How to safely cut woven wire mesh?

When you order woven wire products from YKM, we always aim to provide you with the exact product you need, and will custom cut it to your specifications. Sometimes, however, you will need to make changes after the fact. Or, perhaps you want to order uncut lengths of wire mesh to be used in the way you see fit. We'd be happy to help!

Either way, sometimes you'll need to cut and reshape the mesh, which can be a little tricky. Depending on the size of the product, you may need some pretty significant hardware to cut it. (After all, being difficult to cut is one of the benefits of wire mesh fencing!)

So, here are some tips for cutting woven wire mesh.

How to cut various types of wire mesh fencing

First, always keep safety in mind! You should always wear thick gloves and goggles, even for weak meshes. Even if you are not using high performance hardware for cutting, metal pieces can easily fly apart.

Fine mesh

At the thinnest end, there is fine wire mesh, usually used to protect small, vulnerable items. At sizes up to 0.20 mm, it usually only takes a decent pair of office scissors to cut.  

However, few businesses use such thin meshes except for plant nurseries and operations along these lines.

Medium Mesh

From about 0.22 mm to 1.20+ mm, the wire can be cut with special scissors or wire cutters. When cutting, try to place the scissors as close as possible to the overlap or weave point. You don't want to leave a lot of loose ends as they can easily hang on clothing, skin and cause a lot of damage.

The thickness limit here is a bit vague, as it depends heavily on the strength of the sniper and the strength of your hand.

The thick net

Beyond about 1.50 mm, it is impossible to cut woven wire mesh by hand. You will need at least an angle grinder - with a cutting disc of at least 0.9 mm. Remember to use hearing protection and to keep bystanders away from the cutting area.

A plasma flashlight works better, but there are few of them around.

Don't want to cut your own wire? Then order from YKM! We offer custom solutions and products. Contact our team today for more information.