Dry Ice blasting,anyone try it?

[greenbikemike]

I did a search but didn't find anything.I've read a little about it,and was wondering how it would work on aluminum cases,cost,results,etc....
thanks,

Greenbikemike

 

[Ryanbabz71]

We use it at work on engines. They are robotic cells. Work very well


Ryan

 

[Certified Drunk]

Cold jet has them, You need a huge compressor to run one (50-100 CFM @80psi).

 

[Nexussian]

I haven't used it, but have been amazed with the results.

At one point I was looking at what it would take to get a setup (the equipment, the pelletized dry ice is its' own PITA) and the airflow requirements were my stumbling block.

I don't recall it being quite as high as CD suggests, but I expect I had found a smaller setup (wanted to remove paint from small aircraft structural aluminum panels without chemical stripper or damage to the part blasted, not ever the same part twice in a row so robotics were out, at the time).

 

[greenbikemike]

Thanks for the replies,reason I'm asking is I have some old manifolds and harley engine cases that I want cleaned up and have heard that dry ice or hydo blasting are the way to go.Would like to see some pics. of before and after,seen some on line but want to hear back from someone that has had it done,also price.

Thanks,

Greenbikemike

 

[930dreamer]

Search on youtube, many cool vids of dry ice blasting. I talked to a shop in albq, NM about Dustless blasting and he charges $250 an hour. The rate for dry ice is probably right up there.

 

[djoslin]

A couple of years ago I had an individual that was starting a dry ice blasting business strip my 1967 GTO. He was charging $200 per hour. Since he had not done a car before, he could not give me a final cost. After spending three times what I was expecting, I told him to stop.
The process is great and the finish is ready for primer/paint afterwards but be aware that it is a slow / labor intensive process. For small projects, it is a great concept. He came to my house and blasted the car in my driveway. There was no issues with cleanup as the dry ice converted to gas and the little paint/ filler /rust that was left amounted to only about a couple of small dustpan size scoops.

The noise level of the truck mounted air compressor was the only issue other than the amount of money I spent. Would I do it again? Probably. If I had known the final cost to compare against normal media blasting., I would have felt better about what I did. The ability to have him come to my location and strip the entire car was certainly a major factor for me as I did not have the capability to get the vehicle to another location for media blasting.

 

[MFolks]

Look for "Soda Blasting",using the same item as what you put in a refrigerator to absorb odors. It's supposedly environmentally friendly, as the residue can be rinsed away with water.

 

[COSMOS]

Crushed glass blasting with water, that dry ice blasting looks to be less removal of any metal..

http://www.dustfreemediablasting.com/

 

[JunkYardDawg]

Look for "Soda Blasting",using the same item as what you put in a refrigerator to absorb odors. It's supposedly environmentally friendly, as the residue can be rinsed away with water.

Soda blasting is not entirely environmentally-friendly. the sodium bicarbonate will kill any vegetation it comes in contact with. Many guys have purchased the pressurized soda blasters from Harbor Freight, myself included, and proceeded to blast away at whatever project they have in the driveway, and when they wash it off the driveway with a garden hose, it kills the grass.

Vapor blasting is currently the best way to clean and restore old bike parts. It'll clean and polish the surface, and looks great all by itself. Way better-looking than soda-blasting, and definitely better than just sand blasting.

 

[Rex_A_Lott]

You wont find anything cheaper or better than glass bead blasting, IMHO. The main selling points of the dry ice blasting and the soda blasting is their ease of cleanup. I've seen the dry ice blasting at work, and it does require a lot of air and is fairly slow on heavy buildup. The soda blasting I saw worked good, but was a different application and the buildup was not very heavy. The rain washed it all away into the storm drain, and by the time it got to any grass it was so diluted it didnt hurt anything.

 

[greenbikemike]

Thanks again for the replies,I have a "home made" soda blaster and it does do a nice job,just want to see or try something better. I have a couple of old harley cases that I want to clean up.

thanks again and if anyone has before and after pictures,please,post them up. I did do the search and saw the stuff on youtube....

Greenbikemike

 

[jdsac]

look into using corn cob media-

http://compomat.com/corn-cob-blast-media/

 

[rburke65]

We used the dry ice method at work......GM....for cleaning weld splatter and "stuff" from the robotic welders. Didn't want the media to foul up he mechanics or electrical systems of the robot. Us big compressor is needed but it did a great job.

 

[ZRX61]

For the cases & manifolds I'd absolutely 100% go with vapor blasting. Check out the before/after pics here:
http://vaporhoningtechnologies.com/

Bike parts here:
http://vaporhoningtechnologies.com/motorcycle-restoration-wet-blasting-gallery/

 

[greenbikemike]

For the cases & manifolds I'd absolutely 100% go with vapor blasting. Check out the before/after pics here:
http://vaporhoningtechnologies.com/

Bike parts here:
http://vaporhoningtechnologies.com/motorcycle-restoration-wet-blasting-gallery/

Thanks,that does look like the ticket.....now to get some estimates....and on a side note....I was pulling into my gym and a truck was pulling out and on the side of it was Dry Ice Blasting...I'll have to track this guy down.
Thanks again.

I have used Glass,soda,and sand before,just like to see what's new.

Greenbikemike

 

[930dreamer]

I've been looking at these for years, spendy machine but able to use on energized circuits and will sterilize a surface. I picked up a V8 302 cid, 95 cfm compressor in case I find a good deal on a used unit.

 

[RoninB4]

I used one on a semi regular basis for large injection mold maintenance in the tool room. No harm to delicate surface details, faster than doing by hand, and zero blast media cleanup afterwards. No media migration into expensive machinery either. However:
1) Noisy, enough to warrant hearing protection
2) Needed a large CFM rated compressor to work properly
3) Refill of dry ice was frequent (every 10-15 minutes) and somewhat of a PITA to break up to bite small granule size in order to feed .
4) Does NOT remove rust as well as abrasive media blasting, barely handles heavy grease deposits

Beyond an industrial setting I probably wouldn't consider using one at home.

 

[Augus7us]

There is a guy in the gallery that started and dry ice spraying side business. Shows the equipment and training he received. Pretty cool stuff.

 

[wolfhawk73]

Off-subject: A friend of mine had an attic fire that took out the attic and half the second story. Everything else got soaking wet and started to mold. The house was stripped of everything but the good framing. Once force-dried, they dry ice blasted all the mold that had developed. Neat stuff.

 

[tinmanwpk]

I just followed a car being sold online. It had been blasted with dry ice. It costs about $250/hour to have done, and it worked great!

Dry Ice Blasting

 

[tinmanwpk]

Apologies, double post.