Using Snips to Maximize Pipe Cleaner Use

[olkofri]

RE: nippers: I've used them on occasion when only the tip of the cleaner is dirty. Yeah, I reckon it seems like a waste to throw away a cleaner 90% clean, but you have to be careful too: depending on your nippers, the new end can be too sharp and pointy and you may end up scratching the pipe: not worth it, IMO.

 

[sandollars]

This is ridiculous....

I keep my pipes clean and don't concern myself how many pipe cleaners it takes. At 2 cents a piece or less, I call that a cost of smoking a pipe. Same goes with the dottle left in the bottom of the bowl. It's a small price to pay to mitigate unnecessary damage to my pipes and/or extend their useful life.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This is ridiculous....

So is smoking tobacco, but here we are. ?‍

 

[wolflarsen]

This is ridiculous....

April Fools!!!! Hahaha.
I was kidding folks. For the record, I don't actually wash and reuse pipe cleaners. I do run my pennies through the dishwasher though ... they're way more valuable when they're nice and shiny.

 

[bullet08]

Once I'm done with pipe cleaner, even crackhead won't touch it.

 

[jewman22]

I buy Churchwarden pipe cleaners just for this reason, bend in the middle then snip.

 

[sumusfumus]

Just about 30 years ago, I commissioned a custom-made, magnum-size pipe, and only those extra long pipe-cleaners will work in this particular pipe. However, just the first inch of these extra long pipe-cleaners get funky...so, I just cut off the tip ends -and use the still clean, central portion of the pipe-cleaners, on my shorter, conventional-length pipes.

I use sharp, side-cutters to clip that mentioned, soiled inch, off my longer pipe cleaners. Dull clippers will leave a burr at the very tip of the cleaner's wire core -and it will scratch the hole inside of the pipe-stem.

 

[ohfatty]

A few years ago, I restored several hundred pipes. I unexpectedly ran out of cleaners, I ordered more, but in a hurry, I retrieved a couple of big handfuls, soaked them in a bucket of hot water and Oxiclean, overnight. Rinsed them and was shocked at how clean they were. Put them in a pillowcase type bag and put them in the dryer. Saved me in a pinch. I have to believe most everyday ordinary folk, with the exception of extreme environmentalists, and Scrooge types would do this. That said to each his own....

 

[anotherbob]

Small pipes? I usually walk away with a brown cleaner after using both ends.

yeah me too. And that's after one smoke. Though every once in a while something will smoke nearly totally clean and barely effect the pipe cleaner. Why no clue.

 

[ashdigger]

To save money and be more efficient when trimming cleaners I grabbed one of these bad boys.

 

[anotherbob]

I know the funny thing is probably costs more to clean the damn things then to just toss them and get a new one each time.

 

[ohfatty]

Keep an eye out for delivery, lotta porch pirates out there,,,,,,,,

 

[bullet08]

Once both ends are used for inside the stem and draft in shank, I bend the cleaner and clean the mortise. Then with same bent cleaner, clean out the chamber. By that point, it's pretty much done. I don't see any clean bit. Sometimes, I'll go over the whole thing again with another cleaner. This is right after smoking before going indoor.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Maximize pipe cleaner use?
I've been using the same one for the last 6 years.
Just toss it in the dishwasher every evening and it's good as new for the next day.

Don't forget to try a Shank Brush as well (which is arguably more effective than pipecleaners).
It could be argued Pipecleaners are mostly just for a thin button and for pipes with too much bend to fit a brush.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I use both and then bend it to clean the bowl. When I look to save money, penny items usually don’t make it onto my list.

For the bottom of the Bowl and 9mm Filter pipes I use Q-Tips.
Most people already have those for your ears anyway

(And YES Q-Tips are SUPPOSED to go INSIDE your Ear Canal. Any time Doctors blame broken eardrums on Q-Tips they're just announcing that another person failed the daily life IQ test.)

 

[Brendan]

tuff tony?

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I buy Churchwarden pipe cleaners just for this reason, bend in the middle then snip.

I suppose I haven't looked very many places but I've never seen a Churchwarden pipecleaner sell for less dollars-per-inch than regular pipecleaners.

 

[jewman22]

I suppose I haven't looked very many places but I've never seen a Churchwarden pipecleaner sell for less dollars-per-inch than regular pipecleaners.

amazon, wait for them to go on sale, happens every now and again. I've been saving them lately though since I just picked up a Mr.Brog churchwarden.