Barn Find Dry Ice Blasting
Dry ice blasting for barn finds, long-stored cars and recommissioning projects. Years of dust, grime and old underseal removed without water or abrasion, so you can see exactly what you have.
- Method
- Dry ice (CO₂) blasting
- Areas
- Underbody, chassis, engine bay, components
- Chassis protection
- Lanoguard, Bilt Hamber, Dinitrol, IGL Aegis
- Workshop
- Guildford Road Industrial Estate, Hayle, TR27 4QZ
- Collection
- Arranged UK-wide, non-runners included
Barn Find
Find out what you have actually bought
A car that has sat in a barn, garage or lock-up for years carries all of it: dust, debris, nesting material, old oil leaks and flaking underseal. Under that, the real condition of the floors, sills, chassis and running gear is still a guess.
Dry ice blasting removes it dry and gives you an honest starting point. Before you commit to a restoration budget, it shows what is sound, what has been repaired and what needs work, and it gives your restorer a clean car to quote from. No water into a car that may already have moisture problems. No abrasive grit around an engine that has not turned in years.
Projects we work on
- Barn and garage finds
- Long-term storage cars
- Recommissioning projects
- Inherited and estate cars
- Auction project cars
- Pre-restoration assessments
Chassis protection
Chassis protection for your barn find
Protection applied to a clean, sound surface bonds better and lasts longer than the same product laid over road film and old underseal. Accessible surface corrosion is treated first. We hold four systems in-house and recommend by vehicle, storage and use, rather than leading with one product.
Lanoguard Clear
Lanolin-based protection with an annual top-up recommended, ideally before winter. Suited to vehicles in regular use or stored outdoors.
Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB
Wax-based protection, typically lasting 1 to 2 years before a top-up in high-wear areas. A pragmatic, proven choice for regular use.
Dinitrol Full System
Multi-year protection applied as part of a full programme, with a free inspection at 12 months. We are working towards Dinitrol approval.
IGL Aegis
Long-term protection for high-value vehicles being kept for years to come, with an annual inspection for the first 3 years.
Each system has a recommended maintenance interval. We record yours and, with your permission, remind you when it is due.
What we clean
Where a barn find benefits
Every barn find is assessed individually before work begins. The process is then set around the surface, the contamination and the condition of the car in front of us.
Assessment cleaning
The underside, arches and engine bay cleaned back, so the car can be assessed honestly and the restoration scoped and priced accurately.
Dust, debris and nesting material
Years of dust, leaves and nesting material removed dry from the engine bay, underside and accessible cavities.
Old underseal and flaking deposits
Brittle, lifting underseal and compacted dirt removed, so hidden corrosion and previous repairs come to light.
Engine and running gear
Engine, gearbox, axles and brakes cleaned externally ahead of recommissioning. Leaks are easier to trace and the work is easier to carry out.
Also available: wheel arches, underseal and bitumen removal, drivetrain and gearbox, exhaust systems, concours interior preparation and boot compartments. See every automotive service
The method
Why dry ice suits a barn find
Solid CO₂ pellets are accelerated by compressed air onto the surface. On impact, each pellet sublimes, turning straight from solid to gas, and the thermal shock lifts contamination away from the surface. Nothing is left behind.
The difference is control. Pressure, pellet size, flow and nozzle are all adjustable, so the same process can clean a painted panel without marking it or strip years of compacted underbody deposits. Dry ice is also non-conductive, so it's safe to use around wiring, sensors and connectors.
| Method | On the car | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Steam or pressure washing | Introduces moisture | Water left in seams, box sections and electrics |
| Media blasting | Abrasive, with hazardous fallout | Grit to contain; rubber and seals need protecting |
| Chemical degreasing | Leaves residue | A waste stream to dispose of |
| Dry ice blasting | Dry and non-abrasive | Clean, dry, sound surface. Nothing left behind |
How it works
From first call to collection
Assessment
Tell us about your barn find and the work you are considering. We call you back and give you a real quote, usually within 24 hours.
Drop-off or collection
Bring the car to our Hayle unit, or we can arrange collection from your door anywhere in the UK.
Configuration
Pressure, pellet size and flow are set for each surface: painted, bare, composite or heavily contaminated.
Cleaning
Contamination removed dry, in place, without abrasion. Left as a clean, sound surface, ready for inspection.
Chassis protection
Accessible surface corrosion treated, then the protection system you have chosen applied. We record the maintenance interval.
Return
Your car is ready to collect, or returned to your door.
Our equipment
Not all dry ice blasting is equal
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, with precise control over pellet size, flow and pressure. Our Hayle unit is built around proper air management and industrial-grade kit throughout. The kit is the foundation. The judgement is what makes it work.
Getting your car to us
Two ways to bring your barn find to Hayle
The work happens at our dedicated commercial unit: Unit 1C, Guildford Road Industrial Estate, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4QZ. How your car gets here is your call.
Bring it to us
Book a slot and bring your car to our West Cornwall workshop. Make the journey part of it, then leave it with us and let the work begin.
We come to you
Prefer not to make the trip? We can arrange collection from your door, anywhere in the UK, and return your car once the work is complete. Non-running vehicles are no problem. Collection is quoted with your assessment.
Questions
Barn find dry ice blasting questions
Should I clean a barn find before or after buying it?
Ideally before the restoration is quoted. If the seller agrees, cleaning before purchase shows exactly what you are buying. Otherwise, cleaning straight after purchase gives you and your restorer an honest starting point.
Will it damage original paint or patina?
Pressure, pellet size and flow are set for each surface, so dirt and deposits can be lifted from painted panels without marking them. Where patina is part of the appeal, we agree with you beforehand what stays and what goes.
Will it remove rust?
Dry ice removes loose rust and contamination, so we can see exactly what is there. We then treat accessible surface corrosion before protection. Anything more serious we will flag at assessment.
Can you protect the car after cleaning?
Yes. If the car is going into storage or back on the road before restoration, we can apply Lanoguard, Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB, the full Dinitrol system or IGL Aegis, chosen around how it will be kept and used.
Can you collect a barn find that does not run?
Yes. We collect non-running vehicles from anywhere in the UK, so a car that has not turned a wheel in years can come straight from the barn or garage to our Hayle unit. Collection is quoted with your assessment.
Do I need to bring my barn find to Cornwall?
No. You can bring it to our Hayle unit, or we can arrange collection from your door anywhere in the UK and return it when the work is complete.
We also work on
Other vehicles we work on
Get in touch
Talk to us about your barn find
Tell us about the car and the work you are considering. We will call you back to talk it through and give you a real quote.
- A real quote, usually within 24 hours
- No obligation
- Collection arranged UK-wide
