Cleaning without q-tips?

[WalterJones]

Finally got some long overdue range time.

Locally I've only been able to source those cheapy q-tips eith the flimsy plastic stems. A real PITA to try to clean gun parts.

I still have a stash of real q-tips, but thought I'd try cleaning without them...just in case it'll be a while till I can replace.

There are some areas I just can't figure out how to clean without them. In and around the chamber, parts of the BCG, around the gas tube in the upper, trigger area in the lower. Tried wrapping patches and pieces of rag around a skewer but that didn't work well.

Anybody figured out how to do this without q-tips?

[VictorFranko]

Give https://www.mcmaster.com/cotton-swabs a try.
I especially like the six inch long swabs with the wooden handle.

[CWL]

Plastic bristle gun cleaning brushes. Used toothbrush.

You'll get splatter, but brushing will remove more crud than wiping with q-tip.

[NATO762]

Wooden chop sticks and a rag. Get the pointy ones they give away in the supermarket, not the square ones. Actually they both have their uses.
Depending on what you are doing, you can whittle them down even further to get what you need.

[WalterJones]

Thanks guys. Don't know why it didn't occur but Nato762's suggestion finally turned on the light bulb. Instead of using patches of rag and trying to wrap them on a stick like a homemade q-tip, using the whole rag and a stick is going much better. Shifting the clean spots on the rag to the tip of the stick. Still not as efficient as a box of q-tips but it's working.

FWIW, I do use various tooth brushes, but getting the CLP laden with sludge out of tight areas is the challenge of the without q-tips situation.

[1911R SSS]

Just use gun scrubber it will remove nearly all of that build up. Save you a ton of time cleaning your firearms

[Garv]

Finally got some long overdue range time.

Locally I've only been able to source those cheapy q-tips eith the flimsy plastic stems. A real PITA to try to clean gun parts.

I still have a stash of real q-tips, but thought I'd try cleaning without them...just in case it'll be a while till I can replace.

There are some areas I just can't figure out how to clean without them. In and around the chamber, parts of the BCG, around the gas tube in the upper, trigger area in the lower. Tried wrapping patches and pieces of rag around a skewer but that didn't work well.

Anybody figured out how to do this without q-tips?

Some suggestions within:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1080847

I still use the ones from DAISO.
Stashed up on them just like ammo.

[tdp113530]

Dental picks. My dentist gives them away.

[DDM4556]

I never use Q tips. They leave tiny fibers everywhere. Go on amazon and buy brass dental pics and cover the ends with barrel patches or a rag. Much better system.

[Bansh88]

air compressor.

[Skip_Dog]

You guys clean your guns?

Fortunately we use good sticks at work. The owner doesn't mind if I take a few home every now and then. I asked.

[BajaJames83]

you dont need q tips at all they just make it easier for lazy people.

[faterikcartman]

I have a set of nylon pics and scrapers for this. And...

...a Sonicare tooth brush.

[divingin]

Give https://www.mcmaster.com/cotton-swabs a try.
I especially like the six inch long swabs with the wooden handle.

Also available on EBay or Amazon.

[newbie1234]

gun cleaning patches
and this : Ah, one more thing, must be a plastic or polymer picks, never use metal picks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C88VF28/ref=dp_prsubs_1

https://www.amazon.com/Tipton-549864-Cleaning-Picks/dp/B0048KGFHU/ref=pd_di_sccai_1/134-6543277-7122931?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0048KGFHU&pd_rd_r=2acf5df2-d965-4928-8fbe-126dfbac02a1&pd_rd_w=CBuK0&pd_rd_wg=zyQEK&pf_rd_p=61ce50cf-2379-4458-9044-fa8b402c702d&pf_rd_r=BT1JG0RW8393ZXV9NSV5&psc=1&refRID=BT1JG0RW8393ZXV9NSV5