Easy DIY Bottom pour spout cleaner

[Conditor22]

Easy DIY Bottom pour spout cleaner.

Supplies needed:
cheap thrift store bamboo utensil with the end cut off for the handle
binder clip that fits around the bamboo handle
ring shank paneling nail that fits in the spout
something to notch the binder clip with (Dremel, file, ?) [the notch fits around the binder clip on one side and the un-notched side keeps the nail from pushing through]
drill bit(s) (for the paneling nail and maybe the rivet)
wire/rivet [I think a rivet would be cleaner the wire accumulate lead drips and is hard to clean] to hold the binder clip on

[huntnman]

I use a piece of stainless wire or a paperclip, straighten it out, put a ninety degree bend, hold with needle nose plyers.

[NyFirefighter357]

I found it's more that the spout has cold lead in it then is clogged with debris. I keep a torch next to me and if it slows down or stops I heat the spout with the torch.

[tazman]

I use both methods described by huntnman and NyFirefighter357. I tend to run things hot these days so I don't have as many issues as I did when I ran cooler.

[Petrol & Powder]

I found it's more that the spout has cold lead in it then is clogged with debris. I keep a torch next to me and if it slows down or stops I heat the spout with the torch.

/\ Yep /\

[Mike W1]

Once in a great while I've had to clean my spouts too. Clean ingots and nothing but beeswax in the pots any more for me. Don't recall ever having a cold spout problem for that matter but the TC for the PID's are pretty close to there and it might just be my memory is selective. Anyhow I put wooden handles on all my little helper items so I can pick them up easily with my gloves on. Last one I made used a small allan wrench with the short part of it smoothed to go into the spout. Little expoxy for the not too pretty handles and a crude rack to hold em' where they're handy. Somebody, probably on this forum, gave me the tip for a hacksaw blade to scrap the pot sides. Much easier than the spoon for that chore if needed.
Grind the teeth off and shape the end a bit also.

[BrassMagnet]

I use a rubber coated set of vise grips to hold a nail of the appropriate size.
I can use adequate force and I am insulated from the heat.

[Edward]

Paper clip works for me and the leather gloves I use while casting/Ed

[15meter]

8" piece of baling wire with a 90 degree bend, the bare wire has never gotten hot enough to bother.

And a propane torch if it is spout freeze and not crud in the spout.

And it's real baling wire, right off a bale from an Oliver 60w.

[44magLeo]

I use a grill lighter. The ones that are kinda a Bic lighter with a long neck. This heats up a cold spout just fine and don't take up much space on the bench.
On your stick. clip, nail, why not drill a hole in the stick and epoxy the nail in the hole? The epoxy will hold the hail and reinforce the stick so it won't split.
Leo

[lead-1]

Pliers and a paper clip works for me, that way I don't end up with lead coated finger tips.

[Conditor22]

I use a grill lighter. The ones that are kinda a Bic lighter with a long neck. This heats up a cold spout just fine and don't take up much space on the bench.
On your stick. clip, nail, why not drill a hole in the stick and epoxy the nail in the hole? The epoxy will hold the hail and reinforce the stick so it won't split.
Leo

I used what was on my bench I did the plier thing but this is so much easier.

[winelover]

I have a ear piece from a broken set of wire rim eyeglasses on my bench.

Winelover