Cutting table fluids, cleaners, coolants, and protective coatings for plasma, oxy-fuel, laser, and waterjet cutting systems. PICO Chemical manufactures products that help control corrosion, odor, contamination, buildup, and maintenance in demanding fabrication environments. The line includes plasma and waterjet fluids, including PICO QUENCH GUARD G, as well as torch coolants, table cleaners and protective coatings, and anti-spatter coatings. These solutions support cleaner equipment, protected components, reliable operation, and easier routine maintenance.
Cutting table fluids are industrial process chemicals used to condition, cool, clean, or protect plasma, oxy-fuel, and waterjet cutting systems. Depending on the application, the chemistry may help manage several operational issues, such as:
Corrosion on tables, workpieces, and system components
Heat generated during cutting
Bacteria and odor development
Slag and spatter accumulation
Oil and contamination in the table
Torch cooling
Table cleanup and maintenance
Protection of cutting table slats and surrounding equipment
There is no single cutting table chemical that performs every function. The right product depends on the type of cutting system, materials being processed, equipment configuration, and specific problem you are trying to control.
Plasma and Waterjet Cutting Table Fluids
Our plasma and waterjet fluids are designed around the operating conditions found in industrial cutting systems. For plasma and oxy-fuel applications, one of the primary concerns is maintaining the table while controlling corrosion and contamination.
PICO QUENCH GUARD G is our cutting table coolant, conditioner, and rust inhibitor for plasma and oxy-fuel systems. It is designed for use with ferrous and non-ferrous materials, including steel, stainless steel, galvanized surfaces, and aluminum.
Our cutting table fluid lineup also includes products developed for specialized operating requirements, including waterjet table conditioning, plasma torch cooling, and cold-temperature applications.
Why Cutting Table Fluid Selection Matters
Cutting table fluid is exposed to changing conditions throughout normal operation. Heat, metal fines, oils, slag, microorganisms, and other process contaminants can gradually affect the fluid and its performance. If the chemistry is not designed to manage these conditions, maintaining the fluid and cutting table can become increasingly difficult over time.
Corrosion Can Become an Equipment Problem
Water and exposed metal create an obvious corrosion concern. Cutting operations make the environment more complex because fresh metal surfaces, elevated temperatures, multiple alloys, and contaminants may all be present. A properly selected cutting table conditioner can help protect the table, components, and processed materials against corrosion.
Contamination Can Shorten Useful Fluid Life
Cutting tables collect material over time. Things like oils, dirt, metal residue, and process debris can accumulate in the system. More than making the table look dirty, that contamination can contribute to odors, fluid instability, and additional maintenance requirements. That’s why fluid management needs to include both the chemistry being used and the cleanliness of the system containing it.
Slag and Spatter Increase Maintenance
Material adhering to slats, torches, fixtures, and surrounding surfaces can turn routine maintenance into a labor-intensive process. Our table coatings and cleaners and anti-spatter coatings address different parts of this problem. Protective coatings help limit adhesion before buildup occurs, while cleaners help remove accumulated contamination when the system requires maintenance.
Cleaning a Cutting Table Before Recharging
Adding fresh chemistry to a heavily contaminated cutting table can compromise the performance of the new fluid. When oil, dirt, bacteria, residue, or other contaminants have accumulated in the system, cleaning the table before recharging may be the better maintenance approach.
PICOCLEAN WTC is our cleaner for plasma, oxy-fuel, and waterjet cutting tables. It is designed for maintenance cleaning, flushing tanks, and removing contamination from cutting table systems. Effective cutting table maintenance involves more than simply replenishing the fluid. The condition of the tank, circulating system, and surrounding equipment can also influence how well the replacement chemistry performs once the system is recharged.
Protecting Cutting Tables From Slag and Spatter
Slag and spatter are another recurring maintenance problem in fabrication operations. Our cutting table product line includes protective coatings designed to reduce adhesion to cutting table slats and surrounding equipment. We also manufacture anti-spatter products for welding and plasma cutting environments.
