Dry Ice Blasting Beats Sand

Dry Ice Blasting Beats Sand FARM SHOP Miscellaneous Steve Rositski says dry ice blasting is ideal for removing asphalt grease and oil It also removes concrete overspill and welding spatter Rositski has even used it to prepare an antique tractor for restoration The owner of the tractor didn t want to use sand or soda as they are more aggressive and can get into the engine and other areas says Rositski In a couple of hours we had the block and other parts cleaned up Paint that had broken down from contact with fuel over the years peeled away too If it had been enamel paint we could have blasted tar off without compromising it He points out that sandblasting tin can produce warping from the friction and heat Dry ice by its nature doesn t produce heat and can easily be adjusted for less aggressive blasting by dialing down the air pressure After blasting heavy asphalt or grease off equipment sand has to be disposed of And if you use liquid solvents to clean up a machine you have to contain the hazardous materials Dry ice avoids both problems as it simply evaporates It isn t as hard on equipment as sand or even soda blasting is he says The dry ice particles get into and behind the material and pulverize it And then you just sweep up the material Rositski operates one of half a dozen dry ice blasters in Wisconsin He does a lot of work cleaning up black topping machines for road crews Until the mid 1990 s dry ice blasting required two large flatbeds for transport Today a portable machine is about the size of a dishwasher Dry ice blasting machines can rent for as much as $1 500 a week not counting an air compressor and a supply of dry ice He uses a 4-cylinder Deere diesel-powered compressor that puts out 185 cu ft per min with 120 psi at the nozzle I have a 550-lb ice chest that holds enough for about a day he says I use about 60 lbs per hour on the low end but if I turn up volume and pressure I get more coverage freezing the surface quicker The grease comes off easier He suggests contacting dry ice suppliers to find an operator or to find where a machine can be rented Rositski charges customers from $150 to $200 per hour depending on travel time from his home Some contractors charge up to $300 per hour he says It can be done year round but it s most efficient in the fall and winter Cooler weather makes a big difference Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Steve Rositski 32 De-grease #93 U S Hwy 63 Baldwin Wis 54002 ph 612 578-1157; steve@32degrease com; www 32degrease com

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