Welded or woven wire screen mesh: which one is better? That answer determines, of course, on what you need to use it for. Each type of metal cloth material boasts its own strengths, and they largely stem from the way each kind is crafted. Let’s take an in-depth look at the characteristics of woven and welded wire cloth.
From its practical beginnings in medieval Europe to the 18th century, the advantages of woven wire cloth are certainly plentiful. Today’s wire cloth is woven with various kinds of metals including stainless steel, brass, copper and aluminum alloys, and even high heat resistant metals like molybdenum and tungsten. Woven wire cloth is often more affordable than welded cloth because it takes less labor to produce. A handful of key areas are welded together to hold the woven metal cloth in place. As a result, the woven material is more flexible to work with. Several types of woven wire cloth mesh are available on the market. For example, wire cloth can be woven in twill weave, plain weave, pre-crimp weave, filter cloth weave and more.
Due to its more flexible nature, woven wire cloth is particularly useful for irregular contours, but smaller items such as ultrasonic parts may fall out of the container or through the steel mesh holes. Woven metal mesh also has a tendency to not be quite as strong as welded metal for protective purposes.
In contrast to a woven wire, welded wire cloth is permanently welded at all or most intersecting joints. This welding process makes the material more rigid and allows it to hold a more uniform shape. This is particularly helpful in industrial applications where the wire welded mesh fits into mechanical parts with set measurements. Welded wire metal is more efficient at holding lids in place compared to its woven counterpart. Welded wire cloth contains heavy duty loads and withstands greater force without breaking or tearing, making it the ideal choice for protective or barrier applications. It has a greater durability against the rigors of daily cleaning, and can also be galvanized for further strength and corrosion resistance to high moisture and salt environments.
That said, welded wire cloth is very useful for its strength, but it also tends to be the costlier material because more time and labor is involved.
As you can see, both welded and woven wire metal share in their own strengths and weaknesses. Keep these factors in mind when selecting the type of wire that matches closest to your needs:
Woven wire metal:
Welded wire metal, on the other hand:
Not sure whether welded or woven wire is right for you? Want to know about our woven wire mesh sizes? Contact us at Newark Wire Cloth today! With over a century of experience, our dedicated staff will guide you through your wire cloth purchase from start to finish.