A method of making a grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) for a battery plate (24, 26) of a lead-acid battery, comprising: providing a continuous strip (64; 164; 264) of a plurality of connected grids (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) of a lead alloy each having a plurality of spaced apart wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642), wherein each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) has a planar surface (46, 48; 146, 148; 246, 248), and wherein the plurality of spaced apart wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) interconnected at nodes to define a plurality of open spaces between the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642); changing the cross-sectional shape of at least some of the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) of each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) to form land surfaces (54; 154; 254; 554; 654) thereon which are angled to the planar surface (46, 48; 146; 148; 246, 248) of the grid (40; 130; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296); and characterised in that it further comprises: forming a controlled surface roughness having a not random distribution and a size of 2.54 μm (100 microinches) to 22.86 μm (900 microinches) Ra on at least some of the angled land surfaces of at least some of the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) to promote adhesion to the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) of each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) of subsequently applied and dried active material paste. providing a continuous strip (64; 164; 264) of a plurality of connected grids (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) of a lead alloy each having a plurality of spaced apart wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642), wherein each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) has a planar surface (46, 48; 146, 148; 246, 248), and wherein the plurality of spaced apart wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) interconnected at nodes to define a plurality of open spaces between the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642); changing the cross-sectional shape of at least some of the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) of each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) to form land surfaces (54; 154; 254; 554; 654) thereon which are angled to the planar surface (46, 48; 146; 148; 246, 248) of the grid (40; 130; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296); and characterised in that it further comprises: forming a controlled surface roughness having a not random distribution and a size of 2.54 μm (100 microinches) to 22.86 μm (900 microinches) Ra on at least some of the angled land surfaces of at least some of the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) to promote adhesion to the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) of each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) of subsequently applied and dried active material paste. forming a controlled surface roughness having a not random distribution and a size of 2.54 μm (100 microinches) to 22.86 μm (900 microinches) Ra on at least some of the angled land surfaces of at least some of the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) to promote adhesion to the wire segments (42, 50, 52; 142; 242; 342; 442; 542; 642) of each grid (40; 140; 240; 340; 440; 540; 640; 196; 296) of subsequently applied and dried active material paste.