vent cover material (mesh type stuff)

[vertexguy]

I'm curious what everyone has been using for those that covered their cab vents with some kind of mesh.  I have been looking at stuff like this:



https://www.parts-express.com/Formed-Metal-Grill-Pair-with-8mm-Round-Holes-12-x-18-x-1-262-880?gclid=CjwKCAiAyc2BBhAaEiwA44-wWw34HJaW1ZOhrmcCDnLnWsQkNa85TCogAPkOUlINuiWad7u__MdA3BoCp5QQAvD_BwE

But it's kinda pricey IMO for very little material, and I have a lot of vents.  I don't need this necessarily, but I kinda think it will add another level of nice detail to them.  About to head off to HD to look at stuff there, like window screen mesh.

Any recommendations?

[jennifer]

What you got there is what I use, and it is awesome and easy to cut, Everything has gone up in price, And finding it much cheaper probibally ya not so much...With that in mind, the price of lumber just got jacked again, building a cab at all will be some rich dude hobby soon.

[lomoverde]

How about the magnetic mesh youd get on newer PCs ?

https://www.amazon.es/ordenador-ventilador-cubierta-rejillas-magn%C3%A9tico/dp/B08HX4PZ4Y/ref=asc_df_B08HX4PZ4Y/?tag=googshopes-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=469836810464&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13628101130238058475&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=20287&hvtargid=pla-992630584747&psc=1

[Phreakwars]

I have some custom magnetic ones I got from https://www.demcifilter.com/ Cling to the outside, easy to clean and change.

[Firebat138]

that speaker fabric is pretty cheap, cut it to fit and then use a speaker grill to cover

[javeryh]

The metal mesh is tough to cut accurately so it usually has to go behind the panel to look clean.  You can get speaker grills for pretty cheap on ebay - tons of shapes and sizes to choose from.

[vertexguy]

Thanks for the additional options everyone!  I'm amazed at how few options there are for this stuff and how expensive a lot of it is.    In digging more I found some fabric options for a similar look at a fraction of the cost.


https://www.onlinefabricstore.com/black-9x9-vinyl-coated-mesh-fabric-.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7NKBBhDBARIsAHbXCB77tdDrY2CwLC3G-7P0Gd371JqRe4H8ZLT9N0LbHUYaE41biuyGZr0aAl0pEALw_wcB


https://www.etsy.com/listing/897353237/brylee-black-polyester-micro-mesh-jersey?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=sports+mesh+fabric&ref=sr_gallery-1-8&from_market_listing_grid_organic=1&frs=1


https://www.etsy.com/listing/600105414/mallory-black-polyester-king-mesh-knit?ref=related-1&frs=1

I figure for something like speaker covers or vents, a tightly stretched fabric is probably just as good as something metal.  I could even spray paint it to look metal if desired.  Overtime the fabric may break down and would be more prone to take touch damage than metal, but I could cover every vent I have in this stuff for like 10 bucks vs metal that would be upwards of 100+ for the same square footage.

[jennifer]

They are also designed in metal to keep out varmints, Mice, rats, rabbits, they can chew a hole  right through the cab, but a cloth vent hole seems like an invite with a cute little doggie door...I used to think it was the heat they were after, but more recently I am thinking, (more rabbits) are after that soy based bio wire insulation.

[vertexguy]

So I ended up finding this vent mesh at Lowes for 10 bucks.  You get 8 inches by 100 feet, so perfect size and plenty of it to cover all my vents.  It's obviously not the same look as the circle cut grids, but at least it adds something to the look rather than just having big open vent slots.  As a bonus it might help keep spiders out of it too.  I might add this behind my speaker grills.