Q-tips

What are you planning on using them for?

There may be better suggestions depending on your application. 

 Tamiya just came out with a line of cotton swabs that are very tightly wound and come in a variety of shapes and sizes but they are a bit pricey. I just bought some of the large triangular ones and find that they are stiff and do not leave fibers when used. I have found them very useful. You can find these at Squadron Shop and Great Models. Hope this helps.

                                                 JOE RIX

Sep 2009.  The name of the company is Puritan Medical Products their qtips come various sizes and shapes.  The website is puritanmedproducts.com

I don't like the real Q-tips because they do leave behind fibers. However, my ex-roommate gave me a box of generic cotton swabs with rather soft plastic sticks that leave much less mess behind, plus by cutting off one end, the plastic stick comes in handy for many applications.

I think the kind you are referring to can be found at Sally Beauty Supply,which is a chain.  The name on the label is CASARO.  While you are there, you can pick up all kinds of sanding sticks.

I find that the foam make up applicators to be superior to Q-Tips in many applications. NO lint residue. The generic name for Q-Tip is cotton swab. They come in all sizes, the best are those used for medical grade...they are usually on a wooden stick.

Real Q-tips are available in a multitude of places from the local 7-11 to any pharmacy to the food store, Taregt, Wal-Mart, Costco, BJ's and... well, you get the idea.