Northwest Blizzard Blasting’s innovative ice solution By Rod Link
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arko Furmanek was tired of getting soaked from the backwash of high pressure water-based steam cleaners and from being exposed to chemicals while cleaning engines and other industrial equipment of grime, grease and grit. “No matter what you did and how you dressed, you’d just get wet and dirty,” he said. Fellow mechanic and long-time friend Gary Louie felt the same. “I got double pneumonia from inhaling the steam,” he said of inhaling chemical-laden steam during a stint at a now-closed gold mine up north. “I know all those chemicals that are used,” added Furmanek. “And it’s not healthy.” The two, along with another old friend and welder, Dean
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“There is no water, that’s the key. ” - Marko Furmanek Morris, began looking for a better way. The search took them to dry ice, compressed CO2 (carbon dioxide), which is used in those billowing clouds that add atmosphere to spooky graveyard scenes in movies. Dry ice is made by pressuring and refrigerating CO2 until it liquefies. When the pressure is reduced, some liquid carbon dioxide vaporizes, causing a rapid lowering of temperature of the remaining liquid. See Page 31