Based in Cornwall
Dry Ice Blasting for Vehicles
Non-abrasive decontamination and preservation for high-value, performance, classic and specialist vehicles.
All the cleaning power, none of the water
Think of dry ice blasting as steam cleaning without the water. All of the cleaning power, none of the mess, none of the moisture, none of the drying time.
It can also work like media blasting, stripping back surfaces and removing years of built-up contamination, genuinely rejuvenating what lies underneath. Without the dust, the debris and the fallout that make conventional blasting such a messy, disruptive process.
The difference is control. The pressure, the pellet size, the nozzle: all of it is adjustable. Gentle enough to clean a painted surface without marking it, or aggressive enough to strip decades of grease and grime from a cast iron housing. Same machine. Same operator. Completely different result depending on how we configure it.
And because each solid CO₂ pellet sublimes on impact, disappearing entirely, there is no blasting media to clean up afterwards. No grit on the floor. No chemical residue. No secondary mess. We leave a clean surface and a clear site.
Our equipment
Not all dry ice blasting is equal
There are a lot of machines out there. Hobby-grade units that give the operator very little control and even less consistency, running on underpowered compressors that introduce moisture and contamination into the very process meant to remove them. As the job runs on, pressure drops and the finish suffers.
We have invested in market-leading industrial equipment: Kaeser and Boge compressors, Tundra air dryers and dry ice energy blasting machines. Constant airflow at the same pressure from the first minute to the last, so the clean at the end of a long day matches the start. Precise control over particle size, flow rate and pressure: gentle enough for a delicate painted panel, firm enough for heavy underbody contamination.
Our commercial unit on Guildford Road Industrial Estate in Hayle is built around proper air management and industrial-grade kit throughout. Not a scaled-up hobby setup, but a facility designed specifically for this work. We assess every car individually, then set the equipment around the substrate, the contamination and the condition in front of us. The kit is the foundation. The judgement is what makes it work.
Services
Every service, one method
Every service uses the same dry ice CO₂ process. No abrasives. No moisture. No chemicals. From Porsche 911s and Jaguar E-Types to Land Rover Defenders and modern performance cars, every vehicle is assessed individually. This is not a car wash and not a valet service.
Underbody & Chassis
Full Underbody Package
Complete underbody, chassis members, wheel arches and suspension. Wheels and undertrays removed where access requires it. Removes years of compacted contamination, salt and bitumen residue, leaving every surface ready for inspection or protection.
Underbody Only
Full underfloor pan cleaned of all contamination, road film and surface deposits. The ideal preparation for a long-term corrosion protection system.
Wheel Arches
Arch liners removed and cleaned independently. Compacted mud, salt and road film removed from the areas most vulnerable to retained moisture and corrosion.
Underseal / Bitumen Removal
Thermal shock fractures aged underseal cleanly from the substrate. No grinding, no grit, no abrasive damage to original metalwork or factory seams, and no hazardous fallout to contain.
Suspension & Brakes
Suspension components, subframes, dampers, calipers and hardware, cleaned without disassembly, without moisture, without abrasive damage to bushes or seals.
Engine & Drivetrain
Engine Bay
Block, ancillaries, bulkhead, inner wings and wiring looms. Dry ice is completely non-conductive, so electrical components, sensors and connectors need no masking. Oil, grease, carbon and road debris removed with no water and no solvents.
Drivetrain / Gearbox
Gearbox casing, bellhousing, propshaft and differentials. Original casting condition exposed for accurate inspection ahead of rebuild or recommissioning.
Exhaust System
Manifolds, downpipes, catalytic converters and heat shields. Carbon bake and heat-bonded deposits removed without risk to sensors or substrates.
Presentation & Interior
Full Exterior Detail
Panel faces, door jambs, shut lines and sill bases. Removes contamination from areas conventional detailing cannot reach. Safe on all paint systems.
Concours Interior Prep
Sill channels, pillar bases, seat runners and under-dash areas. Cleans the places experienced judges examine, without moisture risk to trim or wiring.
Boot & Luggage Compartment
Boot floor, spare wheel well, inner arches and deck lid seals. Removes accumulated debris and moisture from areas rarely cleaned, without risk to trim, wiring or original finishes.
In practice
What this actually means on a car
Two jobs every restorer knows, and how the process changes them.
The engine bay
Imagine a classic that has not been properly cleaned under the bonnet in twenty years. Layers of oil, grease, carbon, dust and road debris built up across every surface: the block, the ancillaries, the wiring looms, all of it.
Conventionally you would spend hours just preparing. Masking off every electrical component. Protecting sensors, connectors, anything that cannot get wet. Then either steam cleaning it, which introduces water into an environment full of things that really do not like water, or working through it manually with degreasers and brushes, which takes forever and still leaves residue behind.
With dry ice blasting, none of that preparation is necessary. Dry ice is completely non-conductive, so electrical components do not need masking. No water, no chemicals, no secondary residue. We work straight across the engine bay, every angle and every crevice, and when we are done the surface is clean and dry. Nothing introduced. Nothing left behind.
The underbody
Traditionally this means media blasting, a light sandblast to shift built-up underseal, rust and contamination. Effective, but it comes with a significant list of problems. The entire area has to be tented to contain the grit. Every rubber component needs protecting, from gearbox boots and CV joints to ball joints and axle seals, because sand will destroy them. The fallout is hazardous. The cleanup is substantial. And anything that migrates into the interior or the engine bay creates a new problem.
