Dry ice blasting is on the rise, which means a wave of new entrants — some of them serious operators investing in proper kit and training, others renting a blaster for the weekend and bidding low. The questions below sort one from the other in a 20-minute phone call.
Equipment and capacity
- What blaster make and model do you operate, and is it owned or rented?
- What's your compressor CFM and is it diesel-driven and trailer-mounted?
- What pellet sizes do you stock and where do you source them?
- Do you carry backup equipment to the job?
Crew and credentials
- How many years has your lead tech been operating dry ice?
- What's your safety training program — OSHA 10/30, confined-space, LOTO?
- Are you insured per the COI checklist (GL, auto, WC, umbrella, pollution if applicable)?
- Can you provide three references in my industry?
Process and documentation
- How do you scope a new job — phone, photos, or site walk?
- What does your per-job documentation look like? (Ask for a sample.)
- Will you sign our site safety plan and follow our LOTO procedures?
- How do you handle our CMMS or claim-management system integration?
Pricing transparency
A real contractor quotes in writing with itemized scope. Watch for hidden fees — fuel surcharges, dry ice surcharges, disposal fees, and 'mobilization' that varies by mood. Our pricing is published: hourly inside 25 driving miles of Kalispell, a $1,000 minimum total project charge beyond it, and a written estimate that lists every inclusion and exclusion.
The witness test
Ask for a small-scale witness blast on a hidden area before committing to the full scope. Any vendor who refuses is either too busy to care about quality or doesn't trust their own kit. We do witness tests on every new substrate as standard practice.