Why High-Quality Garnet Matters

High-purity garnet is essential to achieving consistent and efficient cutting performance in abrasive waterjet applications. Unlike mixed or impure abrasives, high-purity garnet maximizes cutting power by ensuring that every particle contributes to the process, rather than diluting it.

Purity affects more than just power—it affects reliability. Inconsistent garnet can introduce variability into an otherwise tightly controlled cutting setup. This means frequent adjustments, slower cutting speeds, uneven edges, and even costly rework or scrap. One of the clearest examples shared during GMA’s Waterjet Round Table discussion involved a customer in the stone processing industry using non-GMA garnet. They experienced dark stains on white marble caused by black mineral impurities—likely ilmenite or similar by-products. A switch to high-purity garnet eliminated the staining, improved cutting performance, and increased speed, without requiring any machine changes.

“Customers sometimes don’t realize how much impurities affect performance until something goes wrong. And when you’re cutting materials like marble or glass, even small impurities can lead to major problems.”

Another key element is consistency—ensuring the abrasive performs the same today, tomorrow, and next month. In waterjet cutting, where many variables are already at play (pressure, nozzle wear, material type), the abrasive should be the constant.

Good to know: Consistent particle size and hardness mean fewer clogs, more predictable results, and reduced time lost to troubleshooting.