How Water Jet Cutting Makes Monoliths Possible

Utah, Warsaw, California, a beach on the Isle of Wight – and hundreds of other locations around the world.

Monoliths have started cropping up everywhere, a fourth appeared in Britain just the other day.

They are stunning, they are striking and they don’t seem to represent all that much. Maybe that’s the point.

The structures are also linked to water jet cutting although we would like to point out we haven’t cut any. If a monolith appears in a field near you, it’s not our work…

Such is the newsworthiness of the monoliths, the British press has run articles, so too the New York Times.

It was while browsing the NYT for references to water jet cutting – as you do – that we spotted the link.

They answered the question ‘how to build a monolith’ – perhaps a question not asked by too many people.

Certainly, you need some spare time and perhaps an ambition to create a talking point. You may also require a relaxed view as to what you should place on public land – most of these monoliths are on public land rather than a back garden…

Building the Perfect Monolith…

The NYT focus on a professional monolith construction that has appeared in Utah. It is metres tall and has a stunning stainless steel exterior.

Your basic bog-standard monolith, the one you might put up in your garden could be made for a few hundred pounds, you could use some standard tools to be found in a typical shed.

The bigger ones, though. They requires cutting through thick stainless steel and doing so with a degree of accuracy that leaves a beautiful finish. Nobody wants a monolith with ugly edges and a lack of attention to detail.

Water jet cutting is used because it is affordable, accurate and powerful. If you want to cut through metal, there is no rival that can do the same job.

Laser cutting cannot cut through thick sheets and the heat can also damage the cut edge. A technology such as plasma cutting also potentially damages the edge and leaves an unattractive finish.

Water jet cutting is fuss free – perhaps unlike the monolith itself. It is functional, not showy, it just gets the job done. The monolith is not functional, it is showy and it doesn’t do much a of a job.

Still, opposites attract.

The article is a reminder of how water jet cutting makes the ambitious possible.

It is of course best known for functional jobs, and for these we are eternally grateful. Major industries use water jet cutting, it is the go-to choice when complete accuracy is required. The aviation industry uses water jet cutting, so too petrochemical, nuclear and more.

What is maybe less well known is that artists and sculptors use water jet cutting, sign makers, those making exhibitions.

We have yet to build a monolith, but we have helped create a ghost tree for the Whitworth Art Gallery, Star Wars helmets and work for the Tate Modern.

Whatever your vision – even if it’s a Monolith (on land you own) – please do get in contact.

Work with the UK’s leading Water Jet Cutters

At TMC, we are a water jet cutter who serve the whole of the UK and increasingly Europe too, with clients across the content trusting us to work on their projects.

Despite our success, we remain a company that focusses on every client and work on projects of all sizes.

If you think water jet cutting might be of use for your project, please do get in touch for an obligation-free chat.

Call us on 01625 610 441 or use our Contact Form.