Anyone Use Dry Ice Blasting?

CO2Solutions

Have any of you guys/gals as contractors added Dry Ice Blasting to your business? ever thought of it?
I own a DIB business, it certainly creates a ton of interest as it's different and 'cool' (bad pun...lol).

BulldogMedia

I do not use it and never thought about add it.

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www.bulldogblasting.com

CO2Solutions

I guess it all depends on what your business is geared towards. I do a wide variety if work so it fits well into my business.

BulldogMedia

What is the equipment cost? what is the market for DIB?

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www.bulldogblasting.com

CO2Solutions

Well, you require a compressor (185cfm) which cost new 13g and a typical blaster with nozzles etc cost about 17-20g. Expensive start up cost but the types of work you do can charge a premium so it balances out.

Market :
All Manufacturing - anywhere you don't want mess, water, sand, potential damage to equipment, no chemicals, want to use on electrical
Historical Restoration
Fire/Mould Restoration

plazaman

any pics of your setup?

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CO2Solutions

I do have a few picks of blasting and my equipment etc. However, I got an error saying I can't post pics until I get over a certain amount of posts? odd?

plazaman

send to me, i'll post it

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CO2Solutions

Hey plazaman, I sent some pics to your business address...Thanks!
They're not great but hopefully they'll do.

mdshunk

They use dry ice blasting sometimes to clean up the statues over at the Gettysburg Battlefield.

plazaman

Dry Ice pics

Attached Images

   

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CO2Solutions

Thanks sir!

The building you see is the first pharmacy of my home town built in 1890 (give or take a year). The metal pilar(s) I'm blasting had been painted about 1000 times over the 100 plus years. I eventually had them all stripped - I go back a week later and they're painted once again! lol...

plazaman

Questions,

How does the equipment work? I know with sand/soda blasting you shoot abrasives.

The 2nd pic looks like an aftercooler. Is that unit a aftercooler itself or does it have anyother filters/traps on it? Does dry ice blasting require cool dry air like soda blasting?

If i wanted to add dry ice blasting to my setup, what would i need? I already have the aftercooler and compressor, 210. ?

What markets is dry ice blasting preffered over soda/sand? I know senstive equipment/electronics cleaning.

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CO2Solutions

oh, about my set up.
I have a Coldjet Power PTX (pictured to the right), all pneumonic machine - this can be a pain in the arse because if any moisture gets into the some of those air driven parts they can freeze up. Coldjet has since made some major advances with their machines.
The unit to the right is an aftercooler, it cleans and dry the air before entering my blaster.

CO2Solutions

Basically all you'll need is a blaster/hoses/applicator and nozzles (depending on types of jobs).

exactly it, preferred over sand/soda when sensitive equipment is in play as well as indoors. I clean a lot of Food Processing plants and plastics plants - safe on machinery and no mess.
BUT my main money maker is Mould - mould remediation work, being sub contracted out by local disaster restoration companies. Works amazing on mould, cleaning up framing and killing mould in the process. Also do some Fire resto as well for them.

CO2Solutions

210 cfm is fine with Coldjets newer units...sorry forgot to mention that.

plazaman

so where does it make the ice?

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CO2Solutions

The unit(s) doesn't make dry ice - that process is different and separate all together. You can get portable pelletizer units that make ice on the spot - however they are expensive. I believe a portable unit cost aprox $20,000 and a recovery unit is about the same cost. The recovery unit collects/recovers unused CO2 in the process of making dry ice
I get my dry ice pellets from a supplier - Praxair/Medigas.

gran_national

CO2solutions, how did you get started? Did you work for someone doing this and then learned the trade and started out on your own? Also, do you have marketing materials that you give to food processing plants? If so, what does it consist of. I would like to get into this, but the cost of startup is keeping me away right now. How did you get into Mold remediation? Do you do the "negative pressure" quarantine stuff? If so, how is that done, what equipment do you need for that? Thanks for the response. You said "the equipment is expensive, but the work you get you can charge a premium..." can you give me an idea of what you mean by that? How do you price mold jobs? By the square foot? Thanks for your response!!

CO2Solutions

It was something I just fell into - no experience, so it's been a learning 'experience' for sure. I have general marketing (a 2 page double sided phamphlet), but another only specific to Mold Remediation. To get into mold remediation is much more than just purchasing the equipment. Training is required, and on depending on which state you are in, you are probably required to be certified (most likely by the IICRC) to perform mold remediation. Yes, depending on the job - if the remediation is being completed in a 'living space' then yes neg air is required.
Because of the advantages of dry ice (no mess, cleanup, non conductive, eco-friendly etc.)and what it can do it demands a premium rate. I price a few different ways depending on job and who I'm working for and scope of job.