The Fence Post

The 122 acre Birmingham Zoo draws more than 500,000 visitors a year, making it Alabama's most popular attraction. On February 5th I was treated to a fascinating tour of the facility by Jeff Pribble, the Zoological Manager of Birds. He cares for and manages more than 90 different species of birds - over 400 in number. The zoo is on its way to a goal of 100 species. Such species as the Bali Mynah, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Secretary Bird, and Double-wattled Cassowary are on display in clean, informatively labeled, well-maintained environments that reflect their natural habitats.

Using Netting and Mesh

The Birmingham Zoo uses a variety of meshes in its displays and around the grounds. Vinyl coated welded wire meshes are used in the displays as well as in safety insert panels along walkways, railings, and fences. Woven polypropylene top netting is often used for the tops of the displays. For the bigger displays containing larger birds, woven 2" x 4" mesh is used. A fine woven zoo mesh is also used for the displays of some of the smaller birds.

A World-Class Resource

Along with this fine avian section, the zoo also features a $15 million Children's Zoo displaying the urban and rural wild animals and environs of Alabama. Work on the Trails of Africa is currently underway. Featuring a cultural and botanical "immersion-themed motif", this promises to be a "world-class community asset". The zoo also features two small trains that carry passengers on a 3/4 mile loop throughout the zoo.

 Jeff Pribble & Duncan Page

 If you're in the Birmingham area, be sure to visit!

Chain Link as a Work of Art?

Having grown up in a neighborhood where the lawns flowed into one another, when some new folks moved in and put up a stark chain link fence around the perimeter of their property, the neighbors were collectively horrified. Mercifully, they grew ivy on it. However, a new type of fencing has been introduced by the Demakersvan design studio in Holland. Called Lace Fence, it is a combination of chain link fabric and the art of lace-making.

The design possibilities - from floral themes to contemporary patterns and designs - are infinite. And you can submit your own designs. With this opportunity to customize each job, every lace fence is unique. Chain link fencing, a basic functional fence, can become a decorative and attractive work of art.

Imagining the Possibilities

Lace Fence can be woven from both 11 and 12½ gauge wires, either galvanized or vinyl coated. The wire mesh is securely clamped to a tubular frame.
There are many different types of locations - both interior and exterior - where Lace Fence is currently in use, including but not limited to:

• Barrier fences in parks and other public areas
• Interior partitions in banks, restaurants, hotels, and gyms
• Railing safety mesh on stairways, decks, and balconies
• Decorative panels on the facades of commercial buildings
• Safety fences on apartment buildings
• Museum displays

What do you think about Lace Fencing? Do you think it's attractive?

Is it more appropriate for use in a public or commercial setting rather than around a residence?

Photograph of Lace Fence at The Design Center at Philadelphia University is used with permission. For more examples, look at https://redfort.nl/  and you can check out the Demakersvan website here:https://www.demakersvan.com

Specialized Mesh

There are many different specifications of wire cloth available with heavier gauges and different mesh sizes. They are often called industrial wire cloth and can be difficult to find and purchase. In addition to regular steel, these specialized meshes can be made with any kind of metal that can be drawn into wire including stainless steel, brass, bronze, aluminum, and copper. Great for factories, farming, and around the house. 

Tough Stuff

Square mesh industrial wire cloth specifications are usually expressed as openings per inch. For example, 4 mesh means that there are four openings per inch - the mesh measures 1/4" x 1/4". The mesh sizes available range from 1 mesh (1") down to 100 mesh (100 openings per inch). Wire diameters used in these products range from .331 inch ( gauge) down to .003 inch ( gauge).

Finer meshes from 120 down to 500 openings per inch are also available. The wire diameters used are .0037 ( gauge) to .001 ( gauge). These specifications are often called filter cloth or fine mesh wire cloth.

Use Industrial Wire Cloth for:

• screens
• guarding equipment
• cages
• fences
• pallets
• racks and shelves
• aviaries
• linings for silos
• strainers
• protective barriers

Contact Louis Page for Ordering

Due to the variety of choices of gauge, wire type, and mesh opening size, some specifications require a minimum quantity and must be made to order.

Industrial wire cloth meshes are usually woven. The woven styles are the same as those described in our blog article about standard hardware cloth galvanized wire mesh.

Have any projects requiring industrial wire cloth? Call us and describe the particulars of what you need.  (866) 328-5018

Worm or snake fence  

• A fence, zigzag in plan, made of rails resting across one another at an angle - according to the Random House Dictionary.

This style of fencing is also known as Snake Fence, ZigZag Fence and Battlefield Fence - the latter term due to its presence on many Civil War battlefields. Worm Fence has been used in America since the 1600s. Easy to build, split wood rails are stacked on each other to create the fence. The ends of the rails alternate, creating the openings. For stability of the stacked rails, each section of fence is angled slightly from the previous one, giving the appearance of a worm or snake. Sometimes a pair of crossed posts would be used at the junction point of each section. This would allow the fence to be closer to a straight line.

No post holes and good for rocky terrain 

No vertical posts are required to build the fence--eliminating the need to dig post holes and making the fence easy to install - a particular advantage in rocky terrain. Nails and other hardware are not necessary. Such simplicity means it's repaired without difficulty and can be moved or taken down readily. 

With a rustic look

With a plentiful supply of wood and ease of construction, it is easy to understand why worm fence was the most common type of fence used in America by the late 1800s.  It is gaining popularity today for use as a rustic fence that will add to the appearance of a piece of property.

And here's a video that shows the process of creating one of these beauties:

Warp Wires, Shute Wires, Crimped Mesh and more

There are two types of woven wire hardware cloth: woven and crimped. Many of these styles are made as heavy meshes for very specialized uses, such as sifting screens. In both woven and crimped wire cloth meshes, the warp wires are those running the length of the roll. The wires running across the width are called shute wires.

Woven Wire Mesh 

• Plain Weave

  

  • warp and shute wires pass over and under adjacent wires
  • most plain weave is double crimped - warp and shute wires are crimped and locked into position

• Twilled Weave 
  • warp and shute wires pass over two and under two adjacent wires
  • not as tight as plain weave - more pliable

• Plain Dutch Weave 
  • warp wires usually larger than shute wires
  • closely spaced shute wires makes dense weave with wedge shaped openings

• Twilled Dutch Weave 
  • combination of Dutch and Twilled weaves

• Smooth Top Crimp 
  • crimps are on underside of mesh
  • has a smooth flat surface on top 

Information taken in part from Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. catalog.