Hopelessly Addicted to Q-Tips

Zekest Crowe · October 31, 2012, 07:47 PM

I am hopelessly addicted to using q-tips when cleaning my guns. I don't know what I would do during a q-tip shortage.

I use a plier to flatten them to clean the slide channels. I bend them in odd angles to reach hard to clean areas. And use them, dipped in Hoppes #9 to clean everything.

Am I alone in this?
Is there a 3 step-program for me?

Beagle45ACP · October 31, 2012, 07:56 PM

Nope, I use the same method. And I think it's a 12 step program you're looking for.
Of course, 3 steps is a little easier I guess

Ed4032 · October 31, 2012, 08:20 PM

Yep I have the same addiction. My wife buys extra qtips at Cosco. I go thru a lot of them.

chris in va · October 31, 2012, 08:41 PM

Hide your man card and venture into the cosmetics section. Look for 'Swisspers'. They're more dense than spun cotton qtips and come in various shapes.

Creeper · October 31, 2012, 08:56 PM

I see my oncologist a few times a week... and steal the big, long stemmed ones.

C

shortwave · October 31, 2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

And use them, dipped in Hoppes #9 to clean everything.

Thought you might want to know, Hoppes is hard on your ears.

You're not alone. When my wife buys a box of Q-Tips for the bathroom, she automatically buys a box for the 'gun cleaning' room.

Hey...if I start cleaning the guns in the bathroom, we could buy just one big box.

MrGoodwrench · October 31, 2012, 09:54 PM

I figured I wasn't alone in the 'Q tip fettish'. The tool suppliers for my profession (Snap on, Mac, Matco, etc.....) have bags of wooden stemmed cotton swabs of all different sizes. The largest of the bunch are excellent for mag wells.

**JohnKSa** · October 31, 2012, 10:15 PM

I use cotton swabs for gun-cleaning and prefer the rolled paper sticks over the wood (which break too frequently) or plastic (which are too flexible).

If you like cotton swabs, you might take a look at some of the products by Bear Metal Clean. They have a variety of different sizes and tip shapes and are very tightly wound so they don't fray and come apart.

I still use plain old grocery store cotton swabs for most stuff, but it's nice to have the "premium" swabs on hand for some things.

Jay24bal · October 31, 2012, 10:36 PM

I use an old, massive tackle box to store all the gun cleaning supplies, and rather than drop some in a compartment, I keep a box of 500 in there.

They work great for hard to reach areas, especially for light cleaning when you aren't stripping the guns all the way down to pieces and just field stripping them.

FrankenMauser · November 1, 2012, 01:46 AM

Quote:

I still use plain old grocery store cotton swabs for most stuff, but it's nice to have the "premium" swabs on hand for some things.

Aye.
I kept making fun of the G-Tip swabs, and the "idiots" that would pay so much for cotton swabs. ...until they were on mega-clearance at Midway and I picked up a package of 200-250 of the mid-size pointed swabs for less than $1.

They are now an absolute necessity in my gun cleaning gear, and some have found their way into the auto-repair section of my garage.

Good stuff.

StainlessSteel215 · November 1, 2012, 09:07 AM

Great thread, I LOL'd because I am with ya buddy....

I recently picked up an extra batch of like 500 infant/baby q-tips last time I was at Babies R Us (for my kid) because they seem much more firm and hold together despite lots of twisting and pulling.

I probably burn through 20 of them per cleaning...specially when I have extra time to REALLY get into all the little receiver parts or break down the firing pin channel in my semi's. Also shop towels are a hot item in my cleaning case. I always give the guns a nice, thorough, dry cleaning with shop towels before I touch them with anything else.

shortwave · November 1, 2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

I use cotton swabs for gun-cleaning and prefer the rolled paper sticks over the wood (which break too frequently) or plastic (which are too flexible).

Have found the rolled paper sticks on the Q-Tips to be just the right size for cleaning certain areas as well as the cotton swab parts as well. They don't last long as they will come unraveled and leave debris but work short time.

aarondhgraham · November 1, 2012, 10:02 AM

At a gun show last year,,,
There was a little boy selling baggies of Q-Tips,,,
His Dad said he charges exactly double the price of the baggie and Q-tips.

