Pipe Cleaner Bristles

[k1j3l]

What's your preferred type of pipe cleaner? So far, I've only used the cheap 100-packs from walmart, but they seem brutally inefficient for cleaning.

 

[cobguy]

I've tried several different brands and like Dill's the best.
BJ Longs and others I've tried leave a lot more fuzz behind.

 

[xrundog]

I buy the ubiquitous Long's. You might want to try some of their bristle style cleaners. Much better for scrubbing out gunk. All the online pipe stores have them.

 

[mcitinner1]

Cobguy is right about the fuzz/lint left in stems and shanks by the BJ Longs. I have gotten used to blowing thru anything I use them on. Not a bad idea to do that anyway though. 8)

 

[skapunk1]

I dont mind the bj longs, I simply run a pinched two fingers down the cleaner to wipe off any fuzz before use.

All I can find in the ottawa stores are bristled or super multicolored ones.

 

[mephistopheles]

I use:

1. Reusable Shank brush - because they are economical, reusable, and great for scrubbing. I scratched up a stem with the wire part once when I wasn't paying attention so be aware of that.

2. B.J. Long Tapered Cleaners - They work great, definitely more for everyday use and I find them easier to get through my bent stem than regular pipe cleaners. As the guys have mentioned, there is some extra fuzz...

3. Brigham Bristled Cleaners - These work great as well, but I tend to think of them as more situational than for daily use. I've never had a lot of gunk in my pipe so I use them sparingly. Also, I feel like you have to be careful not to use them too roughly as they are pretty scratchy.

 

[tppytel]

Longs have more loose fuzz than Dills, but they're about 3x cheaper. I just run a Long between my fingers before I use it to get the fuzz off and that's worked fine for me. It only takes a moment. Bristle cleaners would probably work fine for regular use, but I find them unpleasantly scratchy to handle. So I only use them for monthly cleanings with alcohol or if a pipe has a stubborn bit of tobacco lodged in the airway. For everyday use, it's just plain Longs for me.