Dry Ice Blasting? A new option in stripping.

[fufu]

 

Hi guys, i saw this on Youtube this week and did a bit of research into it.

 

 

Basically strips a car using dry ice on a compressed level. Benefits of the technology is... its cold and not a hot-abrasive form of stripping. May limit or prevent warpage. But can't say that for sure, only time will tell.

 

Theoretically bead blasting uses abrasives but while it strikes it produces heat upon contact. Whereas dryice, operating at -80 degrees, will strike and force a temporary small contraction dislodging the upper material. As we all know warpage occurs when the metal expands and forces itself outwards causing the warp effect.

 

There are companies throughout Australia that do this.

 

So this thread is mainly to point out the idea as an option if you are restoring your car. Have any feedback? into the technology or if you've tried it, please post related articles here.

[sco_aus]

It couldnt be cheap though yeh?  Spose if you are going to that much effort, the money isnt too much of a problem.

[fufu]

yeh definately wouldn't be cheap.

 

It cost as little as $500/month to rent the machine on a 12 month contract. No information anywhere on renting the machine for a day. Machine isn't all that big, it looks like an upper-class welder from the outside.

 

Then you need to purchase the dry ice. How much is super cold C02? (stuff you breath out). I presume cheaper then beads used in bead blasting. (Could be weaponised, grab a handfull and shove it down someones throat, watch them gasp away)

 

Then again you wouldn't want to shoot yourself with it by accident. -80 degrees isn't all that painful at first... until your limbs fall off... then it gets heated... then the blood gushing out. LOL, don't you love imagery. But then again, same with standard bead blasting you wouldn't want to shoot yourself with that either. So in theory its the same technique and hazard prevention.

 

It is a good idea for panel beater workshops that do alot of restoring. Good idea to test out i guess. Fairly new technology in terms of the manufacturers of those machines haven't been around for far too long.

 

For anyone interested in this.

 

http://www.icetech.net.au/ A orgnisation that sells machines and dry ice.

 

 

[sco_aus]

haha. imagery

$500 for a month isnt so bad i guess, only really need it for a week or so, but the dry ice...

[Hunter]

I am guessing the machine would work on compressed liquid CO2 cylinders. when you decompress a gas rapidly it cools down (same as your LPG cylinder on your BBQ gets cold when you use it, even ices up).

 

I can remember making Dry Ice in Chemistry at school. it was a slow process with the rig at school. but basically run straight off the cylinder and formed a block of dry ice in a material bag.

 

If the machine runs on blocks of dry ice I think there is companies that produce it in large blocks, just put it in an esky and use it quick.

 

Sandblasting causes heat/expansion of metal. Dry Ice would cause cold/shrinkage of metal. It would depend on the the shrinkage factor, to what benifit this may be. But definatley CO2 would be no mess except for the stripped paint as it would turn straight into gas.

 

Another issue could be the displacement of oxygen in an enclosed space. This would have to be done outside or in an extremly well ventilated room.

 

INTERESTING FACT: Dry Ice is used in movies and on stage to get that low lying fog, or the white flowing smoke that comes out of beakers in science movies. They just stick a block in some coloured water and the reaction makes it look like the water is boiling. In fact the CO2 (dry Ice) is boiling. Because its boiling point is much lower than water.

[Mr240z]

Simple Dry Ice Root Beer

Posted on August 23, 2010 by rob

 

Here is a fun way to cool off the kids on a hot summer’s day.  Dry ice root beer is fun spin on an old classic.  Here we give you an easy way to make homemade root beer with just a few ingredients. This should make about 1 gallon of super tasty root beer!

 

 

 

What You Need

 

1 pound of sugar (white or unbleached cane sugar.  The different flavors have a different taste.)

1 oz of root beer extract  (amazon.com)

1 gallon of water

1 pound of dry ice

Directions

 

Thoroughly mix water, sugar, and extract in large bowl or pitcher.

Add dry ice.

Cover and let stand for 1 hour.  Allow all dry ice to fully sublimate.

Note: Do not create air tight seal, as the dry ice will expand causing an explosion.

 

Nice one....

[260Devil]

i know im probably too late but i have just succesfully soda blasted my car to bare metal. using 19psi, baking soda (bought in bulk from a pet shop because apperently horses eat it) and a custom hopper i made i can take off 1 layer of paint off at a time without damaging the metal. very cheap just a bit messy!

[Bigfella]

i know im probably too late but i have just succesfully soda blasted my car to bare metal. using 19psi, baking soda (bought in bulk from a pet shop because apperently horses eat it) and a custom hopper i made i can take off 1 layer of paint off at a time without damaging the metal. very cheap just a bit messy!

What did you use to administer it? Just a sand blasting gun.

[reverendzed]

Great job, just be careful as the soda does leave a 'filmy' residue that can react with paint.  Make sure you now give it a good sand, wash in presol x 2 to make sure that any of that residue is dissolved.

Cheers,

rev.

[chris240]

dry ice is also used to remove the sound deadener from bare shells quite easily...

[C.A.R.]

I'll stick with fine Garnet - 1/4 of the time spent blasting compared with Soda, minimal media used & no possible adverse reaction to new paint.

Give a nice, fine textured finish on the metalwork for new paint to 'key' to as well

[FLEXZED]

I'll stick with fine Garnet - 1/4 of the time spent blasting compared with Soda, minimal media used & no possible adverse reaction to new paint.

Give a nice, fine textured finish on the metalwork for new paint to 'key' to as well

 

+ 1

 

Got my shell done in garnet and now getting all my suspension components down so the powder coating has a good KEY to attach too.

 

Loui

[lightmaster240z]

I must try out soda ash Thu the in laws sand blaster I got at work in 2,5,8,10,25 kg bag so it cheap if a bag or two breaks 

PS farm and rural supply sell it for calf as a supplement for about $15/$20 for twenty five kgs

Bruce   

[XRQTR]

Soda blasting should actually be washed, that's right water, right off and right through the entire car, then baked dry, garnet is one of the best.

Also soda does not clean rust as effectively, walnut shell is another option, never used it but would be softer than garnet.

Then their is also the recyclability of garnet, as lomg as you cleaned all the grease off first.