Has anyone ever tried making a needle out of alternate materials?
I know that things don't adhere well to Titanium.
There is wire available in many thicknesses.
Do you think it might tend to clog less?
I was also thinking of carving one out of Lignum Vitae.
http://surfpick.com/hardness Yes, it's only wood... but a slice barely thicker than 1mm
can withstand being slammed against steel, for years
http://surfpick.com Lignum Vitae is also notorious for it's poor adhesion properties.
You have to treat it with acetone, to epoxy it.
The wood needs no finish and will accept none.
It appreciates sanding all the way up to 2500 grit,
where it becomes more like a marble finish, than wood.