How to Buy the Best Wire Mesh | LSM

Wire mesh is extremely versatile in its uses and can be manufactured to accommodate many different applications. Depending on your use, finding the right woven metal mesh or welded wire mesh for your project can be crucial. Check out this guide for tips on buying the best wire mesh the industry has to offer. Keep in mind, quality really does matter when it comes to working with wire mesh materials. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of 316 stainless steel welded wire mesh. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Find Your Mesh Specification

Wire cloth fabrication can be molded to fit a variety of specifications. Knowing some specifics of the application you&#;re using it for can be very helpful in making sure you get the right mesh for your project. One of the largest deciding factors is the need for strength and durability in its application. For instance, if you are looking to invest in woven metal mesh to assist in allergy-proofing your home, a single-layer of wire cloth over windows will cleanse the air while ensuring proper airflow.

In addition to choosing between a single layer of wire mesh or multiple layers, you must also consider the size and shape you are working with. For instance, when working to create a filter product through wire cloth fabrication, choosing a very fine wire will allow for the optimal level of filtration to be achieved. 

Understanding the mesh count, wire diameter and opening needed for your application is an important first step in making sure you find the wire mesh to fit your project. Additional tools can be used to help you find the right fit. For example, Lawrence Sintered Metals has a free wire mesh calculator that can help you determine what specifications you may need.

Choose Your Weave Type and Pattern

Once you have the basic specifications of the mesh you need, it may also prove beneficial to decide on your weave type and pattern. One of the main considerations in selecting a wire mesh is whether to select a woven or welded pattern. Woven mesh is more common overall because not all wires are suitable for welding.

Woven wire mesh&#;also sometimes referred to as woven wire cloth&#;is created by weaving wire strands in an over-under or under-over method to form different patterns with varying specifications. Some of the most common weave patterns for woven wire mesh are plain/square weave, rectangular weave, plain Dutch weave, twilled Dutch weave, and intercrimp weave. The weave pattern of mesh significantly influences what it can be used for. For example, plain square weaves are ideal for use in general-purpose applications, while Dutch weaves are more appropriate for use in air and liquid filtering applications.

Welded wire mesh is a sheet of metal wires arranged into a stable grid pattern, then welded at the intersections for durability. Welded wire mesh is cost-effective and highly customizable, with options for a range of materials, thicknesses, and grid patterns. Stainless steel is oftentimes the material used to create welded wire mesh, as it offers the highest performance, valued both for its strength and corrosion resistance. Applications that may call for stainless steel mesh for either functional or aesthetic purposes include filters for chemical and oil processing, air filtration, food service and medical filters and guards, and building facades.

Think About Your Application&#;s Conditions

When chosen correctly, wire mesh offers the strength and flexibility needed for its given application. It is important to select a material capable of withstanding the operating and environmental conditions. For example, in applications involving corrosive materials, stainless steel is a viable option. In general, stainless steel is one of the most&#;if not the most&#;commonly employed construction materials for wire mesh products. Typical alloys used include Type 304, 316, and 316L.

Do the Necessary Research

Just as you would with any other project, doing the research before you start is imperative. We encourage all users of wire mesh, especially those new to the industry, to familiarize themselves with the products, their terminology, and users. In addition, know where you can save money in the process. For example, to receive the best SQFT price, purchase a full roll of material. Standard rolls measure 100 feet in length, and when purchasing in this quantity, there is no extra labor cost and no cut to size waste.

Lawrence Sintered Metals Offers High Quality, Affordable Wire Mesh

Once you have all of your specifications laid out, all you need to do is find a wire mesh products provider. Lawrence Sintered Metals offers a variety of wire mesh products in woven and welded form, in different alloys including plain steel, stainless steel and galvanized steel, aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, Monel, Alloy 20, and many more.

At Lawrence Sintered Metals you can also send in your drawings, designs or descriptions to receive a quote. Contact Lawrence Sintered Metals today for more information on how to plan and purchase the highest quality, affordable wire mesh for your needs. 

