Dry Ice Blasting

We now offer professional dry ice blasting as part of our restoration and detailing services. This advanced and non-abrasive cleaning service uses solid CO₂ pellets to safely remove grease, dirt, under seal and old coatings without damaging the underlying surface and without leaving any residue.

Dry ice blasting is ideal for classic vehicles. Unlike alternative cleaning equipment such as sand or soda blasting, the dry ice doesn’t damage the surface being cleaned and leaves no secondary waste, making it ideal for cleaning the undersides and chassis, engine bays, gearbox and drivetrain components, electrical and mechanical assemblies. Along with the suspension and subframes, wheel arches, interior floors and bulkheads, and delicate aluminium and magnesium parts. Dry ice blasting allows us to thoroughly clean hard-to-reach areas whilst preserving original metal, finishes, stamping and factory details.

Unlike modern cars produced after 2010, classic and historic vehicles weren’t designed with the same level of corrosion protection as cars today, making them more susceptible to rust and corrosion. An all-too-common issue experienced by classic car enthusiasts across the UK is rust forming underneath their vehicles, where exposure to salt-treated UK roads can accelerate corrosion. Our new dry ice blasting equipment will allow us to effectively clean complex areas and delicate instruments to reveal corrosion and previous repairs without harming the vehicle.

The dry pellets hit the surface at speed, loosening dirt, grease and coatings. Once the extremely cold (-78 °C) hits the surface, the rapid temperature change causes the dirt to crack and separate from the underlying surface. The pellets instantly turn from solid CO₂ into gas on impact. This expansion helps lift contaminants away, while the dry ice itself completely disappears, making this an environmentally friendly practice. This process can be time-consuming, but it is often preferred and cost-effective when cleaning delicate components and complex areas. Our experienced restoration technicians handle all the dry ice blasting operations on-site at our workshops in Nottingham, UK.

If you are interested in booking our dry ice blasting service, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. Call us on 0115 926 2266 or email us at info@thorntonrestorations.com. Alternatively you can click the link below to fill out an enquires form on our contact page.