Cotton Swabs

[Garv]

I can't stand the fluffy Q-Tips and other cheapo brands I have been using.
Too much fuzz and they don't hold up very well to scrubbing pressure.

Versions I have seen in gun stores are outrageously priced.

I recently went to Daiso (basically a $1.50 Japanese version of the 99 Cent Store) and found the two styles on the left:

Swabs1.jpg
Baby version for hard to reach surfaces.
Regular spiral size for general cleaning.
(99 Cent Store variety on the right.)

Swabs2.jpg

The stick portion is rolled or pressed paper, much stronger than the hollow plastic tube variety.
The swab head is also much more tightly wrapped so lint is minimal.
Less than a penny a swab, and they clean much better IMO.

There are a couple other types (blue and red containers) that are almost as good, a little bigger and not quite as tightly wrapped.

Anything else out there that works well?

(Apologies for the slightly fuzzy pictures, my phone camera-fu is minimal. )

[jarhead714]

Every time I go to the doctor I bum rush as many of the long wooden ones from the glass containers as I can. They're the best. Can't make it obvious though.

[Garv]

Good point, I still have some buddies in defense industries that can probably get me some of the 6" wooden ones.
Those would be good for magazine well.

[bsg]

great that you found something that works at a deal price. regarding the Ninety Nine Cent Store, i'm a monthly regular for many things except their in-store version of the q-tip. it simply collapses too easily.

[bigbearbear]

Grab some of those 6 inch long bamboo skewers, like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Skewers-Skewer-Kabobs-Appetizers/dp/B00CUO9CXK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1433745390&sr=8-3&keywords=bamboo+skewers

Then get some cotton balls, you can roll your own highly flexible and sturdy q-tips. Bamboos are great because they can flex a fair bit without breaking.

[Fishslayer]

Pipe cleaners mo' bettah...

[Jimi Jah]

Foam tipped works well. I used to buy those to clean audio and video tape heads.

[ja308]

I can't stand the fluffy Q-Tips and other cheapo brands I have been using.
Too much fuzz and they don't hold up very well to scrubbing pressure.

Versions I have seen in gun stores are outrageously priced.

I recently went to Daiso (basically a $1.50 Japanese version of the 99 Cent Store) and found the two styles on the left:

[ATTACH]418859[/ATTACH]
Baby version for hard to reach surfaces.
Regular spiral size for general cleaning.
(99 Cent Store variety on the right.)

[ATTACH]418860[/ATTACH]

The stick portion is rolled or pressed paper, much stronger than the hollow plastic tube variety.
The swab head is also much more tightly wrapped so lint is minimal.
Less than a penny a swab, and they clean much better IMO.

There are a couple other types (blue and red containers) that are almost as good, a little bigger and not quite as tightly wrapped.

Anything else out there that works well?

(Apologies for the slightly fuzzy pictures, my phone camera-fu is minimal. )

I think your pictures are very creative, nice job !

[onelonehorseman]

A small round patch clamped to a fine hemostat works good for me. For areas that aren't deep, I just push the patch aound with a small wooden skewer.

[wweigle]

Good stuff. Thanks for posting.