Laser cleaning and dry ice blasting are two ways to clean a surface without sand and washing water. The difference lies elsewhere: what has to be brought to the site, what is released into the air and what each cleaning job costs.
We compare the methods from the point of view of the person who carries the machine to the site and holds the nozzle or cleaning head in their hand for the whole shift. You will find the machines by range on our laser cleaning page.
W2M Industries Oy is a Finnish company founded in 2017. The products are made in Finland, and every delivery includes operator training.
The dry ice blasting principle
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, or CO2. According to the carbon dioxide safety guide (in Finnish) of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL), it sublimates, that is, turns directly into gas, at a temperature of −78.5 °C. The whole method rests on this property.
In blasting, compressed air carries dry ice pellets from the nozzle to the surface. The pellet sublimates almost immediately on impact, so it does not wear the surface mechanically but loosens the dirt with thermal shock and impact. No blasting media is left on the surface. The description matches the English-language Wikipedia article on dry ice blasting, according to which dry ice is made from carbon dioxide recovered from other industrial processes. It is supplied for blasting as pellets or shaved from a larger block.
The dirt that comes loose does not disappear with the dry ice. According to Wikipedia, it has to be swept, vacuumed or washed away separately. In the TTL sandblasting guide (in Finnish), dry ice blasting is mentioned alongside sandblasting when the guide lists the dustiest jobs in the construction sector.
The laser principle
A laser beam does not throw anything at the surface. The layer of dirt absorbs the energy of the light and comes off, and when the settings are right, the clean metal stays in place. In dry ice blasting, the impact of the pellet and the cold do the work. In laser cleaning, light does.
The user selects the cleaning pattern, power and speed in the control system according to the material and the dirt. For example, the working area of the W2MCF-200X is 1–200 millimeters long and 1–20 millimeters wide. A narrow working area is used to clean the edge of a weld seam, and a wider one to treat a flat sheet.
During the shift, the only thing the user holds is the handheld unit. The handheld unit of the W2MCF-200X weighs 1.5 kg and that of the W2MCW-3000 weighs 1.2 kg. The heavier part of the machine stays on the floor, and the handheld unit is attached to a connecting cable that is 5 meters long on the W2MCF-200X and 10 meters on the W2MCW-3000. There is no compressed air hose to drag along. Operator training typically takes four to six hours.
Vaporized dirt is collected with local exhaust ventilation or an extractor at the point where it is generated. The method is non-contact and is not hot work, and one person can do the job. The machines can be used almost continuously without cooling breaks.
Even so, a laser is a high-energy, regulated technology. Its specific risk is light, not cold.
Blasting media: dry ice or cleaning without blasting media
Dry ice blasting uses up dry ice on every job. Laser cleaning requires no blasting media or cleaning chemicals. No water is needed either. However, extraction filters and protective lenses in the cleaning head need to be replaced as required.
Dry ice also has a shelf-life problem. Because solid carbon dioxide sublimates even at room temperature, the unused part evaporates into gas and does not sit waiting on the shelf like a grinding wheel.
The gas brings an occupational safety issue with it. According to the TTL guide (in Finnish), carbon dioxide is heavier than air and can collect in low places, such as basements and sewers. High concentrations displace oxygen: symptoms of oxygen deficiency begin when the oxygen level is below 18%. The concentration known to be harmful in workplace air, the OEL (HTP value), is 5,000 ppm for an eight-hour exposure. Solid carbon dioxide can also cause frostbite on the skin and eyes, so it is handled with suitable protective equipment and the space is ventilated effectively.
