How to Cut Hardware Cloth
The term hardware cloth is a bit of a misnomer since it is actually a type of steel mesh that comes in rolls. It is used in a variety of ways, from sealing open areas of homes and buildings to erecting fences that keep animals out of vegetable gardens.
Because the steel is sturdy, traditional scissors will not cut through it. Instead, use specialized cutters designed to cut through metal.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Marker
- Aviation snips or wire cutters
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Lay the roll of hardware cloth onto the ground. Unroll the cloth so that you have a long section laying flat on the ground.
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Place the edge of a tape measure against the free end of the hardware cloth and stretch the tape measure to the correct distance. Mark the measurement with a marker.
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Cut the hardware cloth at the marked line, using wire aviation snips or wire cutters. Make the cut as close to one of the vertical wires as possible to avoid having ragged horizontal wires sticking out of the side.
Tip
If you need to bend hardware cloth, place a wooden board at the location where the bend should be and pull the cloth upward against it. Hardware cloth typically is available in 10-foot rolls.
The Drip Cap
- The term hardware cloth is a bit of a misnomer since it is actually a type of steel mesh that comes in rolls.
- Lay the roll of hardware cloth onto the ground.
- Make the cut as close to one of the vertical wires as possible to avoid having ragged horizontal wires sticking out of the side.
References
Writer Bio
Kimberly Johnson is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in various online publications including eHow, Suite101 and Examiner. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began writing professionally in 2001.
Photo Credits
- wire mesh image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
- wire mesh image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
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