In short: Dry ice blasting removes grease, oils, soot and loose deposits well, especially in industry, and leaves no abrasive or water behind. With firmly bonded old paint, rust and fragile substrates it can be less effective. Laser cleaning also removes paint and rust layer by layer, is quiet compared with blasting methods and needs no material to be delivered. The safest way to decide is after a test on a small area.
How does dry ice blasting differ from laser cleaning?
Dry ice blasting fires pellets of frozen carbon dioxide with compressed air, while the laser vaporises the dirt with light, without touching the surface. The dry ice pellets hit the dirt, chill it rapidly and turn into gas, so after the job there is no abrasive or water left, only the removed dirt. The laser is set so that the energy is absorbed by the layer of dirt, not by the material underneath.
What is dry ice good at?
Dry ice copes well with dirt that is soft or weakly bonded to the substrate: grease, oils, lubricants, soot and production deposits. That is why it is most often used in industry, on machines, moulds and production lines. If large, resistant parts need to be degreased quickly, dry ice is often a good choice.
When is dry ice less effective?
Dry ice can be ineffective on firmly bonded, multi-layer coatings, for example old oil paint, and on rust eaten into steel. It also has limitations on fragile and brittle substrates, because it is still a blasting method that works by impact. With delicate detail, soft wood or weakened brick, a trial on a small area is always needed.
Can dry ice be used indoors?
It can, but it needs good ventilation, because the pellets produce carbon dioxide, which collects near the floor in an enclosed room. The method is also loud, like most blasting methods, and needs a powerful compressor. The laser releases no gas from a cleaning medium, and we collect the fine dust from the removed coating by extraction, which is why we also use it in churches, tenement buildings and halls with running production.
When is laser cleaning the better choice?
The laser works better where paint, rust or deposits have to be removed and the material underneath must stay intact. Most often this means:
- metal and structures: removing rust and paint locally, also without dismantling,
- brick and facades: soot, graffiti, old paint and black deposits, with no water in the wall,
- wood: beams, stairs, joinery and details, paint removed layer by layer, without sanding,
- sandstone and stone: architectural details and sculptures, on historic monuments as agreed with the conservator,
- places without access to a large compressor and material deliveries: the laser only needs a power supply.
You will find details on the pages laser rust and paint removal, brick and facade cleaning and wood cleaning.
On historic buildings, the scope and method of cleaning are set by the conservator in charge of the work, and a building listed in the register of historic monuments needs a permit from the regional monument conservator. We carry out laser cleaning according to these decisions.
Will the laser always beat dry ice?
No. On large, resistant parts covered with grease or oil, dry ice is often faster and cheaper, and the laser is not the fastest method for thick coatings on large surfaces. If another method is better in your case, we will tell you straight. The laser makes sense where the material underneath matters more than the pace of work.
How much does laser cleaning cost compared with dry ice?
We charge for laser cleaning per hour of the system with an operator: from PLN 250 net (continuous-wave CW laser) and from PLN 380 net (pulsed laser), less for longer projects. We do not give a price per square metre without seeing the surface, which is why we do a test on a sample before quoting and measure the real working time. When comparing offers, check whether the dry ice price includes material delivery, the compressor and ventilation for indoor work. More in the article how much does laser cleaning cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is there dirt to clean up after dry ice blasting?
The removed dirt remains, because the pellets turn into gas, while the paint, soot or deposits fall to the ground. With the laser, we collect the fine dust from the removed coating by extraction during the work.
Does dry ice remove rust?
Loose surface rust, yes, but rust eaten into steel it removes poorly. For rust the laser works better (more in the article laser cleaning of metal), which removes it layer by layer down to bare metal.
Is the laser suitable for brick facades?
Yes. The laser removes soot, deposits, graffiti and paint from brick dry, with no water in the wall and without abrading the face. We check the result first on a small area.
Do you do dry ice blasting?
No. We do laser cleaning. If, after looking at the photos, we decide that dry ice or another method would be better in your case, we will tell you straight.
Where do you work?
Our head office is in Plewiska near Poznań, with a branch near Inowrocław. We work in Poznań, Inowrocław, Bydgoszcz, Toruń and the surrounding area, and for larger jobs we travel across Poland and the European Union.
Choosing between dry ice and laser?
Send a photo of the surface to biuro@omme.pl or via WhatsApp and we will tell you whether the laser makes sense here. You can also call: +48 570 471 653. Write or call
