Hopelessly Addicted to Q-Tips

I am glad that I am not alone with my q-tip gun cleaning addiction!!! Just can't beat them for a really good cleaning!
 
I use a plier to flatten them to clean the slide channels
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Or a channel lock/Vise Grips*. Same basic concept. Never tried it, but it is a good idea. I'm surpised I didn't think of that as for the tight area's I have used tooth pick's.
 
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FWIW, when Q-Tips are too big, I find that G.U.M. "Soft-Picks" work very well. You can find them in the dental section at the drugstore/superstore. I started using them after my dentist recommended them, in addition to floss (the older you get, the more you need this stuff). Found that they work really well, decided to try them on my guns - same great results. There are cheaper versions at the dollar stores that might be OK for guns, but the sample my wife brought home was terrible re my teeth. The great thing about the GUM ones is that there is no shedding of anything and they have tiny little "branches" that collect debris. I call them "pine trees" when talking to my dentist about them. Highly recommended for tiny-crevice work.
 
I also buy the long handle ones. Much more useful IMO. I used a ton at first, but now i only use one or two per cleaning. I stopped worrying about getting every trace of anything out.
 
I work in medical devices. I have a project under development that uses medical swabs for the dialysis market. Since its a couple million units type of project the vender flew out for a meeting.

Turns out the company that manufactures the swabs I’ll be using also owns Berger bullets. They put two and two together and came up with this: http://shop.swab-its.com/barrel-cleaning-swabs-c17.aspx

It’s a reusable foam Q-Tip that screws into a standard cleaning rod for barrel cleaning. Pretty cool – and they’re sending me samples so even better. They don’t have shotgun versions yet but apparently soon.

… and I use tons of Q-Tips for cleaning although now that I have a connection I may have to support them.
 
do any of you use tobacco pipe cleaners for gun cleaning duties?
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Yes I do. Especially keep them in the black powder cleaning box. Helpful in cleaning nipple , breach plug flash holes and channels in the rifles etc.
 
I keep pipe cleaners on hand and use them when cleaning guns on occasion. Frankly, I'd use them more often but I tend to forget I have them and end up relying on paper towels and cotton swabs.
 
do any of you use tobacco pipe cleaners for gun cleaning duties?
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I use them a lot, too - not as much as Q-tips, but a lot. It is nice to be able to bend them into whatever shape you need.
 
You can find cheap pipe cleaners in the arts & crafts aisle at the office supply super stores. I couldn't do without them or Q tips. I'll have to find some of those GUM thingies too.
 
It never crossed my mind that I would ever see a forum thread about using Q-tips for cleaning firearms. BUT, I buy large containers of them and have been using them for about 35 years. I briefly tried the plastic shafts but the paper shafts work much better. I also use them on RCBS dies. This thread deserves a national trivia award. :D
 
They do, and one should keep that in mind when using them.

The good quality pipecleaners have a lot of bristles, and the bristles are pretty sturdy, so it's less of an issue than it might otherwise seem. In addition, the wire is soft.
 
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