I see it written "pipecleaners" and "pipe cleaners" in various different places online. Why do we put the space between them? "Pipecleaners" makes more sense to me, but my spellchecker goes bonkers. And, "spellchecker" is the correct spelling. why not "spell checker" instead of "spellchecker" if we can't have "pipecleaners"?

I thought you were a native English speaker. I guess not since you seem to expect a modicum of sense and logic from the language.
Honestly with English I've seen ESL (English as a second language) people accelerate their learning after being told three things. No one gets the language 100 percent, a lot of times it works on feel not logic (it just feels wrong to put things in this order over that), and that often it's the way it is just because it is.
A fun humor piece by Dr Suess/ .