OVERVIEW

Stainless steel mesh is the most popular woven screen in the industrial world. It is known for its corrosion resistance and strength.

Stainless steel wire mesh contains chromium and nickel in addition to steel. It is non-magnetic in the annealed condition. After stainless steel wire mesh has been woven, it may become slightly magnetic due to cold working.

The two basic metal types: Alloy Type 304 and Type 316

Materials of Stainless Steel Wire Mesh: Material for weaving stainless steel wire mesh ( wire cloth ) is divided into Type 304, Type 304 L, Type 316 and Type 316 L. Type 304 is often referred to as "18-8" ( 18% chromium, 8% nickel ) with the basic stainless alloy mostly commonly, utilized for wire cloth weaving. It withstands outdoor exposure without rusting and resists oxidation at an elevated temperature up to 1400 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Type 304 L is very similar to T-304, the difference being the reduced carbon content for better weaving and secondary welding characteristics.

Type 316 Stabilized by the addition of 2% molydbenum, T-316 is an "18-8" alloy. It has better resistance to pitting corrosion than the other chromium-nickel stainless steels where brines, sulphur-bearing water or halogen salts, such as chlorides are present. A valuable property of T-316 is high creep strength at elevated temperatures. Other mechanical properties and fabricating characteristics are similar to T-304.

Type 316 L is very similar to T-316, the difference being the reduced carbon content for wire cloth weaving and secondary welding characteristics

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Examples of Uses

• Filtration, sifting, sizing
• Marine uses (T316)
• Faucet screen 60 x 40 mesh T316
• Insect screen 18x14 mesh T304
• Insect screen in a marine environment 18x14 T316
• CRT screen 50x50; 80x80; or 100x100 high transparency grade
• Decorative/craft applications
• Sconces
• Filter media support

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Cutting

Stainless steel meshes with wire diameters from .001 inch to .010 are easily cut with scissors. The heavier wire diameters from .011 up to about .047 can be cut with tin snips. Wire diameters over .047 inches are difficult to cut with hand tools but a compound aircraft-style hand shear can usually nibble its way through.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Choosing

How do I choose a mesh size?

In general, our website gives detailed descriptions and pictures of many stainless steel meshes.

For someone unfamiliar with wire mesh size terminology, 2 mesh has two wires in each direction in a square inch. You could easily pass a pencil through the openings.

16 mesh has 16 wires in each direction in a square inch. This mesh is used in a window or porch screens to keep out common insects.

60 mesh has 60 wires each direction in a square inch and is the size commonly used in kitchen faucets. An 80 mesh has an opening which will barely pass a human hair.

An idea of how thick the wire is can be estimated using the fact that a piece of paper is about three thousandths (.003) of an inch thick. So, a wire .018 inches thick is equal to 6 sheets of paper. (.018 divided by .003 equals 6). The total thickness of the woven meshes will be about twice the thickness of a single wire. In this case, it would have an overall thickness equal to 12 sheets of paper.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Discs

• 500 standard disc diameters
• Same day delivery on stock items
• Special diameters in three days

Our "Quot-O-Matic" Disc pricer can get you quick quotes by phone. To get an email quote for stainless steel mesh discs: You will need to indicate material, disc diameter, mesh and quantity.