Dry Ice Blasting

[thenative1]

Has anyone had experience/success with a firm that does dry-ice cleaning/blasting? I am thinking about having it done to the engine compartment.

Thanks in advance for any insights.

 

[3_puppies]

with engine out?
find someone with the fancy laser remover

3

Thread 'alternative to sand blasting'

Aug 30, 2026

I was at a get together at one of Esther's friends and the guy who is a hotrod builder was showing me his shop.
He recently got a laser type device and it removes all impurities from metal It just vaporizes it, rust, paint, grime it just removes it all.
I asked if it left a pile of ash, he said not really, it can stink tho.
he showed me a cast iron fry pan where he did half of it and it was night and day difference.
he said it will remove paint from a beer can
the one he has runs on 220V

• 3_puppies
• Replies: 11
• Forum: MT- 406 Cruisers

• 

 

[thenative1]

I have seen those laser removers - very cool.

This would be with engine in, to clean up 80% of what can be seen in the engine compartment. Apparently, the dry ice can clean and the dry ice "sublimates" on contact, cleaning the part(s) and leaving behind minimal residue. But trying to confirm it's real and not just marketing.

 

[cliffrdavis]

I’ve heard it was great, couldn’t find anyone in Tampa FL when I was looking for same thing. Several posts on here about it.

 

[bhsdriller]

It's real and pricey

If I had money to burn i'd do it

 

[Michael Hanson]

Guy in McKinney ,Texas has done it for awhile looks good.

 

[jclark]

Did the chassis engine and transmission when the body was off for paint. Night and day difference.

 

[86aggie]

About 15 years ago, a club I belonged to had it done in the full commercial kitchen as part of their annual cleaning. Worked well on all surfaces.

 

[brian]

It will remove grime, grease and oil, but won't do much with rust/ corrosion.
It's biggest selling point is the not having to deal with the media after its been shot.

 

[dmjay]

 

[Malleus]

Won't help you specifically, but anecdotally, Merritt Industrial in Kannapolis, NC does this, laser and more. I've seen his work. It's amazing. Far better than any other cleaning method without removing parts and stripping them.

As noted above, there is no "media" to clean up afterwards. The ice sublimates on contact, it quick freezes any petroleum residue and that falls off onto the floor once it's hit. It won't remove heavy rust, but anything that Evaporust will remove, it will take off. I watched him clean the underside of a nasty Suburban and what was left afterwards was a very small pile of dust that neatly fit into one corner of a dustpan.

Highly recommended.