Dry ice blasting does the same job, stripping back contamination, lifting old underseal and exposing clean metal, without any of that. No grit. No fallout. No hazardous waste. The rubber components do not need protection because there is nothing abrasive in the process.
We adjust the parameters to be as aggressive or as gentle as the surface requires, and leave a clean, dry, debris-free result ready for whatever comes next: inspection, protection coating, or simply putting the car back on the road.
Every traditional method makes a trade-off. Steam cleaning is effective but introduces moisture. Sandblasting strips surfaces but creates hazardous fallout and collateral damage. Chemical cleaning works but leaves residue and a waste stream. Manual cleaning is slow, labour-intensive and inconsistent. Dry ice blasting makes none of those trade-offs, which is why aerospace, pharmaceutical and automotive restoration all use it on their most sensitive and highest-value assets. The CO₂ we use is captured from existing industrial processes that would otherwise release it into the atmosphere. Nothing is added. It is repurposed.
Corrosion protection
A clean substrate deserves the right protection
Protection applied to bare, contaminant-free metal bonds harder and lasts longer than the same product laid over road film and surface deposits. We hold four systems in-house and recommend by vehicle, storage and goal, rather than leading with one product.
Lanoguard, Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB, the full Dinitrol system, and ceramic underbody coating.
Lanoguard Clear
Short-term protection, reapplied annually. Suited to vehicles in active use or stored outdoors.
Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB
Wax-based protection. The pragmatic choice for daily-use classics and weekend cars.
Dinitrol Full System
A professional preservation system, applied as part of a full programme, with annual inspection and maintenance.
Ceramic Underbody Coating
The long-term option for high-value vehicles, maintained by annual inspection.
Each system has a recommended maintenance interval. We record yours and, with your permission, remind you when it is due, much like an MOT.
Our automotive services
Explore every service in detail
Cleaning, rust proofing and corrosion protection, all built on a dry ice blasted foundation. Choose a service to see how it works and which protection system suits your vehicle.
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Cleaning
Engine Cleaning
Engines and engine bays cleaned with no water, no harsh degreasers and no grit.
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Cleaning
Underbody & Chassis Cleaning
Not a jet wash. Clean, dry metal ready for inspection, protection or presentation.
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Cleaning
Underseal Removal
Old and failing underseal removed with no grinding, no grit and no hazardous fallout.
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Rust protection
Car Rust Proofing
Clean, dry metal first, then the right rust proofing system for how your vehicle is used and stored.
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Rust protection
Underbody Rust Protection
Floor pans, sills, arches and crossmembers cleaned, inspected and protected.
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Rust protection
Car Undersealing
Professional undersealing with proper access, clean dry metal and the right product for your vehicle.
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Rust protection
Chassis Rust Protection
Chassis cleaned, assessed and protected for the long term, from classics to the latest models.
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Rust protection
Corrosion Protection
Protection from moisture, road salt and time, with four systems matched to your vehicle.
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Protection system
Dinitrol Treatment
The full Dinitrol underbody and cavity system, for vehicles you intend to keep.
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Protection system
Lanoguard Treatment
The same product as a DIY kit, applied professionally with proper access and preparation.
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Protection system
Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB
Durable wax-based protection for classics and cars in regular use.
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Protection system
Ceramic Underbody Coating
Clear, long-term protection for prestige, show and cherished vehicles.
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Getting your vehicle to us
Two ways to bring your vehicle to us
Our dedicated commercial unit at Unit 1C, Guildford Road Industrial Estate, Hayle, Cornwall (TR27 4QZ) is now open, and that is where the work happens. How your vehicle gets here is your call. Drive down, or stay where you are and let us handle the logistics, anywhere in the UK.
Drive it yourself
Bring the car to us
Book a slot and bring your vehicle to our West Cornwall workshop. Make the journey part of it, then leave the car with us and let the work begin.
Concierge collection
We come to you
Prefer not to make the trip? Your vehicle is collected from your door by our trusted dedicated car transport partner, anywhere in the UK, and delivered back to you once the work is complete. A flat collection fee plus per-mile travel, quoted with your assessment.
While we work
Leave your car, take the Porsche 996 Cabriolet
A courtesy car experience is available to qualifying clients. Our Porsche 996 Cabriolet is based in Cornwall and is yours for the duration of the work. Drive your vehicle down, make a few days of it, and hand the keys back when your car is ready.
Offered to qualifying clients and subject to availability. Confirmed as part of your vehicle assessment.
Vehicles we work on
The cars that come to us
We also serve concours entrants, pre-sale auction preparation and classic vehicle traders preparing stock. Anything where the owner cares enough about long-term preservation to do it properly.
Project car
Follow our Citroën CX build
Every stage on Instagram, from the first strip down to full underbody protection. See exactly how we clean and protect a classic, one post at a time.
Follow the build on InstagramGet in touch
Request a call back
Get in touch and tell us about your vehicle and the work you are considering. Leave your details and we will call you back to talk it through and get you a real quote.
- A real quote, usually within 24 hours
- No obligation
- Nationwide collection available
Prefer to talk now? Call 01736 804118
