Woven Wire Mesh vs. Welded Wire Mesh - TWP Inc.

Woven and welded wire mesh may look similar to the untrained eye, but while they share some characteristics, the materials are distinctly different.

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How do you know which one is right for your next project? Find a rundown of each metal mesh product below, along with pointers for choosing a material that best suits your needs.

What is Woven Wire Mesh?

Woven wire mesh is a metal grid with intersecting vertical (warp) and horizontal (weft) wires that create square-shaped (or sometimes hexagonal) openings. Since the wires only intersect rather than being welded or otherwise fixed together, this type of mesh is typically flexible and easy to manipulate. Though woven mesh is often pliant, it can be more rigid when made with thicker wires.

How is woven mesh made?

The mesh is typically made using an industrial loom (sometimes called a weaving machine). Wires are wrapped around a warp beam, then placed into a heddle frame. This separates the warp wires so they can pass through another set of weft wires and create a grid pattern of a specified size.

What is it used for?

A wide range of applications call for woven wire mesh. This is especially true when it comes to home improvement and DIY projects. The material is a go-to for everything from gardening, composting, and craft papermaking to pest control, insect screens, and food drying. Artistic DIYers can even use this bendable mesh to create decorative sculptures.

In the industrial sector, it's often used for filtration, screen printing, and particle analysis.

What is Welded Wire Mesh?

Welded wire mesh is a stainless steel grid with intersections fused together with heat. This material is not malleable but rather rigid and notably strong, maintaining its structure under heavy pressure.

How is welded mesh made?

Welded wire mesh is made by first feeding opposing (warp and weft) wire spools through a special welding loom. The machine lays the horizontal wires over the vertical wires to create a grid, then it applies heat to the intersections to fuse the crossing wires together.

What is it used for?

Unlike woven wire mesh, the welding process calls for thicker metal wires. This sturdy, inflexible material is ideal for fencing, chicken coops, and animal enclosures. It can also be used for soffit screens, foundation vents, chimney caps, gabions, trellises, and automotive grills.

In the engineering and construction sectors, stainless steel welded mesh is used for infill panels, landslide mitigation, and highway reinforcement.

Which Wire Mesh is Best, Woven or Welded?

Welded wire mesh is constructed with thicker wires and is available in larger opening sizes. This material can be used for structural purposes when projects call for durable metal grids.

Woven wire mesh, on the other hand, is available in much finer weaves (including many decorative styles), which makes it useful for cabinet inserts, insect screens, and more. 

If you need a large, rigid metal mesh panel with reliable strength, go with welded mesh. If you need something with much smaller openings or that can be manipulated into different shapes, woven mesh is a better choice.

Shop DIY & Industrial Metal Wire Mesh Products

TWP Inc. has been a trusted supplier of wire mesh products for over 50 years. We carry a huge selection of materials, including woven mesh, welded panels, and galvanized hardware cloth&#;all in stock and ready to ship.

Dashang are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

If you're still not sure what type or size you need, we're here to assist. Contact us today!

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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. 

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. 

Are you interested in learning more about Dashang wire mesh? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!