A 101 Guide to Industrial Wire Cloth Terminology

Woven metal cloth (or woven wire mesh) is a go-to for a notably wide range of industrial applications. Since it has so many uses, there are countless variations, which can make it challenging to determine the correct material for a specific application. 

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Wire Mesh Specifications

Not sure which type, size, or weave you need? Consider this your guide to commercial-grade wire mesh specifications.

Key Wire Mesh Definitions

First, let's go over a few of the most common terms used to describe and classify wire mesh products.

Mesh Count: Measured from the midpoint of a single wire to a 1-inch distance, mesh count is the number of openings per linear inch.

Mesh Opening: Mesh opening refers to the hole size. Typically measured in inches, it's the distance between the two closest parallel wires.

Wire Diameter: Also known as gauge, the diameter measures the thickness of a round wire.

Filter Rating: A filter rating, also referred to as Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (or MERVs), tells you whether wire mesh can effectively remove particles of a certain size from other matter. It's essentially a measure of retention and is usually expressed in microns or percentages.

Absolute Filter Rating: Mesh with an absolute filter rating has a retention of nearly 100% (ranging from 99.7% to 99.99%).

Nominal Filter Rating: Wire mesh with a nominal filter rating has a retention between 60% to 90%.

Weave: This refers to the specific over-under pattern of intersecting wires. Similar to textiles, metal mesh comes in various weave styles.

Shute Wires: These are the metal wires that run across the width.

Warp Wires: These are the metal wires that run down the length of the mesh.

Finish: &#;&#;Finish refers to the surface of fabricated metal mesh. The most common finishes include mill (dull and free of texture) and polymeric coated, which is finished with a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material.

Galvanized: To create galvanized hardware cloth, mesh is dipped into molten zinc. This forms an ultra-strong metal alloy.

Welded: Welded wire mesh is made using resistance welding to join intersecting wires and ultimately form a grid.

Wire Mesh Weave Types

The most common weaves include plain, plain Dutch, twill, and twill Dutch. Find a rundown of each below.

Plain Weave (PW): Plain weave mesh accounts for a majority of industrial products. The shute and warp wires alternate passing over, then underneath each other to create a standard square grid.

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Plain Dutch Weave (PDW): With PDW mesh, the warp wires have a larger gauge than the shute wires. As such, this weave features fewer warp wires than shute wires.

Twill Weave (TW): Twill weave mesh is made by crossing each shute wire over two, then under two warp wires to create a strong diagonal pattern.

Twilled Dutch Weave (TDW): Then there's twill Dutch, which is like plain Dutch but with a twill pattern.

Learn more about weave types and view examples in our guide.

Wire Mesh vs. Hardware Cloth

Wire mesh is created by weaving or welding metal wires to create a grid. While the terms are often used interchangeably, hardware cloth is a type of wire mesh that's usually galvanized.

Welded vs. Woven

As mentioned above, metal mesh can be formed either through weaving or welding. Woven mesh is created by connecting shute and warp wires with an alternating over-under pattern. The welded variety calls for heating the wires with an electric current to permanently intersect them.

Welded mesh is exceptionally strong and boasts impressive rigidity. However, not all industrial applications require this level of inflexibility, and for some, malleability is essential.

Industrial-Grade Wire Mesh Products and Expert Services from TWP Inc.

Since , TWP Inc. has proudly supported the commercial and industrial sectors with top-tier products and critical services.

Our expert services include:

• Disc sizing, including stamping and laser cutting to create

  precise wire mesh discs

• Laser cutting highly accurate pieces, complex shapes, and near-edge holes

• Slitting wire mesh rolls to create narrower spools

• Ultrasonic cleaning with high-frequency sound waves to expedite contaminant removal

The knowledgeable team at our woman-owned company can help you determine the right wire mesh for your specific needs. Contact us to get started!

For the latest news and insight into how metal mesh is being used in your industry, connect with TWP Inc. on LinkedIn.

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