I have a thing about throwing away metal things...I just don't do if I can help it. I even have a magnetic parts holder at work to collect used staples (when I have enough, I am going to use it as casting scrap) and felting needles are no exception. I finally figured out what I could do with the broken ones. A quick cut with my tin snips and a little sanding and I have some excellent precision leather punches capable of holding wicked sharp tips. The shape is particularly good for repunching those pesky "self healing" holes.