diff --git a/daemons.go b/daemons.go
index 30b9387..cde9d62 100644
--- a/daemons.go
+++ b/daemons.go
@@ -3,11 +3,8 @@ package prox5
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
-
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 )
 
 type swampMap struct {
@@ -65,7 +62,6 @@ func (sm swampMap) clear() {
 	}
 }
 
-
 func (p5 *Swamp) recycling() int {
 	if !p5.GetRecyclingStatus() {
 		return 0
@@ -118,10 +114,10 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) jobSpawner() {
 			default:
 				time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
 				count := p5.recycling()
-				buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-				buf.WriteString("recycled ")
-				buf.WriteString(strconv.Itoa(count))
-				buf.WriteString(" proxies from our map")
+				buf := strs.Get()
+				buf.MustWriteString("recycled ")
+				buf.MustWriteString(strconv.Itoa(count))
+				buf.MustWriteString(" proxies from our map")
 				p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/debug.go b/debug.go
index 2262bf7..cbbd9a5 100644
--- a/debug.go
+++ b/debug.go
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
+	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/common/pool"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -30,8 +29,8 @@ type SocksLogger struct {
 
 // Printf is used to handle socks server logging.
 func (s SocksLogger) Printf(format string, a ...interface{}) {
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf(format, a...))
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString(fmt.Sprintf(format, a...))
 	s.parent.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -72,14 +71,14 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) DisableDebug() {
 	atomic.StoreUint32(debugStatus, debugDisabled)
 }
 
-func simpleString(s string) *strings.Builder {
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString(s)
+func simpleString(s string) *pool.String {
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString(s)
 	return buf
 }
 
-func (p5 *Swamp) dbgPrint(builder *strings.Builder) {
-	defer pools.DiscardBuffer(builder)
+func (p5 *Swamp) dbgPrint(builder *pool.String) {
+	defer strs.MustPut(builder)
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
@@ -91,20 +90,20 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgUnableToReach(socksString, target string, err error) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("unable to reach ")
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("unable to reach ")
 	if p5.swampopt.redact {
-		buf.WriteString("[redacted]")
+		buf.MustWriteString("[redacted]")
 	} else {
-		buf.WriteString(target)
+		buf.MustWriteString(target)
 	}
-	buf.WriteString(" with ")
-	buf.WriteString(socksString)
+	buf.MustWriteString(" with ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(socksString)
 	if !p5.swampopt.redact {
-		buf.WriteString(": ")
-		buf.WriteString(err.Error())
+		buf.MustWriteString(": ")
+		buf.MustWriteString(err.Error())
 	}
-	buf.WriteString(", cycling...")
+	buf.MustWriteString(", cycling...")
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -112,9 +111,9 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgUsingProxy(socksString string) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("MysteryDialer using socks: ")
-	buf.WriteString(socksString)
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("MysteryDialer using socks: ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(socksString)
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -122,10 +121,10 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgFailedMiddleware(socksString string) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("failed middleware check, ")
-	buf.WriteString(socksString)
-	buf.WriteString(", cycling...")
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("failed middleware check, ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(socksString)
+	buf.MustWriteString(", cycling...")
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -133,9 +132,9 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgTry(socksString string) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("try dial with: ")
-	buf.WriteString(socksString)
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("try dial with: ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(socksString)
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -143,11 +142,11 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgCantGetLock(socksString string, putback bool) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("can't get lock for ")
-	buf.WriteString(socksString)
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("can't get lock for ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(socksString)
 	if putback {
-		buf.WriteString(", putting back in queue")
+		buf.MustWriteString(", putting back in queue")
 	}
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
@@ -156,9 +155,9 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgGotLock(socksString string) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("got lock for ")
-	buf.WriteString(socksString)
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("got lock for ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(socksString)
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -166,18 +165,18 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgChecked(sock *Proxy, success bool) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	buf := strs.Get()
 	if !success {
-		buf.WriteString("failed to verify: ")
-		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		buf.MustWriteString("failed to verify: ")
+		buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
 		p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 		return
 	}
-	buf.WriteString("verified ")
-	buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
-	buf.WriteString(" as ")
-	buf.WriteString(sock.protocol.Get().String())
-	buf.WriteString(" proxy")
+	buf.MustWriteString("verified ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+	buf.MustWriteString(" as ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(sock.protocol.Get().String())
+	buf.MustWriteString(" proxy")
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
@@ -185,9 +184,9 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) msgBadProxRate(sock *Proxy) {
 	if !p5.DebugEnabled() {
 		return
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("badProx ratelimited: ")
-	buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("badProx ratelimited: ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 }
 
diff --git a/defs.go b/defs.go
index 6beeba5..e0cae11 100644
--- a/defs.go
+++ b/defs.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package prox5
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -10,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/panjf2000/ants/v2"
 	rl "github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5"
 
