I thought the SC just had a strip of vertical mesh running around under the starter? How about a photo of what you are trying to do. I have a couple of big old B$S dead ones with a mesh guard on the front laying around but the mesh is only about 200mm diameter.
Here is the inside of my front loader, that is also dead by the way, holes are about 5mm diameter.
[Linked Image]
I would think the mesh in a tumble dryer at least would be suitable given that it has to allow a lot of air through.