Dunno about that... I use a pair of small snips marked BELL TELEPHONE that came from my father's tool belt (he was a lineman), and they're easily 40+ years old, have never been sharpened, and are still sharp enough to cut a nail in half.
Or stuff was made to last 40 years ago.....hmmmm...actually that was only the mid 80's.
Well, they could be 50 or 60 years old, who knows. He started working there right after Vietnam and retired right around the time they became Verizon.
@alpep would be so proud!
I have one pair of short needle nose/wire cutters at a time. When they get dull, I get another one.
About a half dozen. If I don't, they're never where I need them.
Just one more...
I use a cheap pair of needle nose pliers with wire cutter built in, allows for cutting the string and curling the end with the same tool. Note: need to have a short needle nose so they don't twist while curling the string loop.
It's a Moshay. First introduced to them 50 years ago as the store where I bought my G37 always had an assortment on the counter. They are nylon and unbreakable, and wear really well - most are lost before wearout - and the hole in the middle helps with the grip. They come in three sizes and four thicknesses, I use medium/medium. And they are all I use. They have a nice assortment you can get to try out.
I just use a good set of diagonal cutters (also called dykes for short). Get as close as you can with the cutters to cut the string end. I use a good set of needle nose pliers to grab and pull the end of the string tight before I cut it. Don't scrimp on the price of these. It's something you, your kids and grandkids will probly use for several decades.
