Dry Ice Blasting
A cleaning process using solid carbon dioxide as blasting media, which sublimates upon impact. It cleans without residue, without generating blasting waste or attacking the base material.
Dry ice blasting is a good way to clean surfaces before welding without leaving any residue. The CO2 ice sublimates on impact, taking oil, grease, and loose dirt with it. Unlike chemical cleaners or abrasives, it doesn't attack or contaminate the base material, which has a positive effect on weld quality. It's important to get the surface really clean—especially on weld seams, nothing should be left on there, otherwise you risk pores or cracks in the weld. Just keep the jet moving evenly across the surface and work the area thoroughly. For normal workshop use, it's a clean process, but you have to make sure you actually catch everything.