Hey, I bought a dollar bag from the kid,,,
His Pop says he's saving up for his first .22 rifle,,,
I'm a sucker for cute kids running lemonade stands as well.

This is not a new thing by any means,,,
Part of my issued tool kit in the Air Force was cotton swabs.

Aarond

.

**Mal H** · November 1, 2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zekest Crowe

Is there a 3 step-program for me?

Well, not exactly a 3-step program, but Costco sells Q-Tips in 3-packs!

I always have a box of Q-Tips on my reloading/cleaning bench. They're the best thing I've found for cleaning in the nooks and crannies since the invention of ... well, since the invention of the Q-Tip!

Yung.gunr · November 1, 2012, 04:46 PM

I lucked out in that my Dads wife gave my wife a gallon bag full of em. She had bought them for a class thing (she's a teacher) and ended up not using them. I have enough to last me to Armageddon.

I would love to have those longer ones from the Dr office though. Those would be great in rifle chambers. Just can't bring myself to buy em when I have that big bag at home.

Ajtozzi · November 1, 2012, 04:52 PM

I buy the 6" long wooden handle q-tips on Amazon. They are about $3 shipped per 100.

Sparks1957 · November 1, 2012, 05:17 PM

I like Q-tips too... they get in all the little crevices nicely. Keep a handful in my cleaning kit at all times.

LockedBreech · November 2, 2012, 12:43 AM

I use a whole bunch of Q-tips. They are excellent, excellent cleaning tools. The only irritating part is that you have to keep a pair of tweezers on hand to get wisps of cotton out when springs/extractors catch them.

Redhawk5.5+P+ · November 2, 2012, 01:56 AM

If it aint broke, don't fix. I even use them for my ears!

Q-tips rock!

$500 for 500QTs, or is it 500QTs for $3.76 Walmart?

Sport45 · November 2, 2012, 03:25 AM

I start every cleaning session with a pile of q-tips and wooden toothpicks on the table. Good stuff!

JBriggs · November 2, 2012, 08:01 AM

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!

berettaprofessor · November 2, 2012, 08:45 PM

Quote:

I use a plier to flatten them to clean the slide channels

Great tip! (pun intended). I haven't done that but will starting tomorrow.

Redhawk5.5+P+ · November 3, 2012, 01:12 AM

Quote:

I use a plier to flatten them to clean the slide channels

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.

FloridaVeteran · November 3, 2012, 01:30 AM

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.

johnwilliamson062 · November 3, 2012, 01:58 AM

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.

October 31, 2012, 07:47 PM	#1
Zekest Crowe Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Location: WA Posts: 36	Hopelessly Addicted to Q-Tips I am hopelessly addicted to using q-tips when cleaning my guns. I don't know what I would do during a q-tip shortage. I use a plier to flatten them to clean the slide channels. I bend them in odd angles to reach hard to clean areas. And use them, dipped in Hoppes #9 to clean everything. Am I alone in this? Is there a 3 step-program for me?

October 31, 2012, 07:56 PM	#2
Beagle45ACP Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: IL, USA Posts: 163	Nope, I use the same method. And I think it's a 12 step program you're looking for. Of course, 3 steps is a little easier I guess __________________ I have a mild interest in guns. Actually, I think the clinical term is "obsession," but that makes me sound like some kind of gun-nut. Which is fair, since I am. Wastin' away my future children's inheritance one box of ammo, range fee, and bottle of Hoppe's #9 at a time.

October 31, 2012, 08:20 PM	#3
Ed4032 Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 306	Yep I have the same addiction. My wife buys extra qtips at Cosco. I go thru a lot of them. __________________ Gun control is like stopping drunk driving by making it harder for sober people to drive.

