A woven wire braid residing between a polymer inner lumen and a polymer outer lumen transmits control force in a catheter. After braiding the wires, the braid is plated with a metal, such as electroless nickel alloy deposited with a target thickness in a range of 250-1200 micro-inches. The metal plating joins the wires to each other at points of contact which torsionally stiffens the braid. At the same time, the metal plating leaves lengths of the wires unattached between the points of contact, permitting flexibility to the braid due to the unattached lengths between points of contact.