Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association

McNichols Company, they have all types of screen and grate materials.

http://www.mcnichols.com/mcnichols.htm

Address: 1980 Shiloh Road Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM EST
Building 6, #300 atlanta.sales@mcnichols.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144-6440
Phone: (770) 499-1441
Fax: (770) 499-9559
Emergency Phone: (404) 668-9084

Good Luck,
Ben

Ben is correct. I just finished a fire screen project and McNichols supplied the screen. Follow Dan Tull's advice and order enough for two screens. I job costed this into the one job and saved the extra as a head start on another. It is also real nice if you happen to mess up the first one; certainly removes the pucker factor when you make those cuts.

I used stainless screen type 304 in the 10 mesh 035 wire size (they also have bronze and copper!). Much nicer than carbon steel. In hindsight I should have gone to the next wire size smaller for stainless. In comes in a roll and I had a heck of a time getting it to flatten out, especially with the arched cut that this fire place screen required. I used 1/4 X 20 button head cap screws from MSC to clamp the screen in place. I also had a hard time stretching the screen, the smaller wire size probably would have helped here. From now on, anytime I incorporate stainless in a job I am going to double my time/cost estimates for just the stainless work. I used a paste of water and barkeepers friend to clean the screen when finished.

One last tip. When you do any job calculate your best estimate for time/overhead/material/disposables. Compare this to what actually happens in the job and be sure you profit or learn why not. Keep your invoices, catalogs and notes on material sources, supplies, etc.; put this in a job file for the next one. A high end remodeler saw my screen and fireplace set at this customers birthday party (I was there too) "I can sell as many of these as you can make, how much?" My price was a lot higher than that first job, since I KNEW what the job costs for me were.

Good Luck.

Several years ago, Bill Durrett shared with me, a bracket that he had developed to attach the screen wire to the frame. It makes work much easier.

I will try and upload a picture of it. If you are interested email me and I will send you a picture of the bracket. You simply tack weld it on to the back of the frame and crimp the screen in.