A while back I posted asking about wire, one suggestion emailed to me was coiling wire rods. I picked them up at michaels craft store in natick ma. a six pack of 12"(30cm) rods were 6 bucks, pricy, but I think I can only crank out a few plugs anyway this winter. They are flexible but strong, and say they are aluminum so they shouldnt rust. I thought I'd mention it because they are strong but flexible, and a good length for needlefish etc. The package doesnt list the gauge, but it is about twice as thick as a coathanger I guess. If anyone has used these rods before, i'd like to hear your thoughts. If not, I can tell you that it seems like the right material, but of course it hasnt been tested in battle yet.