If you'd prefer a combination tool that can both cut and bend hard wire, then you should look into Maun's side cutting parallel pliers, which can make wire much easier to use.

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Normal metal wire is usually simple to cut with a pair of side cutters (especially if it's small in diameter), but you may have found it's much more difficult to cut hardened wire, such as piano wire.

This is because hard wire is usually made from hardened steel, which is often the same toughness as most of the steel used in basic cutters, and so will naturally blunt the tool very quickly.

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A great option for cutting hard wire is this Diagonal Cutting Plier from Maun, which can handle piano wire up to 2.0mm diameter, and hard wire up to 2.5mm diameter.