Laser protection is built around the light. The eyes are protected with OD8+ laser safety glasses, which cost €150 (excl. VAT). If other people move around a fixed workstation, the area is cordoned off with laser safety curtains or protective acrylic screens.
| Criterion | Laser cleaning | Dry ice blasting |
|---|---|---|
| What removes the dirt | The energy of light, the layer vaporizes or comes off | The impact of the dry ice pellet and thermal shock |
| Consumable | No blasting media or cleaning chemicals; filters and protective lenses are replaced as required | Dry ice for every job |
| What is brought to the site | The machine and an electrical connection | Dry ice and compressed air |
| What is left behind | Vaporized dirt is collected with local exhaust ventilation | Loosened dirt that has to be cleaned up |
| Specific risk | Laser light to the eyes | Carbon dioxide buildup, frostbite |
| Protection | Laser safety glasses | Protective equipment against the cold, effective ventilation |
So what does a laser use up?
The cleaning head has a protective lens, which is a replaceable spare part. A lens that fits machines up to 300 W costs €80 (excl. VAT) in our online store. The filters of the local exhaust ventilation are replaced in due course: the extractor W2M Smoke Cleaner XL300 (in Finnish) has four, that is, a pre-filter, a PP filter and two carbon fiber filters. It uses electricity, but no substance is fed into the machine that would have to be ordered, stored or disposed of.
Cost and logistics
The costs of a method based on dry ice recur on every job. The dry ice, its transport and the compressed air are part of every job, even when the same machine is cleaned again a month later.
With a laser, a large part of the cost is the machine itself. Mini cleaners cost €5,500–€7,250 (excl. VAT), and a flexible leasing agreement is available for all models. For example, the W2MCF-60BP costs €369 per month when leased (excl. VAT, 60 months). Once you have the machine, the next cleaning does not bring a new materials bill.
What to include in the comparison calculation
A fair calculation includes more than the blasting or cleaning time. Include the same line items for both methods:
- Dry ice blasting: dry ice for every job, transport of the dry ice, an owned or rented air compressor, ventilation of the space and cleanup of the loosened dirt.
- Laser cleaning: machine price, leasing or rental, training, laser safety glasses (€150) and local exhaust ventilation, for example the extractor W2M Smoke Cleaner XL300 (in Finnish) at €2,730 (excl. VAT).
- Both: working hours on site, preparation of the site and the time the machine or production stands idle because of cleaning.
The equipment cost of the laser does not grow with the number of cleanings, while the dry ice lines return in every calculation. That is why the result depends above all on how many times a year the same job is done. For a temporary, project-based or seasonal need, the laser should be calculated as a rental rather than a purchase.
Logistics
The smallest mini cleaner, the W2MFC-20BP (in Finnish), weighs 7 kg and runs on a single-phase 220 V connection. The W2MCF-200X weighs 65 kg and is also connected to a single-phase supply. The heavy W2MCW-3000 weighs 250 kg and needs a three-phase 16 A connection. None of them needs compressed air. We make backpack models up to 300 W, and they travel with the user to the site.
When the cleaner moves from one site to another, every extra machine that has to be transported shows up in the day’s schedule. The comparison should be made using the annual number of cleanings, so that the total of the dry ice bills and the price of the machine can be set side by side. Maintenance and spare parts are handled by our own service team.
When to choose laser, when dry ice
The choice depends on the job, how often the cleaning is repeated and the workspace. The most common situations are below.
The same item is cleaned every week
Laser is cheaper when cleaning recurs. The absence of blasting media purchasing costs affects the cost each time, and there is no dry ice to order and no compressor to move.
The workspace is cramped or poorly ventilated
Laser is better suited to this. It does not use carbon dioxide, so gas buildup is not a risk for it, and vaporized dirt is collected with local exhaust ventilation at the point where it is generated. If dry ice blasting is done in the space, the exhaust air should be taken from floor level or close to it, because carbon dioxide is heavier than air. The same advice appears in the safety section of the Wikipedia article on dry ice blasting.
Electronics or precision components need cleaning
Laser cleaning is also used in the electronics industry, for example to remove particles and oxidation. The applications can be found on the rentals page. A narrow cleaning pattern limits the treatment to the spot that is to be cleaned.
