Below are some common terms that are used when discussing wire mesh products.
Glossary of Wire Mesh Products Section of our Product Catalog (PDF)
Wire Mesh Catalog (PDF)
Wire Mesh Catalog (Interactive)
Aluminum Mesh:
A wire mesh product that is made of woven strands of aluminum wire. Aluminum mesh is used in a variety of applications, such as baskets, grills, display shelves, racks, liquid filtration, wall reinforcement, and more.
Fill Wire:
Also known as shute wire, wire running across the width of the wire cloth.
Filter Cloth:
Cloth used for flattening or straining (primarily plain and twilled dutch wire cloth and certain specifications of square mesh and off-count standard wire cloth).
Flat Top Wire Mesh:
Top surface of wires all lie in same plane. Irregular crimped surface on underside.
Hardware Cloth:
Plain weave square wire cloth of relatively light wire galvanized after weaving or welding (usually between 2 to 8 openings per lineal inch).
Lock Crimp Wire Mesh:
Distinct crimp or pocket at wire intersection with straight connecting sections of wire.
Market Grade Wire Cloth:
Applies to wire cloth specifications most commonly used for general work. Market grade cloth is made of one size wire for each size closed mesh.
Micron:
1/1000-millimeter, 0.00003937 inch. The unit of measure for particle retention of filter media.
Oil Tempered Wire Mesh:
High carbon steel wire that is heat treated to produce good strength and abrasion resistance.
Plain Weave Wire Mesh:
Wires are crimped in a zigzag fashion with wires intersecting at every available crimp or pocket.
Rectangular Wire Mesh:
Wire cloth with different warp and fill wire mesh counts which results in rectangular openings. The most common have a higher warp mesh than filter mesh. Advantages are increased open area and reduced cost.
Space Wire Screen:
Wire cloth specified by the opening size rather than by the mesh count, as in stainless steel screen.
Square Wire Mesh:
Mesh with equal spacing of warp and shute to give square openings.
Steel Wire Mesh:
Number of openings per lineal inch, measured from center of wire to center of wire, as in stainless steel mesh.
Warp Wire Mesh:
Foundation wires running parallel to the length of the cloth.
Wire Cloth Calendaring:
A rolling operation which flattens the knuckles of wire cloth giving it a smoother surface.
Wire Cloth Selvage:
The finished edges of wire cloth running the length of the roll which are produced by the weaving operation.
Wire Mesh:
A woven or resistance welded grid consisting of a series of parallel longitudinal wires with accurate spacing welded to cross wires at the required spacing. Wire mesh is available in many materials, such as aluminum mesh, copper wire mesh, brass wire mesh, bronze wire mesh, mild steel wire mesh, pre-galvanized wire mesh, stainless steel wire mesh, and more.
Wire Mesh Crimp:
Undulations in warp and fill wires which hold each other in place.
Wire Mesh Diameter or Gauge:
Diameter of wire used in weaving cloth.
Wire Mesh Intercrimp:
Wires are crimped in a zigzag fashion with intersections at every 3rd, 5th, or 7th, etc., crimp or pocket.
Wire Mesh Opening:
Dimension between parallel adjacent wires.
Wire Mesh Weaves:
Pattern in which wires are interwoven.
