I use them for padding. I never had a problem feeding them or the racks fell apart easily. The thin caliber and sharp tips make it easy to shoot at wooden furniture frames without damaging even fragile antiques. They hold up well but are easy to remove if necessary. The next upholsterer after me will surely be grateful that I used these instead of the heavy general purpose stays that attack the frame and are a nightmare to get out of. I took the star because I ordered a half inch length and received a 3/8 inch length.