Frequently Asked Questions

Dry Ice FAQs

  • Dry ice blasting will remove surface rust loosely adhered to a surface. However, dry ice blasting will not remove rust embedded deeper than the surface. 

  • Dry ice has the ability to remove paint. There are many variables that determine whether paint can be removed with dry ice. Variables such as primer used, how well the paint is adhered to the surface due to age, type of paint used or thickness of the paint. While dry ice blasting has a wide range of settings for abrasion, projects are taken on a case by case basis. 

  • Dry ice blasting uses recycled solid carbon dioxide (CO2) pellets or MicroParticles, which are blasted at supersonic speeds and sublimate on impact, lifting dirt and contaminants off the underlying substrate. Once the dirt is lifted off the surface will fall onto the ground, which then can simply be swept or vacuumed during cleanup.

  • No, dry ice blasting does not leave any residue on the surface. The only remaining debris will be the dirt, grime, paint, etc. that came off the surface and will be promptly swept or vacuumed.

  • Dry ice may be the preferred option for you and your project if you are looking for a method that is non-abrasive, has zero secondary waste, environmentally friendly, leaves zero residue and is generally a safer option.

  • Dry ice can remove virtually anything depending on how embedded it is into the surface.

  •  We currently do not produce dry ice in our own facility. We’ve built lasting partnerships with reputable manufacturers at negotiated rates. 

  • We charge a $1,000 minimum for mobile services to account for transportation, gas and labor.

  • Yes, but it is not recommended. Dry ice blasting machines can be complex which require a knowledgeable skill set on how to use the equipment and understanding how dry ice affects different materials and surfaces. Dry ice blasting can be abrasive enough to cause harm to oneself, others and the material that is being blasted. 

  • Whether it is automotive, residential, commercial or industrial no two jobs are the same. Although there might be similar qualities on your project to the next, there are too many variables to determine an estimate without seeing the project. Feel free to email us at info@cryomode.us or fill out our online estimate form for details https://www.cryomode.us/contact

  • Yes! Dry ice is environmentally friendly as it does not add any additional substances into the atmosphere. Dry ice is made from recycled carbon dioxide (CO2) and does not contribute to greenhouse gasses.

  • Dry ice blasting is suitable for many surfaces including metals, plastics, rubber, wood, concrete and fabrics. Our machines offer us a wide range of settings which allows us to adjust for each project.

  • Dry ice blasting systems using pellets typically consume 100 cfm (2.8 m3/min) at 80 psi (5.5 bar), while MicroParticle systems typically consume 30 cfm (0.9 m3/min) at 80 psi (5.5 bar). Low flow nozzles for the MicroParticle systems can consume as little as 12 cfm (0.3 m³/min) at 80 psi (5.5 bar). However, your needs will depend on your application.

Laser Cleaning FAQs

  • While both laser cleaning and dry ice cleaning are excellent options stand alone depending on the application, combining dry ice cleaning and laser cleaning can leverage the strengths of both methods to achieve efficient and effective surface cleaning. Here’s how they can work together:

    Pre-Cleaning with Dry Ice: Dry ice can remove the bulk of unwanted contaminants from a surface. Since dry ice is an efficient eco-friendly model for cleaning surfaces, this makes it a great candidate to do the upfront work of removing large amounts of debris that a laser might not be able to.

    Fine Detail Cleaning with Lasers: After dry ice cleaning has removed the bulk of the contaminants, laser cleaning can be employed for fine detailing and removal of any remaining residues. The laser can precisely target and remove stubborn contaminants, rust, oxides, and coatings that the dry ice cleaning might not fully remove.

    Complementary Benefits: Using dry ice cleaning first can reduce the time and energy required for laser cleaning by quickly removing the majority of contaminants. This can make the overall cleaning process more efficient and cost-effective.

  • In short, Pulsed lasers emit light in extremely rapid bursts, or pulses, with pauses between pulses. The duration of these pulses can range from femtoseconds (10^-15 seconds) to milliseconds (10^-3 seconds), depending on the laser type and application. While continuous wave lasers do not emit light in pulses. They emit a constant, steady beam of light without interruption. The output power remains relatively constant over time.