Dry Ice Blasting - Description & Pictures

	Every owner of an old- or youngtimer has probably heard the term “dry-ice blasting” in conjunction with working on these cars. But why has dry-ice blasting been on the tip of everyone’s tongue for the last few years? This is a good question, and easy to answer if you know the excellent reasons to use it.

As a garage specializing in vehicle restorations, we rely on the facts and not on assumptions when it comes to rust, especially on underbodies. Dry-ice blasting is one of the central techniques used for this purpose in our shop. This technique is indispensable, and it is our opinion that a truly professional restoration is not possible without dry-ice blasting, at least not on a professional level. After dry-ice blasting, it is easy to see the “naked truth" on the vehicle and then evaluate the condition. Because the area blasted is completely exposed down to the sheet metal, the problem can be identified precisely, and the work strategy can be determined. If the sheet metal is in good condition or only small rust repairs are needed, then the dry-ice blasting creates a complete subsurface for adhesion, which is essential for possible overhaul or resealing. Older techniques for removing the old undercoating, like working with an open flame and scraper, scraping it off, or using a wire brush drill attachment are completely inappropriate from today’s perspective because they are very time-consuming, tiring, and can even be counter-productive with the potential to cause damage.

Dry Ice Blasting at work

Since we work almost exclusively with classic cars, removing decades-old undercoating and dirt is an essential part of our business and a key step in prepping the cars for restoration or rust repair. Classic American cars in particular regularly require the full capacity of our high-performance dry-ice blasting system. Very hard material is often used in the U.S. and it is usually applied in multiple coats and can be several millimeters thick. But this is not a problem for us in most cases. Even with newer used cars, dry-ice blasting makes a lot of sense because the rust does not stop for certain model years. Removing the old undercoating can be absolutely recommended for example for a 1989 VW Golf or a 1995 Mercedes E-Class for giving it a little life extension in time. The problem with all cars is always the same: dampness finds its way under the old, damaged undercoating and gets under the protective paint. The rust that takes hold spreads slowly, usually unnoticed, and causes lasting damage to the car’s structure. Ultimately, dry-ice blasting is important for all those who want to maintain or even increase the value of their car in the long run. And because we place such high value on dry-ice blasting and consider it extremely important for rust repairs, cleaning, and restoration, we will examine this topic in more detail on the following pages.

You can find more information here:	Dry Ice Blasting - How it works
	Dry Ice Blasting - Benefits & Applications
	Dry Ice Blasting - Our Service