I'm designing a cabinet right now where I'd like to use woven wire inserts for the doors to get a somewhat old fashioned look. I checked Outwater last night as I knew they supplied them and nearly fell over when I saw the prices. Between $200-$600 for several square feet! I can't understand how this stuff is that expensive unless it's being hand made by a 100 year old master craftsman in a shop in the middle of Manhattan! I checked several places online and all seemed to be in the same neighborhood. I figured it would be a Lot less expensive than that, certainly no more than glass.

Anyone here have any other sources that are more reasonable, or is this stuff now just too expensive to use anymore????

thanks,
JeffD

http://www.mcmaster.com/#wire-cloth/=zhhav9

There is basically one national manufacturer of steel wire panels and all the others buy from them for resale. They are and have always been expensive. The wire must be burr free, precision drawn and plated and the wire is welded not at every joint but near every end to keep the panel as one piece. The volume is low per unit of pattern and size in production terms. Then shipping damage is high. It's been maybe 20 years since I was directly involved but I think my facts are correct and that is why the high price.

Thanks KD for the link, they don't have exactly what I'm looking for but it does confirm that there's something amiss. They have a similar product in stainless steel, (functional), for less than half the price of the antique brass finish on recycled steel, (decorative). So it seems it's not so much a cost to make thing, as it is a really steep markup.

AzFred, I don't doubt your information, but it's hard to believe they can make one product in stainless ($$$), and a similar product with a much cheaper steel in an antique finish is double the cost?

I'm going to look around a bit more before deciding on what to do. It's just hard to justify $358 + $25 to ship for enough screen to do 2 cabinet doors! Maybe I'm just getting old and everything is starting to look expensive:>)

thanks,
JeffD

Shopping is best and quantity is a real factor if that helps.The stainless product doesn't necessarily need to be plated, A big issue on thin gage wire.
I feel your pain.

I've tried to find it cheaper as well, in the end its all expensive. The last time i bought some I got it from my door supplier i work with all the time ( in case there was a damage issue) and just charged the client accordingly.

IF the really want it , put it in the price of the job and don't think twice about it...

http://kentdesign.com

I'm still looking, but haven't found any significant price differences yet.

HenBob, normally I do just that, problem is this is off the "home project" list! Almost all the material I'm using is coming off the storage racks except for paint, so I'm not totally adverse to paying for the grills. They just seem awfully expensive for what they are. I keep thinking of alternate materials to use for the panels, problem is when it comes to getting the look I want….I'm more difficult than most of my clients!

Jeff

Jeff,

I do agree this price of that stuff is outrageous, try mcnichols.com more of an industrial supplier but they may have something as well.