How to Cut 358 Welded Mesh Panels
358 welded mesh panels, also called prison mesh panels or anti-climb fencing, is designed to be very hard to climb, very hard to cut, and one of the most effective high-security fence systems out there.
However, while that’s great once the fence is in place, it does raise the question: how to cut 358 welded mesh panels during installation? Let’s take a closer look.
Order Custom Panel Sizes
The first thing you should consider, instead of wondering how to cut 358 welded mesh panels, is to buy custom 358 welded mesh panel sizes.
Assuming you are buying a large quantity of panels, many manufacturers will work with you to find a panel size that suits your project and site. Choosing a different panel size can even change the way your panels are shipped since some panels fit inside containers, while others can only be transported on pallets or a flatbed.
In a Metal Fabrication Shop
If you need to cut a large number of 358 welded mesh panels, the best (and most cost-effective way to do that might be in a metal fabrication shop, where there are special tools like plasma cutters, guillotines and more that can cut panels precisely and quickly.
If you don’t have these machines yourself, you could outsource it to a metal shop near you so that you can focus on constructing the fence while they cut your panels to size!
On-Site, with an Angle Grinder
The last way to cut 358 welded mesh panels is one that should only be used for small quantities of cuts and requires careful attention to safety precautions.
You can cut 358 welded mesh panels with an angle grinder, but when it’s done on-site, you need to take precautions against sparks that might cause a fire and ensure that the cutting is done by someone who is skilled with these kinds of tools and using all relevant PPE.
Treating Cuts on 358 Welded Mesh Panels
While it is possible to cut 358 welded mesh panels on and off-site, this does make the cut edges more prone to corrosion. If you happen to get any hot shards from an angle grinder (sometimes known as swarf) onto the panels themselves, those areas may be more prone to rusting too.
This is why it’s very important to treat the cut edges of any kind of metal fencing – including 358 welded mesh panels – with an anti-corrosive product.
Usually, this means a zinc-rich cold galvanizing spray if the cuts are made on-site or in a metal fabrications shop. If you order panels in a particular size, and they are hot dip galvanized or coated after manufacture, this might not be an issue, although if you have to do any trimming on site, you will still need to touch those ends up.
Why Might 358 mesh Panels Need To Be Cut?
There are many reasons why your 358 mesh panels might need to be cut.
Most fence lines don’t have a whole number of panels. There’s always one panel at the end of a fence line that will need to be cut to fit.
Sometimes, your high-security welded mesh fence needs to go over a wall, beam, culvert or something else. In those cases, custom cutting and fitting will be required on-site.
If your site has a steep slope, you might need to cut your 358 mesh panels so that you can step the fence or cut them to suit the angle of the slope.
358 mesh panels are also usually cut to fit on gate frames or removable or demountable fence panels.
Regardless of why you need to cut your 358 mesh panels, this is definitely a job for someone who is skilled and experienced in installing this kind of fence. It can be difficult, requires special equipment, and if you make a mistake, it could be very costly.
