Generally: You want to select a wirecloth that stays in a decent length of time and gives you the maximum TONS before WEARING OUT. So your return on investment is the greatest.

Lets take one pick for example: say we want to buy a 1" clear square opening wirecloth with a .250" diameter wire to screen at 1"

iF YOU go to a WIRECLOTH HANDBOOK (WS TYLER) is what I am using right this moment......it will show 18 possible picks for screening at 1" opening with many different sizes of wire diameter all for 1" clear opening.

If for example screening say sand and gravel......we would pic a .250" diameter wire, because history indicates to us we will get a number of months life out of it and not have to go in and change it unnecessarily sooner that we should.

Heavier wire diameter pic equals LONGER life in the machine.

Heavier wire also means less OPEN AREA and less TPH passing.

Lighter wire diameter equals SHORTER life but, MORE TPH passing

Lighter wire diameter equals more changeouts and higher operating costs due to mtce shutdowns

...

So we kinda like to pic MEDIUM diameter wires....stay in long but, still give us a decent OPEN AREA... We kinda like to be around plus minus 57-65% range. A 1" clear .250 diameter wire actually is 64.0% OPEN AREA.

FOR excellent superb EXPERTISE in wirecloth manufacture....contact WS TYLER and ask them for one of their WIRECLOTH HANDBOOKS. It will answer all of your technical questions in complete detail.

here a great LINK: http://www.wstyler.com/productsscreeningmedia.html

hope this helps a bit....Yours in Screening. ■