Pipe cleaner protector?

[Greatred]

Prepped wheels last night. Inspected bores at every step using DD4H process ending with red rocket. 1 of 12 wheels got scratch from sharp end of pipe cleaner I surmised despite clipping ends as directed. Does anyone have another trick like a cap or something to put on the sharp end of the pipe cleaner? Alternative to standard pipe cleaner?

 

[davet]

We use the fluffy pipe cleaner and pull the extra "fluff" forward over the tip and hold it together while we slip it into the bore. Haven't had an issue with it on the way out though.

Someone on here has a thread recently where they pull a clean women's nylon sock through the bore instead.

 

[3phase]

Some have stopped using pipe cleaners ,just so there is no chance of the wire scratching the bore.
Use the smallest shrink tube (home depot, lowes) or the nylon retainers for bearing wheels. DD4H i believe still sells them.
Some jewelry stores also have them, they keep the backs of the earings from falling off (2 daughters) .

 

[DURASPANK]

Dab it in hot glue or 5min epoxy

 

[Cramjet]

The small shrink tubing can be pulled off and reused when your pipe cleaners get too dirty. That's what I do.

As soon as you shrink them to the first pipe cleaner with some heat, they form into a nice little cap for the rest of the ones you use. Mine end up being less than 1/4" long and I just pull about 1/8" of the fuzz off the new ones and they slip right on and stay there. If you tried to pull the pipe cleaner through the other way though, it might fall off.

 

[Greatred]

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions. I keep learning about products I never heard of! I have epoxy and a glue gun but never used shrink tubing. I also got a few PM from other for which I am also grateful.

 

[ngyoung]

Dab it in hot glue or 5min epoxy

This. Trim back a little fluff and dip the tip in hot glue, just enough yo get a small bulb on the end.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

The only problem I have found is that when you remove the pipe cleaner the protector on the end usually redeposits some polish back in the bore. This is a very irritating problem...

 

[Kinser Racing]

My trick is to never use a pipe cleaner and use a no scratch applicator.
http://www.derbydad4hire.com/No-Scratch-Wheel-Bore-Applicators-POL-CLE.htm

 

[Cramjet]

My trick is to never use a pipe cleaner and use a no scratch applicator. http://www.derbydad4hire.com/No-Scratch-Wheel-Bore-Applicators-POL-CLE.htm

You've said that before. I am curious as to why you don't like to use the pipe cleaners. Less effective or because they have the potential to do damage?

I don't cap both sides. Just one. Then I sort of twist the wheel down to the other end of the pipe cleaner and remove it that way. Mine are cut in half so I don't have to go so far. It might leave a little fuzz behind but that blows out more easily that anything.

 

[GravityX]

Cramjet, I would speculate his reason for not using the pipe cleaner is that it increases the possibility of scratching the wheel bore at some point. No pipe cleaner equals no chance of scraping/scratching the wheel bore with it.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Sorry, this slipped past me. GX nailed it.

 

[ngyoung]

How much do you reuse the no scratch applicators? I think i am due for new ones. The one i have is starting to fray, lol. I didnt have good results applying the polish without it just pulling it back off. I use the other end to dab it around the bores then cleaner them out with the applicator end when the polish dries.

 

[Vitamin K]

Was interesting that JBD said in his interview with Zeebzob that he didn't see a pipe cleaner scratch as an issue worth worrying about.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Was interesting that JBD said in his interview with Zeebzob that he didn't see a pipe cleaner scratch as an issue worth worrying about.

To each their own. Maybe, JBD has nerves of steel. I'm just a small and frightful animal.

 

[W8NONU]

To each their own. Maybe, JBD has nerves of steel. I'm just a small and frightful animal.

I agree. I've scratched plenty of wheels from pipe cleaners. Now, I use Tamiya 105 and 106.

 

[Batman]

I use and really like the Tamiya swabs for clean up, what do you use to apply wax?

 

[GravityX]

Was interesting that JBD said in his interview with Zeebzob that he didn't see a pipe cleaner scratch as an issue worth worrying about.

I would dare say that he may have a bore prep that "clears" a scratch, depending on the depth. I'm sure there is a point of no return. Pure speculation here.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

I have never figured out a way to fill a scratch. If the scractch is in the middle of the bore, I usually will let it go, but as I polish more and more wheels, I'm getting more and more picky. I'm now tossing about 30% of the wheels I polish - I just do not like the way they look.

 

[microbrush]

what do you use to apply wax?

I microbrush works great. You can get them at Hobby Lobby.