Can water cut through steel?

No trick to that question Samuel. A jet of water .008" in diameter at 50,000 psi will penetrate steel. The abrasive just enhances the action and speeds the process.

No, it's the pressure of the water. No abrasives involved.

Jim Laughner I would think a steady drip of water would eventually cut through anything....

Gus Smith I worked in a shop that has a waterjet, I know how they work, I was trained to run the thing about 10 years ago. I had first hand experience with it until I retired last year. Water that is pressurized to 50,000 psi or more is forced through a carbide nozzle with an oriface of less than .010" diameter. (The one I ran was .008"), Water by itself will easily cut through steel, (and many other materials), but abrasive can be added at the nozzle to increase the speed and efficiency of the operation. To make Mary's statement more accurate and thorough I'll add a few of my own words to it and rephrase it slightly: The pressurized water does the cutting in most cases. Abrasive can be added to increase the ability to cut through thicker and harder materials, but is not generally necessary for most industrial cutting purposes unless you need more speed to meet production goals or process harder materials. Without the water the abrasive grit wouldn't do anything. You could use air with the abrasive and effectively sandblast with the abrasive, but to create the volume of airflow at the pressure needed is not practical, not to mention the air would blow the abrasive everywhere and not into the line being cut, the water helps control the location of the assisting grit, so yes indeed, it is the water but abrasive grit can be added to increase efficiency. (Not to mention. the accuracy and efficiency of sandblasting wouldn't come close to waterjet cutting, with or without abrasive.

Trick question? Hardly.

Full of aggressive keyboard warriors 😝

No doubt pressurized water can cut steel, but the gun in the film looked like a plastic toy,

Answered no but I weirdly thought yes. Guess I'm just too tired

Barry Dingle, Thank you for that additional information

This would make a great idea for a movie. The guy with the waterjet cuts through the guy's gun before he can shoot him. LOL

Missed it but Interesting fact.

Carroll Price, No. Read his detailed explanation. Geez!

Leona Hopkins, no. Very clear question. You were wrong. Get over it.

Jen, he said the grit is not necessary several times. What is your problem?

Jen, oh come on! Get on with your lifd. He is obviously an expert on this subject and yoh are mad because you got the wrong answer. If you were asked if steel can cut aluminum the answer woukd be yes, but you would be talking about something sharp made of steel, not just a pile of steel wool or ball bearings. Get a life. Its a trivia game! He's right. You are desperate.

The question asks whether water can cut through steel...not whether with a special device with an abrasive substance...

I should listen to my Son, he said yes. I Didn't

My friend uses this machine to create art, similar to etching

Knew it!!!

I wondered then thought if the water was under high pressure it probably could so guessed right.