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Choosing the Right Garnet – Key Considerations for Waterjet Operators

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Choosing the Right Garnet – Key Considerations for Waterjet Operators

Selecting the correct abrasive is one of the most critical decisions in waterjet cutting operations. It directly affects cut quality, efficiency, machine lifespan and overall cost-effectiveness. While garnet may appear to be a commodity, not all garnets perform the same—and the differences matter.

Garnet abrasives vary in mineral composition, particle hardness, shape, density, and purity, all of which influence how well the abrasive accelerates and cuts. High-quality garnet delivers faster, cleaner cuts and reduces wear on nozzles and mixing tubes. Lower-grade garnet often contains excess dust, softer mineral impurities, or irregular shapes that can cause nozzle blockages, inconsistent performance, or excessive machine wear.

This is particularly important for high-precision industries such as aerospace, defence, or specialized fabrication, where specifications are tight and downtime is costly.

“Sometimes operators assume one ton of garnet is interchangeable with another—but that’s not the case. Comparing different abrasives by weight alone overlooks key performance characteristics that influence productivity.”

For procurement teams, it's important to go beyond cost-per-ton and consider total operational impact. Abrasive consumption rate, cutting speed, and downtime for maintenance or cleaning can outweigh savings on the initial abrasive cost.

Tip: Don’t just compare price—evaluate abrasive flow rate, edge quality, nozzle life, and uptime to understand true performance value.

Watch Part 1 of the Waterjet Round Table

Hear firsthand from GMA experts around the world as they discuss how abrasive selection shapes real-world performance in waterjet cutting.

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Read Part 2