A Nikor Q30 tank (4x35mm or 2x120 reels) I bought recently came without its original lifter rod. My first thought was to fabricate one out of one of coat hanger wire, but I was concerned about possible chemical interactions so I started looking into stainless steel. I got a 3' piece of 1/16" ER308L stainless TIG welding rod, McMaster 7972A448, from a good friend. 3/32" rod, 7972A453, would have been closer to the original diameter, but 1/16" is what my friend had and it's plenty strong enough, as well as being easier to cut and bend than thicker material. You'll need a fairly strong tool to cut this, as well as a robust needle-nose plier to do the bending. Total fabrication time was about two minutes.
An original rod is on the left next to my home-made version.
An original rod is on the left next to my home-made version.