October 31, 2012, 08:56 PM	#5
Creeper Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: Woooooshington Posts: 1,797	I see my oncologist a few times a week... and steal the big, long stemmed ones. C __________________ Shoulder Drive Nicholson Club

October 31, 2012, 10:15 PM	#8
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,974	I use cotton swabs for gun-cleaning and prefer the rolled paper sticks over the wood (which break too frequently) or plastic (which are too flexible). If you like cotton swabs, you might take a look at some of the products by Bear Metal Clean. They have a variety of different sizes and tip shapes and are very tightly wound so they don't fray and come apart. I still use plain old grocery store cotton swabs for most stuff, but it's nice to have the "premium" swabs on hand for some things. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 31, 2012, 08:41 PM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Hide your man card and venture into the cosmetics section. Look for 'Swisspers'. They're more dense than spun cotton qtips and come in various shapes.

October 31, 2012, 09:54 PM	#7
MrGoodwrench Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Location: Northern Missouri Posts: 22	I figured I wasn't alone in the 'Q tip fettish'. The tool suppliers for my profession (Snap on, Mac, Matco, etc.....) have bags of wooden stemmed cotton swabs of all different sizes. The largest of the bunch are excellent for mag wells.

October 31, 2012, 10:36 PM	#9
Jay24bal Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 735	I keep em in the box as well... I use an old, massive tackle box to store all the gun cleaning supplies, and rather than drop some in a compartment, I keep a box of 500 in there. They work great for hard to reach areas, especially for light cleaning when you aren't stripping the guns all the way down to pieces and just field stripping them. __________________ I like guns. Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices. http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " Jay24bal "

November 1, 2012, 09:07 AM	#11
StainlessSteel215 Junior member Join Date: September 26, 2012 Posts: 250	Great thread, I LOL'd because I am with ya buddy.... I recently picked up an extra batch of like 500 infant/baby q-tips last time I was at Babies R Us (for my kid) because they seem much more firm and hold together despite lots of twisting and pulling. I probably burn through 20 of them per cleaning...specially when I have extra time to REALLY get into all the little receiver parts or break down the firing pin channel in my semi's. Also shop towels are a hot item in my cleaning case. I always give the guns a nice, thorough, dry cleaning with shop towels before I touch them with anything else.

November 1, 2012, 10:02 AM	#13
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	At a gun show last year,,, At a gun show last year,,, There was a little boy selling baggies of Q-Tips,,, His Dad said he charges exactly double the price of the baggie and Q-tips. Hey, I bought a dollar bag from the kid,,, His Pop says he's saving up for his first .22 rifle,,, I'm a sucker for cute kids running lemonade stands as well. This is not a new thing by any means,,, Part of my issued tool kit in the Air Force was cotton swabs. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

November 1, 2012, 04:46 PM	#15
Yung.gunr Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Location: Phoenix area Posts: 1,442	I lucked out in that my Dads wife gave my wife a gallon bag full of em. She had bought them for a class thing (she's a teacher) and ended up not using them. I have enough to last me to Armageddon. I would love to have those longer ones from the Dr office though. Those would be great in rifle chambers. Just can't bring myself to buy em when I have that big bag at home.

November 1, 2012, 04:52 PM	#16
Ajtozzi Member Join Date: September 14, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 87	I buy the 6" long wooden handle q-tips on Amazon. They are about $3 shipped per 100.

November 1, 2012, 05:17 PM	#17
Sparks1957 Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,552	I like Q-tips too... they get in all the little crevices nicely. Keep a handful in my cleaning kit at all times.

November 2, 2012, 12:43 AM	#18
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	I use a whole bunch of Q-tips. They are excellent, excellent cleaning tools. The only irritating part is that you have to keep a pair of tweezers on hand to get wisps of cotton out when springs/extractors catch them. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

November 2, 2012, 01:56 AM	#19
Redhawk5.5+P+ Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2012 Location: NV Posts: 743	If it aint broke, don't fix. I even use them for my ears! Q-tips rock! $500 for 500QTs, or is it 500QTs for $3.76 Walmart?

November 2, 2012, 03:25 AM	#20
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	I start every cleaning session with a pile of q-tips and wooden toothpicks on the table. Good stuff! __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

November 2, 2012, 08:01 AM	#21
JBriggs Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 328	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! __________________ Bear Arms or Wear Chains

November 3, 2012, 01:30 AM	#24
FloridaVeteran Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 399	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.

November 3, 2012, 01:58 AM	#25
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	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.