The last straw!

My latest impulsive shopping purchase was these stainless steel reusable drinking straws. They are 6mm diameter, not sure of the bore or wall thickness because the ends are rounded over but they are very thin wall and look seamless. Comes with a neat little cleaning brush too!

Not sure why I bought them, they just look handy, so for £3,99 for 10 I thought why not! Wierdly they had packets of four for the same price.

So, apart from drinking, can anyone think of a use for these?

Ian

Spokes on miniature wheels.

Blowpipes for pygmies.

Perfect for exhaust pipes, small radial/rotary engines.

Perfect for exhaust pipes, small radial/rotary engines.

The suppliers were giving them away with purchases. I received a dozen, I think, with my 3D printer. Not wanted.

different length and bends on some. I would have much preferred a reduction in price, not an unwanted ‘gift’.

Some food for thought here thanks, hopefully I'll find a use for them before they get consigned to the useful bits bin!

Whether or not you can think of a use for them, it's a no-brainer to pick up a set for the "this will come in handy" shelf in the workshop.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 10/03/2020 00:53:09

You could even drink ftom them.

Plastic drinking straws are a big polluter of our waterways, killing sea animals. There are campaigns here in Aust. to outlaw them and many shops now use paper straws. The "Golden Arches" hamburger chain has yet to take up the challenge.

Paul

Edited By Paul Lousick on 10/03/2020 01:48:55

You could use one to make the displacer cylinder fot a tiny Stirling engine. A smaller one for the displacer piston would be ideal.

I remember way back when all straws were made of paper, that is after the original straw straws stopped being used. Cotton buds now have reverted to biodegradable paper handles also.

Don’t be in any rush to get the paper ones, they are useless for a milkshake especially if the mix is on the thick side. If people disposed of their waste properly our environment would be safe from plastic. Unfortunately waste collection and recycling are a bit flakey and stuff finishes up in the wrong place and too many people just launch their fast food packaging out the car window. People are the problem but it may be easier to eliminate the plastic rather than educate the morons.

Mike

They switched to paper late last year in Europe.

While doing a bit of research as to what grade of stainless these are made of, I come across the report of a woman in England who died after falling onto a similar straw after tripping while carrying her drink! It impaled her eye socket and entered her brain! Less serious they can also chip your teeth. I think I'll stick to paper straws in future!

It's 304 or 316 food grade stainless by the way.

Ian

Superheater tubes? I bought a stainless steel rack at IKEA for about £3 with the idea of using the tubing for a super heater. A lot cheaper than buying SS tubing.

It's a wonder the WHS authorities have not mandated rubber mouthpieces be moulded on the ends to prevent this.

These straws are available with a silicone mouth piece if people want to be safety conscious!

Come to think about it I can't remember the last time I actually needed a drinking straw!

I can't help wondering if this one is an urban myth

Nope it's not an urban myth, unfortunately it's true! Story here via the link

**LINK**