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/logger"
 )
 
@@ -185,9 +183,9 @@ func NewProxyEngine() *Swamp {
 	}))
 
 	if err != nil {
-		buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-		buf.WriteString("CRITICAL: ")
-		buf.WriteString(err.Error())
+		buf := strs.Get()
+		buf.MustWriteString("CRITICAL: ")
+		buf.MustWriteString(err.Error())
 		pe.dbgPrint(buf)
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/dispense.go b/dispense.go
index a2a3cd7..1b74636 100644
--- a/dispense.go
+++ b/dispense.go
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 package prox5
 
 import (
-	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
-
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 )
 
 // Socks5Str gets a SOCKS5 proxy that we have fully verified (dialed and then retrieved our IP address from a what-is-my-ip endpoint.
@@ -105,9 +102,9 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) stillGood(sock *Proxy) bool {
 	defer atomic.StoreUint32(&sock.lock, stateUnlocked)
 
 	if atomic.LoadInt64(&sock.timesBad) > int64(p5.GetRemoveAfter()) && p5.GetRemoveAfter() != -1 {
-		buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-		buf.WriteString("deleting from map (too many failures): ")
-		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := strs.Get()
+		buf.MustWriteString("deleting from map (too many failures): ")
+		buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
 		p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 		if err := p5.swampmap.delete(sock.Endpoint); err != nil {
 			p5.dbgPrint(simpleString(err.Error()))
@@ -115,17 +112,17 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) stillGood(sock *Proxy) bool {
 	}
 
 	if p5.badProx.Peek(sock) {
-		buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-		buf.WriteString("badProx dial ratelimited: ")
-		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := strs.Get()
+		buf.MustWriteString("badProx dial ratelimited: ")
+		buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
 		p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 		return false
 	}
 
 	if time.Since(sock.lastValidated) > p5.swampopt.stale {
-		buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-		buf.WriteString("proxy stale: ")
-		buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
+		buf := strs.Get()
+		buf.MustWriteString("proxy stale: ")
+		buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
 		p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 		go p5.stats.stale()
 		return false
diff --git a/internal/pools/strings.go b/internal/pools/strings.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 6d55ef9..0000000
--- a/internal/pools/strings.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-package pools
-
-import (
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
-)
-
-var CopABuffer = &sync.Pool{New: func() interface{} { return &strings.Builder{} }}
-
-func DiscardBuffer(buf *strings.Builder) {
-	buf.Reset()
-	CopABuffer.Put(buf)
-}
diff --git a/mystery_dialer.go b/mystery_dialer.go
index 67938c7..a1539d5 100644
--- a/mystery_dialer.go
+++ b/mystery_dialer.go
@@ -4,13 +4,10 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
-	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/socks"
-
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 )
 
 // DialContext is a simple stub adapter to implement a net.Dialer.
@@ -34,13 +31,13 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) DialTimeout(network, addr string, timeout time.Duration) (net.C
 }
 
 func (p5 *Swamp) addTimeout(socksString string) string {
-	tout := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	tout.WriteString(socksString)
-	tout.WriteString("?timeout=")
-	tout.WriteString(p5.GetServerTimeoutStr())
-	tout.WriteRune('s')
+	tout := strs.Get()
+	tout.MustWriteString(socksString)
+	tout.MustWriteString("?timeout=")
+	tout.MustWriteString(p5.GetServerTimeoutStr())
+	_, _ = tout.WriteRune('s')
 	socksString = tout.String()
-	pools.DiscardBuffer(tout)
+	strs.MustPut(tout)
 	return socksString
 }
 
diff --git a/parse.go b/parse.go
index 63a6957..82c592e 100644
--- a/parse.go
+++ b/parse.go
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
 	ipa "inet.af/netaddr"
-
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 )
 
 func filterv6(in string) (filtered string, ok bool) {
@@ -44,22 +42,21 @@ func isNumber(s string) bool {
 }
 
