Dry ice is pretty amazing stuff – you can use it for everything from making eerie Halloween displays and preserving perishable food for holiday mailings to removing old floor tiles and fixing car dents (more on these uses in future blogs!).

But dry ice (which is carbon dioxide in solid form) also requires some special handling to do all of these tasks – mostly because its surface temperature is a chilly minus 109.3 degrees Fahrenheit! With temperatures that low, handling dry ice improperly could cause severe burns and other problems, so please be careful!

Always follow these safety tips when using or handling dry ice:

• Dry ice is not a toy – teach children to use it correctly. Only allow younger children to use it with adult supervision.
• Dry ice must be handled using heavy gloves or tongs. It will cause severe burns if it comes in contact with bare or unprotected skin.
• Always wear safety goggles when handling dry ice. The debris and shards are extremely dangerous to your eyes. When tapping dry ice with a hammer, first cover it with a towel to keep the pieces in one place.
• Never put dry ice in your mouth.
• Never store dry ice in an airtight container. As the dry ice sublimates (turns from a solid to a gas…it can never turn into a liquid), gas pressure will build and the container will explode.
• Do not store dry ice in your freezer. It will cause your freezer to become too cold and the freezer may shut off.
• In the unlikely event of a dry ice burn, treat it the same as you would a heat burn. See a doctor if the skin blisters or comes off.

Need dry ice for your Halloween display, or to ship food for the upcoming holidays? Stop in and stock up at our convenient store locations:

IRISH CARBONIC
1444 Clinton Street | Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 827-2727 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC AND PROPANE
535 Buffalo Road | Rochester, NY 14611
(585) 254-6844 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC
772 Marion Rd | Columbus, OH 43207
(800) 884-0072 | Map & Directions »

A COVID-free Halloween may be witch-ful thinking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t scare up some fun in your Buffalo or Rochester home.

Imagine terrifying neighborhood passers-by with a foggy graveyard display, or delighting your kids with a smoking punch bowl. It’s all possible with the help of dry ice from Irish Carbonic!

Dry Ice Ideas For Halloween

Whether you want to make a smoking witch’s cauldron, a foggy Jack-O-Lantern, or even some creepy-but-cool boo bubbles, you’ll really leave an impression with a haunting dry ice display. Dry ice is inexpensive and easy to use and – just be sure to follow these simple precautions when handling it, and be sure to read these instructions to get the most dry ice fog for your buck!

Halloween is coming – make your displays eerie-sistable with dry ice from Irish Carbonic!

You don’t need an enGRAVEd invitation – just stop in and stock up on dry ice at our convenient store locations today.

IRISH CARBONIC
1444 Clinton Street | Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 827-2727 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC AND PROPANE
535 Buffalo Road | Rochester, NY 14611
(585) 254-6844 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC
772 Marion Rd | Columbus, OH 43207
(800) 884-0072 | Map & Directions »

Dry ice blasting is one of the most effective and efficient ways to clean unwanted surfaces off industrial equipment and surfaces. But how much do you know about dry ice blasting? Here are some basics.

Q. What is dry ice blasting?

A. Dry ice blasting is a non-destructive way to clean and remove unwanted coatings from industrial surfaces using extremely cold (-109.3° F) dry ice pellets (the solid form of carbon dioxide) delivered at high speed via compressed air.

Q. What can dry ice blasting remove?

A. From paint, rust, adhesives and syrups to oils, powders, mold and bacteria, dry ice blasting will remove just about any surface contaminant.

Q. How does dry ice blasting work?

A. Fine dry ice particles are “blasted” onto a surface using a dry ice blasting machine (imagine a high-tech pressure washer that shoots dry ice rather than water). When these particles come in contact with an unwanted coating, the contaminants freeze and fracture; eventually, a combination of heat transfer, gas expansion, and impact force will remove the unwanted coatings.

Q. What are the advantages of dry ice blasting compared to other methods?

A. Dry ice blasting enjoys significant advantages over other cleaning methods like sand and soda blasting, water cleaning, and chemical cleanup. Here are just some of dry ice blasting advantages.

