I use the aluminum insect mesh from bunnings for my bee vac and also to cover the vent holes in my lids. I haven't had a problem with it fraying like you say. Are there different types?
Errr, Shane, I may have overstated the trouble with the Bunnings aluminium fly screen, but the stuff I have still likes to fray a lot. Even though there a few different types of insect mesh (fibreglass, aluminium, stainless steel, maybe plastic) I probably have the same stuff as you. The stuff I have is made by Cyclone and it is just woven with no "joint" where the wires cross. Maybe if I cut it at more of an angle to the weave, it would behave better for me.
I use #8 Hardware Mesh for most of my bee related needs...
I have some mesh on some queen cages that the wires are all joined together and so will not fray. I even have some really old ones made from what I think is #8 Hardware Mesh. Not only are all the wires physically joined where they cross, the cages are soldered together, but I have never seen any rolls of the stuff with the same fine mesh in Tasmania. Moots, that's the good stuff I want. Of corse it may be available somewhere around here, but I haven't been able to find any so far.
Try some gutter guard for the vent holes. Its in strips and available at Bunnings. Its very durable and easy to cut with tin snips.
Thanks Anybrew, I never even though of gutter guard. I'll have a look in the local hardware shop - the nearest Bunnings at the moment is about 160km away until they build a new one on the old Burnie Pulp Mill site, which is olny about a 20km trip. Maybe Metaland might have something, I haven't tried there.
Simon