Boasting unmatched strength, resilience, and versatility, stainless steel wire mesh is a critical material for countless industrial applications. The metal itself has myriad specifications and grades, the most common being types 304 (T-304) and 316 (T-316).

What's the difference between the two, and how do you know which is best for your needs? Read on for insight.

T-304 vs. T-316 Stainless Steel Alloys

Before diving deeper into the differences in these materials, it&#;s important to understand what an alloy is. An alloy is a metal combined with other elements to create a material not found in nature. For instance, when pure silver is combined with a small amount of copper, the result is sterling silver.

Steel is created by adding chromium to iron, and the stainless variety typically contains a small amount of nickel. The exact percentages of each element determine the grade of the metal.

Stainless steel wire mesh products are used in everything from aerospace and agriculture to mining and machinery. While there's a multitude of variations, T-304 and T-316 are the most widely used.

T-304 is essentially the standard version, and T-316 is premium. Though these alloys look nearly identical to the untrained eye, they're notably different in terms of their durability and resistance to heat and corrosion.

What Is T-304 Stainless Steel?

Type 304 stainless steel is an alloy containing 18% chromium and 8% nickel. In addition to being affordable and supremely versatile, there are many advantages to using the material.

T-304 wire mesh products are:

• Heat-resistant in temperatures as high as °F

• Non-magnetic

• Operational in sub-zero temperatures

• Resistant to corrosion

• Unlikely to oxidize

This type of wire mesh is widely available and comes in a broad range of sizes, wire diameters, and weaves.

T-304 Stainless Steel Metal Mesh Applications & Industries

Many industries rely on T-304 steel hardware cloth, including mining, food production, water filtration, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, construction, and refinery.

Industrial applications for T-304 include:

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• Creation of moldings and trim

• Equipment tubing and piping

• Electrical enclosures

• Laboratory use

• Particle separation

• Screening abrasives and liquids

• Sieving

• Sorting powders and solid materials

• Storage tanks

T-304 is a go-to for various applications, so bear in mind this is by no means an exhaustive list.

What Is T-316 Stainless Steel?

Type 316 stainless steel is an alloy containing 16% chromium and 10% nickel, along with 2% of the chemical element molybdenum. While it's priced slightly higher than T-304, it's just as versatile with many notable benefits.

T-316 wire mesh products are:

• More resistant to corrosion than T-304

• Non-magnetic

• Resilient in extreme temperatures

• Resilient in harsh environmental conditions

• Resistant to spot welding

• Suitable in marine environments

• Unlikely to oxidize

Thanks to the small amount of molybdenum, this type of stainless steel is typically recommended for highly corrosive marine environments where T-304 isn't as stable.

T-316 Stainless Steel Mesh Applications and Industries

Like T-304, several commercial sectors rely on T-316 stainless steel hardware cloth. This includes marine technology, food processing, manufacturing, automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, and the pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Industrial applications for T-316 include:

• Boat fittings

• Chemical processing and storage

• Cisterns and piping

• Containing pressurized gasses or liquids

• Heavy welding

• Infrastructure

• Laboratory use

• Machinery

• Marine components

• Outdoor furnishings

• Particle separation

For more information into this material, check out our Stainless Steel Mesh Guide.

Where to Buy the Best Stainless Steel Industrial Mesh

Founded in Berkeley, California, in , TWP Inc. has been a premier industrial wire mesh supplier for more than 60 years. Our woman-owned company carries woven and welded stainless steel sheets, panels, rolls, and laser-cut mesh discs, including a robust selection of T-304 and T-316 grades.

Expert services from TWP Inc. include laser cutting, roll slitting, disc sizing, measuring, and cleaning. We always have a wide variety of products in stock, but if you don't see exactly what you need, we're happy to accommodate custom sizes and quantities. Request a free quote to get started!

Want to discover more about what's trending in your industry? Connect with TWP Inc. on LinkedIn for the latest on wire mesh materials and applications.

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