the point

Dear fanatical DBA-type types,

I am embarking on my first replace-the-spears project.

I have a pretty neat set of pliers/sidecutters that I think will be good to flatten and snip snip the ends of wire to make spearpoints. What I need to know is:

1. What wire?
2. What gauge?

In anticipation,
your most humble etc.
Blunt End.