Water jets are particularly good at cutting thicker materials. In fact, according to Engineering.com, water jet cutting is typically done at 60,000 to 90,000 PSI of pressure, allowing machines to cut through a wide range of materials and thicknesses. The specs on our machines indicate the ability to cut up to 10-inch-thick materials. In our 20 years of experience at S&T Precision Cutting, we’ve personally cut aluminum that was over 5 inches thick and stainless steel that was 2.5 inches thick.

Our water jets are very good at cutting a wide variety of metals from stainless steel to brass. They even cut some military-grade alloys that damage blades and drills. We are able to cut a wider range of materials that includes plastics, foams, and composites because water jets don’t generate heat when they cut, unlike laser or plasma cutting systems. We also have experience with water jet cutting stone, tile, and glass, including mirrors. We’ve even cut parts for customers from different types of wood, including plywood and timber planks. We cannot cut tempered glass, though, since the pressure for the jet causes it to shatter (which is what it is designed to do).

We regularly provide materials for customers and have access to a broad array of suppliers, many of whom we’ve worked with for years. Through these relationships, we’re able to get excellent pricing for our customers who need custom metal work and more. We can supply:

• Stainless steel (including 301, 304, 316, 440C, and 17-4)
• Steel (including A-36, Hardox, and others)
• Copper, brass, and bronze in varying hardness
• Plastics and composites (including Starboard, Acetal, G10, Delrin, Teflon, and others)
• Wood in various thicknesses and types from plywood to lumber

S&T Precision Cutting has worked with many customers over the years to deliver the unique custom metal work they desired. Our experienced and capable design team can bring what you imagine to life from creating cuttable CAD files based on photographs we receive to turning hand-drawn images into finished parts. We’ve worked with award-winning artists making creations for public spaces, metal designers building custom fences and gates, old car restorers looking for a part that’s not commercially available, and even custom-designed ornamental toppers for wedding cakes. If you’ve got a unique project that needs a cut part, just give us a call.

We guarantee that the parts we cut will meet or exceed the specified tolerances. We check parts before they leave the shop and recut at our expense any that we identify as failing to meet this standard. For larger lots, where every part may not be individually reviewed before shipping, we still honor that commitment. If a customer identifies any parts that fail this test, we re-cut and re-ship them at our expense. We pride ourselves on the quality of our water jet cutting and craftsmanship, and we strive to leave every customer satisfied with the product they receive.

Customers are welcome to bring us the material they want us to cut or have it drop-shipped directly to us from their preferred supplier. We have a heavy-duty forklift and regularly remove material from suppliers’ vehicles and shipping trucks without charge. To learn more about our water jet cutting services, give us a call!

We have three water jet tables, with the largest being able to accommodate plates that are 83” x 132” (6’-11” x 11’) with a cutting envelope of 75” x 120” (6’-3” - 10’). On occasion, we have cut parts larger than this, which is done on a case-by-case basis. When the material and part design allow, we extend the material beyond the bed edge, make the initial cuts, and then slide the material onto the bed and complete the cuts. If your parts are approaching our water jet cutting limits, give us a call to discuss your project.

With three water jets, we are known for turning orders around quickly. Our typical turn-around times are a week or less. In many instances, parts are available within two to three days, and even faster when expedited service is requested. During busy times, water jet cutting jobs can take up to two weeks, but that is rare.  

S&T Precision Cutting was launched in 2001 by a team that left another shop to start a business dedicated solely to water jet cutting. In late 2019, the long-time owner sold the business to the current owner, who continues to maintain the quality and customer service that made the business successful for so many years. The prior owner and team continue to work for the new owner in the same capacity, with the new owner successfully shepherding the business through the COVID shut-downs, adding another water jet cutting machine to the line-up, expanding headcount to maintain service quality, and partnering with ancillary service providers to help meet customers’ needs for bending, welding, and polishing.

We work hard to give our customers the best price, which includes using materials as efficiently as possible. Our decades of experience with water jet cutting enable us to find creative ways to extract the most parts from a piece of material, whether that material is supplied by us or the customer. Just tell us how many parts you want, even if it’s just "cut to yield” (i.e. give me as many parts as you can), and we’ll do the rest.