 func buildProxyString(username, password, address, port string, v6 bool) (result string) {
-	builder := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
+	builder := strs.Get()
+	defer strs.MustPut(builder)
 	if username != "" && password != "" {
-		builder.WriteString(username)
-		builder.WriteString(":")
-		builder.WriteString(password)
-		builder.WriteString("@")
+		builder.MustWriteString(username)
+		builder.MustWriteString(":")
+		builder.MustWriteString(password)
+		builder.MustWriteString("@")
 	}
-	builder.WriteString(address)
+	builder.MustWriteString(address)
 	if v6 {
-		builder.WriteString("]")
+		builder.MustWriteString("]")
 	}
-	builder.WriteString(":")
-	builder.WriteString(port)
-	result = builder.String()
-	pools.DiscardBuffer(builder)
-	return
+	builder.MustWriteString(":")
+	builder.MustWriteString(port)
+	return builder.String()
 }
 
 func filter(in string) (filtered string, ok bool) { //nolint:cyclop
diff --git a/proxy.go b/proxy.go
index 6022abf..9b5f734 100644
--- a/proxy.go
+++ b/proxy.go
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 package prox5
 
 import (
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	rl "github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5"
-
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 )
 
 // https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/yunginnanet/Rate5#Policy
@@ -57,23 +54,15 @@ func (sock *Proxy) GetProto() ProxyProtocol {
 
 // GetProto safely retrieves the protocol value of the Proxy.
 func (sock *Proxy) String() string {
-	tout := ""
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	defer strs.MustPut(buf)
+	buf.MustWriteString(sock.GetProto().String())
+	buf.MustWriteString("://")
+	buf.MustWriteString(sock.Endpoint)
 	if sock.parent.GetServerTimeoutStr() != "-1" {
-		tbuf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-		tbuf.WriteString("?timeout=")
-		tbuf.WriteString(sock.parent.GetServerTimeoutStr())
-		tbuf.WriteString("s")
-		tout = tbuf.String()
-		pools.DiscardBuffer(tbuf)
+		buf.MustWriteString("?timeout=")
+		buf.MustWriteString(sock.parent.GetServerTimeoutStr())
+		buf.MustWriteString("s")
 	}
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString(sock.GetProto().String())
-	buf.WriteString("://")
-	buf.WriteString(sock.Endpoint)
-	if tout != "" {
-		buf.WriteString(tout)
-	}
-	out := buf.String()
-	pools.DiscardBuffer(buf)
-	return out
+	return buf.String()
 }
diff --git a/socks5_server.go b/socks5_server.go
index 214b129..1b749ed 100644
--- a/socks5_server.go
+++ b/socks5_server.go
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 package prox5
 
 import (
-	"strings"
-
 	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/go-socks5"
 
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
+	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/common/pool"
 )
 
+var strs = pool.NewStringFactory()
+
 type socksCreds struct {
 	username string
 	password string
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ func (p5 *Swamp) StartSOCKS5Server(listen, username, password string) error {
 		// Resolver:    pe.MysteryResolver,
 	}
 
-	buf := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	buf.WriteString("listening for SOCKS5 connections on ")
-	buf.WriteString(listen)
+	buf := strs.Get()
+	buf.MustWriteString("listening for SOCKS5 connections on ")
+	buf.MustWriteString(listen)
 	p5.dbgPrint(buf)
 
 	server, err := socks5.New(conf)
diff --git a/validator_engine.go b/validator_engine.go
index 0decf38..40ec89d 100644
--- a/validator_engine.go
+++ b/validator_engine.go
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import (
 
 	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/socks"
 	"golang.org/x/net/proxy"
-
-	"git.tcp.direct/kayos/prox5/internal/pools"
 )
 
 func (p5 *Swamp) prepHTTP() (*http.Client, *http.Transport, *http.Request, error) {
@@ -52,15 +50,15 @@ func (sock *Proxy) good() {
 }
 
 func (p5 *Swamp) bakeHTTP(hmd *HandMeDown) (client *http.Client, req *http.Request, err error) {
-	builder := pools.CopABuffer.Get().(*strings.Builder)
-	builder.WriteString(hmd.protoCheck.String())
-	builder.WriteString("://")
-	builder.WriteString(hmd.sock.Endpoint)
-	builder.WriteString("/?timeout=")
-	builder.WriteString(p5.GetValidationTimeoutStr())
-	builder.WriteString("s")
+	builder := strs.Get()
+	builder.MustWriteString(hmd.protoCheck.String())
+	builder.MustWriteString("://")
+	builder.MustWriteString(hmd.sock.Endpoint)
+	builder.MustWriteString("/?timeout=")
+	builder.MustWriteString(p5.GetValidationTimeoutStr())
+	builder.MustWriteString("s")
 	dialSocks := socks.DialWithConn(builder.String(), hmd.conn)
-	pools.DiscardBuffer(builder)
+	strs.MustPut(builder)
 
 	var (
 		purl      *url.URL