Determine the aperture of your wire mesh

The most important aspect in buying wire cloth is knowing what the aperture or opening must be. A small aperture means more material and labor are required to manufacture the wire mesh which will increase your price.

I recommend: Aperture is measured in microns. Visit Lenntech for advice on how to determine aperture. If you require a custom made wire cloth, visit Newark Wire Cloth.

Decide what type of material will be used to create your wire mesh

Wire mesh can be made from a host of different metal materials such as heat resisting alloys, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, brass, bronze and even rare materials such as platinum or titanium. The application for which you will be using the mesh may dictate the best choice for your project, but bear in mind that the material will affect your price.

I recommend: Consult the website for Woven Wire for a brief description of alloys and strengths. Not sure which is the best choice of metal? Call the toll free number for wire cloth manufacturers and speak to a representative. Check out the websites for Jelliff, Wire Cloth Man and Dorstener Wire Tech if you need assistance.

Request a sample of steel wire cloth

If you are not sure exactly what wire mesh will be the best for your needs, request a sample from the manufacturer. You will be charged a fee, but at least you'll be sure that you are ordering the right type from your wire mesh distributor. Seeing a sample gives you a good idea of the finishes that the product comes in, and having it in your hand can easily help you decide on a product.

I recommend: You can request samples from TWP. Universal Wire Cloth has a sample kit that contains 40 different samples.