this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2026
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Mildly Interesting
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Asbestos is an awesome material, until you break it apart and the dust enters your lungs. Before that, asbestos is actually safe to use. So depending on how the pipe looks like, you could still use it.
They made cafeteria trays with it, all sorts of stuff.
Black tar under floorboards of old houses has it oftentimes too, but does not go airborne so is not dangerous.
Asbestos is pretty soft, I'd be worried about damaging it when cleaning. Though that's the stoner in me who uses metal tools to clean her pipes, I'm sure there are softer tools, perhaps... Pipe cleaners?
I was thinking that pipe had asbestos inside, with some more normal material on top.
AFAIK asbestos was always mixed with another component, as asbestos is basically just lots of small fibers. So depending on what you mix it with, it can be soft or hard.
I prefer fiberglass insulation