For instance, PICO WELD KOTE is a water-based anti-spatter coating used on cutting tables, torches, welding surfaces, nozzles, and related equipment. Reducing adhesion at the surface can make subsequent cleanup more manageable and decrease the mechanical work required to remove accumulated material.
Choosing the Right Cutting Table Fluid
Choosing the right cutting table fluid starts with understanding the equipment, process, materials, and operating conditions involved. Different applications place different demands on the chemistry, so the appropriate product depends largely on what the fluid needs to accomplish within the system.
Operating Need
Chemistry to Evaluate
Plasma or oxy-fuel table conditioning
Cutting table coolant and conditioner
Waterjet table maintenance
Waterjet table conditioner
Torch cooling
Plasma torch coolant
Cold operating conditions
Appropriate heat-transfer or freeze-control fluid
Heavy table contamination
Cutting table cleaner
Slag buildup on slats
Protective table coating
Welding or plasma spatter
Anti-spatter coating
Material compatibility also matters. Chemistry that performs well with one combination of metals, equipment, and operating conditions should not automatically be assumed to be appropriate for another application.
Before changing cutting table chemistry, review the applicable product documentation and SDS/TDS information or discuss your application with PICO's technical team. We can evaluate your equipment, materials, process conditions, and performance requirements to help identify the appropriate chemistry for the job.
How PICO Can Help With Your Cutting Table Chemistry
PICO has manufactured industrial and specialty chemicals since 1976, and our approach starts with understanding what the chemistry needs to accomplish within the process. Sometimes an established product from our cutting table line is the right solution. In other applications, the materials, equipment, operating conditions, or performance requirements may call for a more specialized approach.
Our custom chemical formulation services allow us to evaluate chemistry around defined materials, equipment, contamination, performance requirements, and process conditions. When specialized chemistry needs to move into production, we also provide custom chemical blending and bulk chemical tolling to support consistent manufacturing at larger volumes.
Explore our complete cutting table fluids lineup, or contact our technical team when you need help matching chemistry to your cutting process.
What fluid should be used in a plasma cutting table?
A plasma cutting table should use a fluid formulated for the specific cutting system, metals being processed, and operating conditions. Cutting table fluids may provide cooling, corrosion control, conditioning, and contamination management. Material compatibility is especially important when an operation processes multiple alloys. Review the applicable product documentation or discuss the system with our technical team before selecting a fluid.
Why use cutting table fluid instead of plain water?
Plain water does not provide the same corrosion protection, conditioning, contamination control, or other functions available from purpose-built cutting table chemistry. In an industrial cutting environment, the table contains metal surfaces, heat, debris, oils, and other contaminants. A properly selected fluid helps manage those operating conditions.
How do you prevent a plasma cutting table from rusting?
Corrosion control starts with appropriate cutting table chemistry and consistent system maintenance. A cutting table conditioner containing corrosion-inhibiting chemistry can help protect exposed metal surfaces. Fluid condition, contamination, concentration, and the materials being processed also affect performance, so maintenance should address the entire system rather than corrosion alone.
Why does cutting table water develop an odor?
Odor can develop when bacteria, tramp oils, process contamination, and accumulated debris build up in the table. Fluid condition and system cleanliness both matter. A contaminated table may require cleaning before fresh cutting table fluid is introduced.
Should a cutting table be cleaned before adding new fluid?
When substantial contamination is present, cleaning before recharging can help prevent old oil, bacteria, dirt, and residue from immediately contaminating the replacement fluid. The appropriate maintenance procedure depends on the equipment and chemistry being used, so product documentation should guide the process.
Does PICO manufacture products for waterjet cutting tables?
Yes. Our cutting table product line includes chemistry for plasma, oxy-fuel, and waterjet systems. Our plasma and waterjet fluid category includes products designed for cutting table conditioning, cooling, corrosion management, and related operating requirements.