• It minimizes surface damage – Dry ice blasting is non-abrasive, non-flammable, and non-conductive, which means it won’t abrade, wear, pit, or erode equipment surfaces. Other methods of cleaning can damage surfaces and remove more than just unwanted debris. Control panels, glass, electrical wiring, and other delicate surfaces can all be safely cleaned with dry ice.
• It’s eco-friendly – Some or all of the media used in dry ice blasting can be left behind, flowing down public drains into sewer systems, lakes, and streams, or seeping into the soil. Dry ice blasting meets USDA, FDA and EPA guidelines and eliminates the expense of environmental cleanup.
• It’s safe for employees – With dry ice blasting, cleanup crews won’t be exposed to chemicals or grit media.
• It produces little secondary waste – With dry ice blasting, all you will need to clean is what you are trying to remove.
• It cleans better – Dry ice blasting simply does a better of job of cleaning equipment, both visually and at the microbe level.
• It doesn’t contaminate your equipment – Dry ice blasting leaves behind no water or chemical residue – which means no additional cleanup is needed.
• It gets everywhere – Dry ice blasting makes it easier to get into hard to reach nooks and crannies.
• It works quickly – Dry ice blasting works faster than other cleaning methods, which means less downtime.
• No disassembly is required – With dry ice blasting, your equipment can remain built and in place, which saves time and allows more frequent cleaning.
• It’s efficient – Dry ice blasting is not as labor intensive as cleaning with water, media, or chemicals.

Q. What industries use dry ice blasting?

A. Dry ice blasting is used across many industries, including but not limited to:

• automotive
• manufacturing
• industrial cleaning
• foundry/metal working
• petrochemical
• power generation
• food processing
• pulp and paper manufacture
• general maintenance

Whether you need to clean food processing equipment, electronics, electric motors, or just about any other type of industrial equipment, dry ice will do the job faster, safer, and more completely than just about any other method. Why not give it a try?

Need dry ice dry ice pellets in Rochester and Buffalo, NY? Irish Carbonic has them. Contact us today to learn more or place an order!

Let’s face it: we’re all a little stir crazy after three months of Zooming with relatives and staring at four walls. But how do we get out of the house in a safe way this summer?

Your best bet might be an RV or camping trip, according to some experts. If you’re ready to hit the road, be sure to pack your favorite food so it lasts. The best way to do that?

Use dry ice.

Dry ice makes it possible for you to transport frozen or perishable food in a sturdy, quality cooler, helping you to avoid the leaks, mess, and constant need for replenishment that comes with using regular ice (when dry ice melts, it simply turns to gas – no puddling involved!).

Dry ice tips for your summer RV or camping trip

• Always follow safe handling instructions for dry ice!
• Pre-chill your cooler. The night before you leave for your trip, put a sealed bag of regular ice in your cooler to chill things down before you pack it.
• Have enough on-hand. Plan on using 10 to 20 pounds of dry ice for every 24-hour period, depending upon the size of the ice chest. Dry Ice normally comes in 10-inch squares that weigh about 10 pounds each; plan to put one square per each 15 inches of ice chest length (that’s approximately two squares, weighing 20 pounds, for an average 40-quart cooler). For larger containers and longer travel times, multiply dry ice quantities by these rates.
• Pack frozen items first. Remember: Cold air SINKS, so put frozen meats and vegetables in the cooler first. These frozen items will take some extra time to thaw because they have been so cold, so plan accordingly.
• Pack essential items last. Keep milk, cheese, condiments, and any other foods you will need on top of the dry ice, where the air will be (slightly) warmer.
• Fill in the gaps. A full cooler will stay colder than a cooler with air pockets; one easy way to fill the voids is to place bottles of frozen water in between your food items. You can also use wadded newspaper.
• Choose your cooler wisely. The best storage container is a three-inch thick urethane insulated box.
• Insulate. Lining the inside of your ice chest with sheets of Styrofoam will increase the life of dry ice. Sublimation will vary depending on the temperature, air pressure and thickness of insulation; the more dry ice you have stored in the container, the longer it will last.
• Transport your dry ice safely. If transporting your dry ice by car or RV, try to insulate the ice chest with sleeping bags; this will make the dry ice last longer. If the dry ice is inside the car (not in the trunk) for more than 10 minutes, keep windows slightly open to avoid overexposure to CO2 (signs include rapid breathing, headache, and blue fingernails or lips). Open windows immediately if you or anyone in the car experiences these symptoms.

Need dry ice for your next RV or camping adventure? We have it! Visit one of our convenient locations to pick up yours today.

We all have that neighbor that goes all out on Christmas – you know, those Grizwold wannabees whose house you can see from space in satellite photos.

Sadly, you may never get to be that neighbor (or not so sadly, once you see their electric bill) – but that doesn’t mean you can’t own Halloween, with a little help from dry ice.

Imagine terrifying trick-or-treaters with a foggy-floored front porch, or delighting your party guests with a smoking punch bowl. Yes, dry ice is the perfect way to eat, drink, and be scary this Halloween – whether you want to make a smoking witch’s cauldron, a foggy Jack-O-Lantern, or even some creepy-but-cool boo bubbles.

