--- title: "Case Study: Limestone Monument Cleaning | Dustless Blasting®" description: This limestone monument, a memorial for astronaut Gus Grissom, needed a thorough cleaning. Dustless Blasting was ideal for stripping away the grime. image: https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hubfs/Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---3.jpg --- [![dustless-blasting-logo](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NEW_DBlogo_22_final-2.png?width=771&height=455&name=NEW_DBlogo_22_final-2.png "dustless-blasting-logo")](https://www.dustlessblasting.com) - [ Products ](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/products) ### Compressor-Ready Carts This innovative** compressor-ready cart **features a built-in air dryer and cooler, and comes equipped with three extra ports for your additional pneumatic tools. 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This monument serves as a memorial for astronaut Gus Grissom: a Mercury astronaut & America's **second man in space.** One of our contractors, who is actually Gus Grissom’s third cousin, had the opportunity to **clean up the monument,** which was covered with years of grime. Years of discoloration and grime had taken their toll on the appearance of the monument. The city tried to use pressure washing, but the high pressure chipped and damaged the delicate limestone.  Dustless Blasting cleaned the monument without damage. Containment was simple: plastic sheets on the ground collected the spent media.  The 185 CFM air compressor on the DB500 Mobile XL provided plenty of air volume, even 50 feet up. He even made the paper for a job well done. ## The Challenge Limestone is a porous, delicate substrate that can be damaged by other methods. The city first attempted to clean the monument with **pressure washing, which chipped away the soft stone** and damaged the lettering. Dustless Blasting was the ideal solution, not only because it cleaned the limestone without damage, but also because it **required no bulky containment. ** > "[The city] loved it, because they've seen water towers getting done, where people set up big containment structures. And you don't need to with this machine. It all falls right to the ground and it doesn't go anywhere, it doesn't make a big mess, it cleans wonderfully." > > *— **Heath Grissom**, ALE Surfacing LLC* ## Job Details - **Objective:** Remove discoloration and grime - **Location:** Mitchell, Indiana - **Substrate:** Limestone - **Equipment:** DB500 Mobile XL - **Air Compressor:** 185 CFM - **Nozzle:** SLV #6 - **Pressure:** 80 PSI with a large standoff distance - **Blasting Method:** Wet Blasting - **Abrasive:** 20 bags of 40/70 Crushed Glass - **Area:** 50 ft tall monument - **Time:** 2 days (including setup and cleanup) - **Containment:** Plastic sheets on ground to collect media   ## Job Profitability ##### Expenses 20 Bags of Media: $200 18 Gallons Diesel: $36 ##### Billed to Customer $4,000 ##### Total Profit $3,764 in 2 days ##### Want to make a living by cleaning up *your* community? [![Schedule Introduction Call](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652216/a32d4f18-841e-4855-94d8-50016e2ccedc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652216/a32d4f18-841e-4855-94d8-50016e2ccedc) ## Dustless Blasting for Stone Surfaces ![Gus-Grissom-Monument-Before-and-After-3-2](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hubfs/Gus-Grissom-Monument-Before-and-After-3-2.jpg "Gus-Grissom-Monument-Before-and-After-3-2") #### **Safe on Surfaces** **Pressure and flow are adjustable,** for cleaning a variety of surfaces including concrete, brick, limestone, and more. ![Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---1](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hubfs/Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---1.jpg "Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---1") #### **Minimal Containment** Since the dust plume is suppressed, you can **work safely near buildings**, roads, and people with minimal containment. ![Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---29-words](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hubfs/Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---29-words.jpg "Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---29-words") #### **No Water Runoff** Compared to pressure washing, Dustless Blasting cleans more quickly and **uses far less water. **[See Comparison.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkacNkNihUQ) ![Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---19](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---19.jpg?width=1272&name=Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---19.jpg "Heath-Allen-Grissom---ALE-Surfacing-LLC---Virgil-I-Gus-Grissom-memorial-rocket-monument---19") ** “When you do limestone, you want to start off at a large standoff distance, and then start stepping into a comfortable blasting zone.” **Heath Grissom** ALE Surfacing LLC # Download or Print This Case Study #### Want to share this case study with family, friends, and business partners?  Simply fill out the form to get a printable version. We'll also send a copy to your email so it's handy. ![Gus-Grissom-Monument-Case-Study-Preview-Cover](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/hubfs/Gus-Grissom-Monument-Case-Study-Preview-Cover.png "Gus-Grissom-Monument-Case-Study-Preview-Cover") Security / confidence line. You can also link to your [privacy policy](https://www.dustlessblasting.com/learn/case-studies/limestone-monument-cleaning#) page, to open in a new window. 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