The handheld rust removal laser, which makes rust literally evaporate. I could not believe what I was seeing when I first came across this device. A laser that cleanly removes rust and other surface contaminants without eating away the metal underneath. When aimed at the metal surface, the dirt layer and any oxides underneath will absorb the energy and evaporate. The metal underneath will absorb the laser energy leaving nothing, but a clean surface ready for welding and painting. So how does it work? Well, the system uses short pulses of laser light at a thousand watts producing microplasma bursts along with thermal pressure and shockwaves to sublimate the rust and separate it from the metal without damaging the piece. Now, I know what you're thinking because I wondered it myself and the answer is no. This will not vaporize human flesh. Amazingly aiming the laser at your finger doesn't even hurt at all.

Laser Cleaning Machine for Rust Removal

Material removal is halted when the laser is applied to a clean surface because it only sublimates rust. Sublimation is the act of changing the state of metal to a gas form. Skipping the liquid phase. The device can be set for a certain depth to skim away surface rust, paint and filler leaving a prepared surface for work. What would have normally taken someone hours to clean and prepare for welding or painting is now done in no time at all.

Rust Removal

What makes this laser device even better is the fact that it has an onboard Hoover system that immediately sucks up the vaporized rust making the entire rust removal process clean and simple. Unfortunately, there is a rather large drawback, the cost. This state of the art device is not sitting on some retail shelf somewhere for $100. The cheapest version on the market is a much smaller, less powerful 20-watt unit that starts at around $80,000. And the thousand-watt unit will set you back nearly a half a million dollars. So it's fair to say that laser rust removal is probably out of the reach of most panel beaters and mechanics trying to restore cars. But I recall in the 80s that computer CD-ROM drives were selling for $50,000 and it was just a few years later that we were installing them in PCs for under a thousand. So give it a few years and I bet you'll be able to buy this device at your local hardware store for Father's Day.

DIHORSE laser cleaning machine for metal and nonmetal: