Eli the Bearded wrote:
Is there an easy way to take wire off a spool and get it straight?
I'm working with 12ga galvinized steel here, in lengths of about
two feet.

I just pull wire between clamped down or stepped on wooden blocks.
Sometimes pulling the wire out from between them at an angle helps, even
though you can then get a gentle curl in the wire.

Basically it's easier to work with long pieces of wire instead of little
chopped up pieces. You can even string up some of the wire between posts
or trees and walk back and forth a couple times with the wooden blocks.
I've done this too.