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Eben,
Get yourself a copy of a McMaster Carr industrial supply catalog and read about the various types of stainless steel wire. It sounds as if you are using a very stiff and brittle ss welding wire. There's better choices.
Years ago I bought from McMaster Carr some semi-soft ss wire on 5 pound spools., in .050 and .064 inch diameters. I bend this wire over small galvanized or nickel plated steel "S" loops used for hanging potted plants indoors. These steel "S" hooks are available in many different diameters depending on how large you want the loop to be.
Just tighten a steel "S" loop in a workbench vise and form your wire loop using use a pair of heavy duty wire cutting pliers, not needle nose pliers that don't have enough force to "show the wire who's boss". You can do this with stiff welding wire but it's a lot easier when using semi-soft ss wire on a spool.
Bill
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