When you need a part cut accurately, choosing the right process can make a big difference in cost, turnaround time, and the finished result. Laser and waterjet cutting are both highly capable options, but each has situations where it really shines.

If you’re comparing waterjet vs laser cutting, the best choice usually comes down to your material, thickness, design, and how heat-sensitive the finished part is. At Brooks Industrial Metals, we’re proud to offer both, so our team can help you choose the process that makes sense for your project rather than trying to make one method fit every job. 

Laser Cutting 

Laser cutting uses a highly focused beam to melt or vaporize material along a computer-controlled path. When comparing waterjet vs laser cutting, this precision is one of laser cutting’s biggest advantages, making it especially effective for detailed shapes, small features, and projects requiring tight tolerances.

Speed is another big advantage. On thinner metals, laser cutting can be significantly faster than waterjet cutting, making it a practical choice for production runs and projects where turnaround matters. At Brooks Industrial Metals, our laser can cut mild steel up to 3/8″, stainless steel up to 5/16″, and aluminum up to 5/16″, with tolerances of +/- 0.003″  

Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting takes a completely different approach. Instead of heat, it uses an extremely high-pressure stream of water combined with abrasive material to cut through the workpiece.

The biggest advantage is that it’s a cold-cutting process. Because there’s no heat-affected zone, waterjet cutting helps preserve the material’s original properties and avoids thermal distortion. That can make it a better fit for heat-sensitive materials or parts where maintaining material integrity is especially important.

Waterjet is also extremely versatile. Brooks’ OMAX system can process materials up to 6.5″ thick and can handle much more than metal, including rubber, plastic, carbon fibre, stone, and glass, other than tempered glass. 

Waterjet vs Laser Cutting: How Do They Compare?

When weighing waterjet vs laser cutting, a few practical considerations can point you in the right direction:

• Material thickness – Laser is particularly effective on thinner sheet metal, while waterjet can tackle much thicker materials.
• Heat – Laser creates a heat-affected zone around the cut. Waterjet doesn’t introduce heat into the material.
• Precision – Both processes offer excellent accuracy, although Brooks’ laser offers tighter stated tolerances at +/- 0.003″ compared with +/- 0.005″ for its waterjet.
• Speed – Laser is generally faster on thinner materials, while waterjet may take longer as material thickness increases.
• Material options – Laser is an excellent choice for metal, while waterjet can cut a much broader range of materials.
• Cost – There’s no universal winner. Material, thickness, design complexity, machine time, and finishing requirements all influence the final price. 

Let Brooks Help You Find the Right Method For Your Project

If you’re working with thinner metal and need fast, highly precise cuts, laser cutting may be your best bet. If your part is thicker, heat-sensitive, or made from a material that isn’t suited to laser cutting, waterjet cutting may make more sense.

But if you want professional advice, just bring your design to Brooks Industrial Metals and tell us what the finished part needs to do. Our team will help you compare both methods nd find the practical solution for your material, budget, and timeline. With both processes available locally, you can get the right cut without making the project more complicated than it needs to be. 

Get in touch with us if you want to learn more!