The Workbench · Notes From The Shop Floor

Mesh Articles

Field notes, spec deep-dives, and shop-floor know-how from the people who’ve been cutting wire mesh in Hayward, California. Mesh counts, alloys, finishes, and the jobs they end up on — written plain.

Meshy at a desk with a laptop, writing up notes from the shop floor
  • // Editor The Howard Wire Crew
  • // Cadence Published When It Matters
  • // Topics Specs · Materials · Applications
  • // Loc. Hayward, California
// 01
Latest From The Shop

Featured Read

Our most recent long-read — the one we’d hand a new buyer before they pick a mesh count.

How to Read an Expanded Metal Spec: 1/2" #16 DecodedFeatured
Aug 04, 2026 aluminum

How to Read an Expanded Metal Spec: 1/2" #16 Decoded

Expanded metal is specified as a diamond size and a gauge number — and neither one is the size of the hole. Here is what 1/2" #16 actually means, why a lower gauge number means thicker metal, and...

Read The Full Note →By Howard Wire Cloth Co.
// 02
The Archive

All Notes

Everything we’ve filed from the shop floor — sorted newest first.

Expanded Metal vs. Perforated Metal: Which One Do You Need?// 03
Oct 21, 2025 expanded metal

Expanded Metal vs. Perforated Metal: Which One Do You Need?

Expanded metal is one sheet slit and stretched with zero waste; perforated metal is punched for exact holes and a clean look....

Read Note →
Showing 2 notes