Abstract: Metal surfaces that join together such as welded joints of foundations, hatches, railings, stanchions, decks, bulkheads and the like, crack, rust and corrode, occasionally to the point of failure, requiring repairs to be accomplished by welding. Before repair welding, the metal surfaces must be cleaned and may be cleaned using the dry ice (CO2) blasting process of the present invention. The dry ice cleaning process of the present invention eliminates secondary environmentally hazardous waste streams and moisture, leaving the cleaned metal surfaces dry and immediately prepared for welding operations and/or preservation having removed contaminents from the surface and substrate of the metal as is proven by conductivity testing.