The cleaning is done once, as a purchased service
For a one-off job, ordering a dry ice service can be a sensible solution, because no investment is needed. The job can also be outsourced to us, in which case we take care of the machine and the work. If you want to do the job yourself, you can rent the laser for a day, that is, eight hours, and compare the result on the same piece.
There is a lot of dirt and the surface is large
Power decides. The W2MCW range is built for removing thick paint layers, heavy rust and industrial contaminants from large surfaces. For example, the working width of the W2MCW-3000 is 1–170 millimeters. You can find more information on mold cleaning on our laser mold cleaning page.
Try the laser on your own job
The decision to give up dry ice does not have to be made on paper. The W2MCF-300X weighs 80 kg, is air-cooled and connects to a single-phase supply, so no compressed air is needed for a trial.
The rental price of the W2MCF-300X is €650 per day and €3,250 per week (excl. VAT). Product and safety training costs €75 and is free of charge with a weekly rental. If you want the machine delivered straight to your site, we deliver and collect it for €75 per hour plus €0.90 per kilometer (excl. VAT).
Tell Juhani Tamminen what you are cleaning with dry ice right now. He will suggest a model and power that make the comparison fair.
Frequently asked questions
Which should I choose, laser or dry ice blasting?
It depends on how often you clean and where. Laser is the better fit when the same item is cleaned repeatedly, the space is cramped or the loosened dirt has to be captured. For a one-off job, the comparison is best made on the same piece. Neither uses water, but only dry ice blasting needs dry ice and compressed air every time.
Does dry ice blasting leave waste?
The dry ice itself does not, because it turns into gas. The dirt, rust or paint that comes loose, however, ends up on the floor or spreads into the air, and it has to be cleaned up. In laser cleaning, vaporized dirt is collected with local exhaust ventilation or an extractor during cleaning, so no separate cleanup afterwards is needed.
Can dry ice blasting be done indoors?
Yes, when the ventilation is in order. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and can collect low down, for example in basements and sewers. The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL) advises ensuring effective ventilation and preventing gas from accumulating. Laser cleaning does not use carbon dioxide, but you protect yourself from laser light with safety glasses and, where necessary, safety curtains. The work area is marked off with both methods.
How much does laser cleaning cost compared with dry ice blasting?
Machine prices are in our online store, and the cheapest mini cleaner costs €5,500 (excl. VAT). You pay for dry ice every time. Laser cleaning requires no blasting media or cleaning chemicals. However, extraction filters and protective lenses in the cleaning head need to be replaced as required. So calculate your annual number of cleanings and compare it with the price of the machine, leasing or rental. A leasing agreement is possible for all models, and renting gives you your own numbers without an investment.
Does laser cleaning need a compressor?
No. A laser cleaner is connected to mains power. The mini cleaners and the W2MCF-200X run on a single-phase connection, and the heavy W2MCW-3000 needs a three-phase 16 A connection. Dry ice blasting needs compressed air, and the dry ice has to be brought to the site separately.
What protective equipment does laser cleaning require?
The basic protection is OD8+ laser safety glasses. A fixed workstation is cordoned off with safety curtains or protective acrylic screens if other people move around the space. The glasses cost €150 (excl. VAT) in our online store. The training also covers safe use of the machine and the settings for your own job.
How quickly can you learn to use a laser cleaner?
Operator training typically takes four to six hours. The control system works in Finnish, Swedish or English. With a rented machine, you receive operator and safety training before the first working day, and support is also available during the rental.
Can I try a laser before I give up dry ice?
Yes. For example, the W2MCF-500X rents for €900 per day and €4,500 per week (excl. VAT), and a weekly rental includes product and safety training free of charge. This way you can clean with the laser the same piece you now blast with dry ice and compare the result before you decide to buy.
Request a quote or rent a machine
Tell us about the job, and we will help you choose the model and power. Juhani Tamminen (laser sales, technical expert): +358 40 709 4605, [email protected]. W2M Industries Oy, Koivulehdontie 2, 01510 Vantaa, Finland.