The present invention provides a method of handling abrasive solids
materials used in an abrasive cutting procedure which jets a
high-pressure abrasive slurry through a nozzle (7) onto a work piece over
and/or in a catcher tank (8). This handling method includes catching the
used abrasive slurry together with work piece kerf material in the
catcher tank, and passing at least some abrasive solids collected in the
catcher tank as a slurry to a partitioning apparatus which includes a
vibratory sieve (27). The handling method also includes partitioning the
slurry with the partitioning apparatus in order to provide at least two
solids streams. One of the solid streams passes through the sieve and the
other passes across the sieve whilst entrained as a slurry. The handling
method further includes passing as a slurry to the nozzle (7) for jetting
a pressurised or pressurisable slurry that has partitioned solids stream
which has passed through the sieve (27).