Dry ice is inexpensive and easy to use and – just be sure to follow these simple precautions when handling it, and be sure to read these instructions to get the most dry ice fog for your buck!

Halloween is coming – creep it real with dry ice from Irish Carbonic.

You don’t need an enGRAVEd invitation – just stop in and stock up on dry ice at our convenient store locations today!

IRISH CARBONIC
1444 Clinton Street | Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 827-2727 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC AND PROPANE
535 Buffalo Road | Rochester, NY 14611
(585) 254-6844 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC
772 Marion Rd | Columbus, OH 43207
(800) 884-0072 | Map & Directions »

If you really want to up the ante on your Halloween displays and parties, there’s nothing better than creating creepy, foggy effects with dry ice. But how much dry ice will you need for this year’s holiday spooktacular, and how do you make that fog effect last as long as possible?

Tips For Dry Ice Shopping

Based on our experience, you can make a two-pound block of dry ice produce fog for about 20 minutes by following these four tips:

1. Use the right water-to-dry ice proportions – Aim to combine dry ice with water at a ratio of about one gallon of water to two pounds of dry ice. Use a thick, rectangular chunk of dry ice, and put it in a bowl large enough so that the water submerges the dry ice to a depth of about half an inch.
2. Use a deep bowl – Ideally, you want a thick, plastic bowl at least three times as deep as the dry ice block you’re using. A deep bowl will allow fog to gather before it spreads, which will generate a fog with a relatively uniform thickness.
3. Use a small fan – Dry ice fog effects will start to dissipate about two to three feet from the bowl; to extend that range and direct the fog, use a small fan on a low setting.
4. Recycle the water – If you want the dry ice effect to last, keep refreshing the water; stagnant water will not stay carbonated – the key to a great and lasting fog effect.

It is important to note that although the fog is just water and C02, you should always allow for adequate ventilation when using dry ice in general, and particularly for fog effects. And, as always, follow your dry ice safe handling instructions!

Be the ghostess with the mostest this Halloween – stop in and stock up on dry ice for your Halloween party at our convenient store locations! Contact us today to learn more.

IRISH CARBONIC
1444 Clinton Street | Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 827-2727 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC AND PROPANE
535 Buffalo Road | Rochester, NY 14611
(585) 254-6844 | Map & Directions »

Dry ice is some cool stuff – literally – at -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit. But what you can do with it is even cooler.

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide – the gas that makes your drinks fizzy (and the stuff you breathe out when you exhale). Dry ice does a lot of other things, too, including making some awesome displays for Halloween (more about that in a couple of weeks…stay tuned!).

Dry ice safety

Experimenting with dry ice can be fun for kids – but you need to be careful with it. Dry ice is so cold that it will actually burn you (like frostbite)! Always follow safe handling instructions for dry ice, including these:

• Never touch it with your fingers – use tongs or gloves
• Never put it in your mouth
• Never lock it in a closed or sealed container – it can explode as it sublimates (turns from a solid into a gas).

Fun dry ice experiments for kids

Here are some fun experiments your science-loving kids can try with dry ice. Have any more? Let us know!

• Disappearing ice – Place a regular ice cube and a cube of dry ice side by side on separate plates for one or two hours; when you return, the ice cube will leave water behind; the dry ice will have completely disappeared.
• Smoke bubbles – Add a few drops of liquid dish soap in a tall glass of water. Carefully place the dry ice into the soapy water using gloves or tongs. With the liquid dish soap in the mix, the soap in the water traps the CO2 and water vapor to form a bubble. Try adding food coloring to the water for colored bubbles.
• Floating dry ice bubble – Fill a deep baking pan or aquarium with about one inch of water, then add a few pieces of dry ice using tongs. The dry ice will “smoke” as the CO2 and water vapor combine. If you blow bubbles (from a bubble wand) into the tank, the bubbles will appear to float in midair inside of the container; they are actually floating on CO2.
• Bubbling beverages – Filling a bowl or pitcher with your juice of choice, then add a few pieces of dry ice using tongs. As your drink begins to bubble, the juice will become carbonated – just like soda.
• Inflate a balloon – Put a deflated balloon over the opening of one of your bottles and watch it grow. The balloon catches all the carbon dioxide gas as it sublimates. Since carbon dioxide is denser than air, it will also sink to the ground.

Need dry ice for your latest experiments? Irish Carbonic has it at our convenient Rochester and Buffalo locations. Contact us today to place your order!

As you might expect, summer weather and dry ice blasting don’t mix very well: hot summer conditions here in Buffalo and Rochester can make it difficult to protect the integrity of your dry ice supply, not to mention keeping cool the air needed to cleanly propel the dry ice chips during the blasting process.

