Laser Cleaning
Buyer's Guide
Buyer's Guide
Not all pulsed lasers are the same. Pulse energy — measured in millijoules — determines what your machine can clean without damaging the material beneath. This guide helps you choose the right machine and the right package for your application.
// 01 — The Decision That Matters Most
Which Pulse Energy Is Right for You?
Pulse energy controls how aggressively each burst hits the surface. More millijoules means more power per pulse — effective on harder contaminants, but too much on the wrong material causes damage. We carry three configurations to cover the full range of real-world applications.
Wood Specialist
5mJ
300W · 16ft Cable · Air-Cooled · *Immediate Dispatch
Gentle Precision
Engineered for wood and delicate surfaces where protecting the substrate is the priority. Delivers enough energy to lift contaminants without driving heat into the grain or fiber structure beneath.
- Paint removal from wood — thick, layered paint removed without scorching or grain damage
- Stain removal from wood — penetrating stains lifted without bleaching or fiber damage
- Varnish & finish stripping — antiques, architectural trim, decorative furniture
- Carved or ornamental wood — precise scan control prevents over-cleaning on detail work
- Rust removal from steel — effective, but slower than the 15mJ and 50mJ
- Paint removal from metal — capable, but slower than the 15mJ and 50mJ; use 15mJ or 50mJ if throughput matters
General Purpose
15mJ
300W · 16ft Cable · Air-Cooled · *Immediate Dispatch
The Workhorse
The most versatile machine in the lineup. Purpose-built for rust, paint on metal, mill scale, and surface prep — the core applications that drive most laser cleaning investments.
- Rust removal from steel — light flash rust to heavy oxide, highly effective
- Paint stripping from metal — automotive, structural, industrial
- Mill scale & weld prep — pre-weld and pre-coat surface preparation
- Stain removal from wood — effective with proper technique and settings
- Paint removal from wood — higher pulse energy risks grain damage; the 5mJ is the right choice
- Heavy industrial scale at volume — consider the 50mJ for throughput-critical applications
Industrial
50mJ
500W · 32ft Cable · Air-Cooled · *Immediate Dispatch
Industrial Power
Everything the 15mJ does — faster, harder, at industrial scale. 3× the pulse energy means heavier contaminants, denser oxide layers, and significantly higher throughput. Air-cooled at 61 lbs. No water cooling required.
- Heavy rust & mill scale at speed — significantly faster coverage on thick oxide than the 15mJ
- Paint removal from metal — significantly faster than the 15mJ; the clear choice for production-volume coating removal
- Aerospace, automotive & mold prep — tooling, precision surfaces, high-value parts
- Industrial coating removal — epoxies, primers, thick multi-layer paint systems
- Weld prep & post-weld cleanup — structural fabrication and precision applications
- All 15mJ applications — at higher throughput and greater depth of cleaning
- Delicate wood or thin substrates — use the 5mJ or 15mJ instead
| Application | 5mJ — Wood | 15mJ — General | 50mJ — Industrial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint removal — wood | ✓ | — | — |
| Stain & varnish removal — wood | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Rust removal — steel | ✓ slower | ✓ | ✓✓ faster |
| Paint stripping — metal | ✓ slower | ✓ | ✓✓ faster |
| Mill scale & weld prep | — | ✓ | ✓✓ faster |
| Molds, tooling, aerospace | — | ✓ | ✓✓ preferred |
| High-volume throughput | — | ✓ | ✓✓ significantly higher |