Emptying an awl?

[dj-spider.livejournal.com]

I'm using a leather awl with rotating heads, like this



on plastic, in order to insert jump rings, and the small plastic circles are getting backed up in the hollow of the awl. We've tried needles and pushpins -- how can we get them out? I'm worried that they'll end up keeping the awl from working it's best, and we've got a lot of plastic squares to link together!