To make matters worse, many manufacturers of dry ice blasting machines don’t give you much guidance when it comes to dry ice blasting in hot weather – the only specs they typically address in their literature are inlet temperature and dew point of the blast pressure air.

But here at Irish Carbonic, we’re all about the helping our dry ice customers (or even people who might one day become Irish Carbonic dry ice customers). So we’ve put together a list of seven tips to consider if you’re faced with a dry ice blasting task during hot weather.

Seven dry ice blasting tips for hot weather

1. Keep insulated containers closed and wrapped until you are ready to use them.
2. Avoid placing dry ice containers in direct sunlight.
3. Cover the insulated containers with a blanket for further sun protection and an extra measure of insulation.
4. Once you open the insulated dry ice containers, restore all the packing materials (including the plastic liner and cardboard topper) before re-closing the lid.
5. Consider staggering your dry ice deliveries during periods of extreme heating rather than getting the full delivery at once.
6. Install a permanently fixed or portable aftercooler dryer to your plant air system between the air source and the inlet of the dry ice blasting machine; the aftercooler will drop the air temperature enough to encourage moisture condensation in the heat exchanger, which will then be pulled out of the air stream by the water separator.
7. Install a coalescing filter after the water separator to remove any aerosolized oils and other contaminates not removed from the air stream by the water separator. This will help you avoid freeze ups in your dry ice blasting machine’s dosing mechanism.

Need dry ice for your ice-blasting project? Contact the dry ice pros at Irish Carbonic today for your next dry ice delivery!

With a little planning and a few blocks of dry ice, you can bring your favorite frozen foods just about anywhere – even on a summer camping trip.

But how long will that dry ice last?

As you might know, dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide, the same gas that we breathe) does an amazing job at not just keeping food cold, but actually keeping it frozen – and if it is packed the right way, it will last a surprisingly long time.

How long dry ice lasts depends primarily on two factors: how it is stored and the size of the brick. The following table for how long dry ice lasts is based on an average five-pound brick of dry ice that remains whole (not broken into pieces):

• In a cooler – 18-24 hours
• Outdoors – 3-5 hours
• In liquid – 15-45 minutes

To put it another way, if stored properly (that is, in an insulated cooler…see below), dry ice sublimates (turns from solid form to gas form) at a rate of about 5-10 pounds every 24 hours. That means that if you need about 15 pounds of dry ice for the next day, you need to buy 20-25 pounds the day before. This is why it’s important to buy your dry ice as close as possible to the day you’re going to need it. Plan accordingly!

Dry ice safety reminders

• Always follow dry ice safe handling practices!
• Store dry ice in a cooler with the loosely closed. NEVER use an airtight container: the build up of carbon dioxide gases as the dry ice subliminates could cause the container to burst!
• Keep the cooler in the coolest, most well-ventilated area possible.
• NEVER store dry ice in your freezer! It will cause the thermostat to shut the freezer down.
• NEVER leave dry ice in your closed vehicle or in a closed room. Also keep your windows down in the car as you are transporting any of this substance.
• To dispose of dry ice after storage, leave it outside or in a bucket of water in a well-ventilated area.

Need dry ice for your next summer camping trip? We’ve got you covered! Visit one of our convenient locations to pick up yours today.

You probably know dry ice as the cool stuff you add to a drink or bowl to create creepy Halloween fog – or the stuff that helps you ship fresh food overnight, or keep frozen things frozen for a camping trip. But did you know dry ice can be used to make wine?

Now you do!

The fact is, dry ice is used in several aspects of the wine making process. First and foremost, it is used to cool down bunches of grapes immediately after picking to inhibit spontaneous fermentation from wild yeasts (those yeasts ruin all the fun). Why use dry ice over water ice? Because dry ice doesn’t melt – it sublimates (turns straight from a solid to a gas). That means dry ice cools grapes without adding water to the mix; more water means a lower sugar concentration in the grape must (freshly crushed grapes), which means a lower alcohol concentration in the finished wine (and we wouldn’t want to do THAT now, would we?).

Dry ice is also used during the cold soak phase of the wine making process to keep grapes cool (“cold soaking” is pre-fermentation process used to extract color and flavor from grape skins; this extraction also occurs during fermentation, but many winemakers feel cold soaking brings out different, and beneficial, aspects of the grapes).

Lastly, carbon dioxide is used to create a hypoxic environment during carbonic maceration – a wine making process in which grapes are fermented prior to, rather than after, crushing (Beaujolais wines are made this way).

Just another reason to raise a glass to the many amazing uses for dry ice!

Need dry ice for your project or hobby? Irish Carbonic has it in all shapes and sizes. Come visit one of our convenient locations to pick up some dry ice today!