Handwoven stainless steel mesh is used in several sectors for various purposes. It can be used for separating, structuring, and even shielding purposes. However, whatever you are using the wire mesh for, it will only be effective when you’ve considered all the necessary factors and chosen the right kind of handwoven stainless steel mesh.
For instance, the wire mesh used for bird netting won’t necessarily be effective for constructing a lion fence. Therefore, before you make a decision, take a look at these factors to consider when choosing handwoven stainless steel mesh.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Handwoven Stainless Steel Mesh
Depending on how you plan to use the wire mesh, you will have to consider different features, such as those mentioned below.
Crimp Style
One of the very first things you need to consider is the crimping style of the handwoven stainless steel mesh. This will not only determine how the final wire mesh looks but will also affect the strength and feel of the wire mesh.
So, depending on whether you want a better visual appeal or more durability, there are several crimp styles to consider.
- Plain: As the name suggests, this is a simple and straightforward style of wire crimping which follows a plain zigzag style. The warp and fill wires are intersecting at every pocket. This is one of the most commonly used crimp styles.
- Flat Top: In this style, all the wire crimping is set to one side of the mesh. As a result, the other side gives a smooth and even appearance with all the wires on one level. This kind of wire mesh is often used for architectural purposes or as a back support for a finer mesh.
- Triple Shute: This is a special kind of crimping style where there are long sections of plain wire and then smaller sections of plain crimps using three wires. Such kinds of wire mesh have a high aspect ratio.
- Lock: A modern and more versatile crimp style, a lock crimp has visual as well as structural appeal. It features small bumps in the wire where the intersecting wire can fit and get locked into. This not only gives a clean appearance but also contributes to better stability and stronger structure.
- Intercrimp: This is also another commonly used crimp style where the wires are intersecting at further crimps in the wires. Such a style lends rigidity and tightness to the wire mesh when using lighter wires.
- Rigid Cable: This is a variation of the triple shute style. The only difference is that the triple crimps in between have no space between the wires and, therefore, present a higher aspect ratio.
- Twill: With this style, the warps and shutes are woven in an alternating manner with two over and two under the wires. This allows such wire meshes to be used for greater loads or, in the case of the Twill Dutch style, finer filtration as well.
Opening Size
The opening size or the wire spacing or mesh spacing will affect the effectiveness of your handwoven stainless steel wire mesh. For instance, if you’re looking for zoo mesh, the mesh spacing for bird netting will be different from the right mesh spacing needed for a tiger fence.
When considering the mesh spacing, there are two things you need to consider: the wire spacing and the wire diameter. The wire spacing is the actual space you see between two wires. This is sometimes measured in inches or as the number of spaces available within an inch. So, don’t confuse 1 mesh with being the same as 1” mesh.
Moreover, the wire spacing can be measured from edge to edge, center to center, or as the clear opening. The wire diameter is basically the thickness of the wire, and this can also affect the durability and strength of the overall mesh. Normally, the wire diameter for wire mesh can go anywhere from 0.035 to 0.375 of an inch thickness.
Wire Shape
Another factor you have to consider is the shape of the wire in the wire mesh. The shape can affect the tightness of the mesh, the final appearance as well as how durable the final mesh is. The three most common shapes are square, flat, and fluted.
In addition to that, within the shapes, there are several sizes as well. For instance, within square-shaped wires, there can be as thin as 0.063 of an inch a square or even as big as 0.25 of an inch of a square.
Wire Weight
The wire weight is one of the most important considerations. This will affect everything from the durability of the mesh to its overall weight to how stable it is. The heaviest wire mesh does not always prove to be the best wire mesh.
You have to find the balance between weight and strength. This is why stainless steel mesh is a great choice. It is quite lightweight yet is effective and strong as well. Other options include aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, nickel, titanium, and more.
Percentage of Open Area
Finally, you have to consider the percentage of open area in the entire wire mesh as well. This is the ratio of the total open area according to the total area of the wire mesh. The higher the percentage, the more space there will be between the wires, and it will be easier to allow light or air to pass through.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know about the different factors to consider when choosing handwoven stainless steel mesh, you can make a much more informed and accurate decision. You can evaluate your needs and then pick the most appropriate type of handwoven stainless steel mesh.
However, if you are still struggling to figure out which type of wire mesh would best suit your needs, you can get in touch with Hebei Ketong Metal Mesh Industry. Our experts can help you with all of your metal mesh needs. We have a wide range of products which can serve several purposes with their luxurious appearance and lightweight and durable quality.
