[mikestew]

Baling wire is also not as thick. 12 gauge, 10 gauge at the very most. Baling wire can be cut with those snippers you keep in your toolbox. Fence wire? Eh, better get bigger wire cutters.

[quickthrowman]

#8 on (British) SWG scale is about the size of a #11 wire (never seen this size in real life) on the AWG scale.