Whether you are working with concrete drywall or anything in between, something that you might have to work with at one point or another is wire mesh. It is a fantastic alternative to rebar and fiber mesh as it helps to add strength and it helps to hold things in place. With that being said, wire mesh usually isn’t going to come in the exact shape and size that you need, which means that you will most likely need to cut it to size.
What we’re here to do today is to teach you how to cut wire mesh the right way.
5 Best Tools to Cut Wire Mesh
What is important for you to know is that there are a variety of tools that you can use to cut wire mesh. There are both manual tools and power tools that may help you accomplish this task. So let’s take a look.
#1: Tin Snips
Tin snips may also be called simply snips. These look like a thick and heavy-duty pair of scissors with sharp and thick blades located at the front. Snips are a manual tool, and they are extremely easy to use. You can operate snips with a single hand and they do not require any electricity.
If you have to cut some wire mesh or some very thin sheets of metal, then this is a great tool to use. Wire snips are also ideal to use if you need to cut shapes and curves.
With that being said, if you are cutting a low gauge of wire mesh then this tool may have difficulties as very thin pieces of wire might bend instead of being cut, but they are also too weak for very thick wire. Wire snips are very affordable, which is a bonus, and are ideal to use when you only have a limited amount of work that needs to be done.
#2: Hacksaw
Hacksaws are also a great option to go with in this regard due to the fact that they do not cost very much and you might already have one laying around your house. Hacksaws are ideal to use if you have a gauge of wire mesh that is too thick for your tin snips to manage.
Just remember that if your wire mesh is made out of very hard metal, it will completely destroy your hacksaw blade in no time at all. Keep in mind that a hacksaw is really only ideal for cutting straight lines, and you will not really be able to cut curves or shapes.
#3: Power Shears
Power shears are kind of like snips on steroids. They are like a huge pair of scissors that feature a motor that powers them forward. Yes, power shears are fairly expensive, but with that being said, if you need to cut wire mesh on a regular basis, it is a fantastic option to go with. This tool definitely makes life a lot easier and makes this job much faster.
Moreover, power shears can actually cut fairly complex shapes, and they can cut through fairly thick metals as well. With that being said, these may be a bit difficult to steer, and they can also leave sharp edges, so be careful. For somebody taking the do-it-yourself approach, this is probably one of the best tools for cutting wire mesh at your disposal.
#4: Angle Grinder
Although an angle grinder is not the easiest tool to use for cutting wire mesh, the reality is that with the right blade, you can cut through virtually any thickness of wire mesh. If you are somebody who does a lot of projects at home, chances are that you already have an angle grinder.
However, if you need to purchase one, they can be fairly expensive. But, of course, they do come in handy for a variety of tasks. What you also need to know here is that an angle grinder will allow you to cut curves as long as you have some practice under your belt.
#5: Lasers and Plasma Cutters
OK, so technically speaking, if you want to cut wire mesh, you are going to be able to achieve the best results using either lasers or plasma cutters. Plasma cutters are kind of like blowtorches on steroids. With all of that being said, plasma cutters and lasers are both extremely expensive and difficult to operate. However, they will make the fastest workout of any such task and will produce the best results.
How to Cut Wire Mesh: Tips & Tricks
Folks, if you just need to cut a few pieces of wire mesh to size, we definitely recommend just using snips. Snips are cheap and they work well enough. With that being said, if your snips, don’t do the job, then we recommend skipping the hacksaw and going straight to either the power shears or the angle grinder. The bottom line here is that if you need to cut a lot of wire mesh, we do recommend using some kind of electronic or motorized tool.
Also, keep in mind that which of these tools you use really does depend on the thickness of the wire mesh as well as what type of metal it is made out of.
Lastly, what you should also be aware of here is that when cutting wire mesh you should wear thick work gloves because there are often sharp and pointy edges that may cause injury.
Summary
As you can see, there are many different tools that you can use to cut wire mesh. Cutting wire mesh is quite an easy task, and as long as you have the right tool or the right accessor,y you can do it in a matter of minutes.