Hand lances are used primarily to perform detail trim work and small projects where the standard robotic hydrodemolition equipment cannot access.  A hand lance will typically remove between 2% and 5% the volume of concrete compared to robotic hydrodemolition unit.  The hand lance operates at 36,000-psi and 3 gpm while the robotic unit operates at 36,000-psi and 32 gpm.  Hand lances use between one and five nozzles, which rotate at up to 3,000 rpm.  Compared to the robotic units, hand lances are inefficient, however they perform a very important role in that detail and trim work can be performed using this tool thus eliminating the use of mechanical removal methods.

Hand lances are also used for membrane removal and for surface cleaning.