Why is it expensive? This is not just a run-of-the-mill bailing wire. In order to bend around a tight radius and not immediately break, the wire must be annealed. Annealing is a process whereby the metal is heated, then cooled slowly over an extended period of time. The process changes the structure of the metal, removes internal stress and toughens the wire. It is also, naturally, stainless steel to avoid corrosion.