Finer is not automatically better. Picking the right mesh means paying for exactly as much filtration as your part needs.
The mesh number tells you how many openings there are per inch of filter screen. 80 mesh is finer than 60 and holds back smaller particles.
Where 80 mesh earns its cost
In film and sheet production every remaining particle is a potential weak point that ends in a tear. In precision injection parts, contamination shows on the finished surface. In these applications the extra filtration cost is usually smaller than the scrap it prevents.
Where 60 mesh is enough
In corrugated pipe, pallets and thick industrial parts, what matters is strength and dimensional stability rather than clarity. Here 60 mesh does the job and the price difference goes straight to your margin.
One practical check
Before deciding, measure how often you currently change screens. If you are changing them more than you expect, the problem is usually not the mesh — it is inconsistent supply.