I used bits of feathers for a number of years as well, but I found times when I had emptied my trash trough and was tying with other types of materials than feathers and I found myself looking around for a tip of a feather to clear out an eye with head cement in it. I bought this floss to use and when I saw it, I immediately thought "I wonder if that would work well for cleaning out the eye of a hook???" I tried it and it works so well, I never looked back. If you want to try it, PM me your address and I'll drop a couple of the Super Floss pieces in the mail and let you decide.