---

Application Overview

The man-made "volcano' in front of a major Las Vegas hotel is a well known landmark and popular tourist attraction. The huge structure – approx. 60 ft. high and 100 ft. across the top – provides a spectacular show for passersby, with its leaping flames and gushing water. Not surprisingly, the repeated eruptions take a toll on the painted surface of the volcano, which has been stripped and recoated several times. ARMEX has been used successfully to get the job done quickly and safely.

Substrate

The volcano is made of artificial stone that is painted to resemble the real thing.

Special Concerns

The volcano is located in a very busy area of the city. Ensuring the safety of passersby and the continued smooth flow of traffic were important considerations, as were a quick turn-around time and minimal clean-up.

Previous Methods

ARMEX has been used for several years to clean the structure. The most recent cleaning was followed by a different recoating process that included a new-generation water-proof and fireproof coating.

Project Schedule

The volcano was to be shut down for ten days, with four days dedicated to cleaning with ARMEX.

Equipment Specifications

An Accustrip System 12SX was used with ARMEX® Maintenance Formula XL blasted at 80 psi with a #6 ARMEX® Profile Performance Nozzle. One pallet (1-1/4 tons) of media was used.

Containment ARMEX was blasted wet and no containment was needed. Residue and spent media were washed into the volcano's surrounding moat, which has a pH problem. The addition of ARMEX to the moat has a beneficial effect on pH.

Results/Benefits Summary

One man rappelling down the side of the volcano spent four days depainting and removing dirt, grime and moss. A nearby barge held the Accustrip equipment and media; compressors were located on an island off to the side of the structure.

In 1992, the Tiffin Historic Trust of Tiffin, Ohio, was facing a difficult problem: How to rehabilitate a historic bronze statue of William Harvey Gibson (Civil War general and former county resident) in time for a rededication ceremony at the end of the summer. The thirty-foot monument, which includes a marble base, several bronze plaques, and two bronze figures, stands in the town square outside the Seneca County Courthouse and is surrounded by ornamental gardens and shade trees. The Historic Trust wanted to remove years of tarnish, corrosion, grit, and stains from the statue and plaques, as well as rust stains, discoloration, and some graffiti from the marble base.

Sandblasting and chemical stripping were considered and then rejected because of time, cost, safety, and environmental considerations. Using either of these processes on-site posed too high a danger to pedestrians, nearby businesses, and the surrounding landscape. Off-site cleaning would mean dismantling and moving the statue to a safe treatment site, wasting valuable time.

Intrigued by the project, representatives from the nearby Church & Dwight Old Fort Plant contacted Clair Forrest, President of the Tiffin Historic Trust, to offer their technical expertise. They described ARMEX® Cleaning and Coating Removal Systems and offered to help Tiffin meet its deadline. An ARMEX Expert, Mike Doty was brought in to help with the project. Since safety was a key issue, Forrest was happy to hear Doty explain that the process could be safely used in the park.

Before starting to work on the statue, the marble base was wrapped and nearby flowerbeds were covered with plastic sheeting. Then using ARMEX Maintenance Formula XL and a lift truck provided by the town, workers cleaned years of accumulated green patina and brown discoloration, or "antiquing," from the statue and plaques, returning them to their original uniform soft bronze color. Next, ARMEX made quick work of rust satins and graffiti on the marble base. Cleanup was handled by the local fire company, which simply hosed away the residue. When cleanup was complete, ARMEX personnel provided technical guidance in choosing an appropriate coating to prevent further corrosion.

The transformation was amazing. One long-time Tiffin resident remarked, "I've been walking by this statue for years and this is the first time I've noticed that he's wearing a vest!"

And a year later, the effectiveness of ARMEX Cleaning and Coating Removal Systems is still evident. In a recent letter to Mike Doty, Clair Forrest reflected, "Without question, we are extremely pleased with the results. The statue looks as new as the day it was dedicated in 1906, and will . . . for a long time."