Leaf Blower to dry

The other week I was at walmart and picked up an electric weed eater leaf blower for about 30 dollars. I finally got the chance to use it. The blower is rated to 200 mph.


I will say, that it did help that my car was wearing a coat of mystery and the water just flew off. I'll see how it does with a car that doesn't have a nice coat of wax.


I think it did an excellent job on my vehicle. I think I've found the best way to dry now. However, my neighbors probably think I am crazy.

Just wanted to share

 

I always use a leaf blower when I dry. I don't have to as much anymore due to the great CR Spotless system but the leaf blower is the only way to go. It also gets all the water out of all the little crevices that a MF just can't reach.

 

That's the main reason I bought one. It also gets a majority of the water off the car and I can finish drying it without completely soaking my WW towels.

 

Im gonna have to get one of these, I hate not getting all the water in the cracks when I dry the car

 

I had better luck with my Ridgid shop vac than with my leaf blower. The air is much more concentrated...

 

Some LSP's (most sealants, and quite a few waxes) will break the water up into tiny drops (when hit with an air stream) that are then very hard to blow off. Other LSP's (good waxes that are pretty fresh) will keep the drops from breaking up and blow off the car easily.

Cars that don't have any LSP on them at all are generally pretty easy to blow dry. The water sheets off pretty well.

 

Chemical Guys came back with their electric blow, rubber head on it so not to scratch... ELECTRIC BLOWER JETSPEED DRYER BLOW DRYER

 

since i am not a mobile detailer, i just use my shop vac. i have the small craftsman and a set of attachments from home depot that work well. still have some issues under the mirrors for some reason.

 

The really contaminated cars, like my TSX makes it hard to blow dry, the water sticks and drags on the paint....

I really need to do a full restoration on that sucker

 

same here, what I do is carry a mf towel while I dry in my pocket, and do a panel at a time. That way it doesn't leave any thing. If you don't go over with it a towel and you don't have a water de-ionizer you just get water spots but smaller.

 

I use a cordless leaf blower all the time, and it works well until it bgins to run out of juice...really need a mains powered version.

I find its terrible on cars with no decent LSP though, as the water just wont run off.

 

I've been using a leaf blower for a couple of years now. I think it's the only way to go. I use to use an air compressor to blow the water out of hard to get places but a leaf does that and it's able to blow most of the water off your paint. I have tried using my 5HP shop vac before but a leaf blower is much easier to use IMO.

 

We got a very similar one to the Chemical Guys one available here in SA for about $11



Works a treat for blowing water out of crevices, etc....Fantastic for the price IMO :applause2:

 

I do have a little blower that I use most of the time. I also have a big 72cc backpack blower and when I use It. It's like using a foam gun, So much fun...:thumb:

 

I have the same machine..been using it for 2 years now..it does a great job at getting water out of crevices and blowing the paint dry...I just use a MF after to blot what is remaining....works great for engine details also...wash the engine and blow it off....

AL

 

Who makes this? I need one!

 

found it!

Ultra High-Speed Compact Electric Power Blower

 

Here's another one for about $10:

ELECTRIC PORTABLE BLOWER - GARDEN - DRIVEWAY | Lawn / Garden

I don't think it is as well made as my Cycle Dry but for $10 it's hard to beat.

I don't use these little blowers to do the whole car, but just to blow water off the wheels/tires and out of nooks and crannies.

 

i just bought one of these and tested it out today

went with a ryobi cordless electric. i found taking the long neck off made it much easier to use

i have been using WW's and then following up with stoner gust to get water out of the panel gaps, and especially my 3 piece wheels which are impossible to dry

the leaf blower worked so well, my car is wearing vic red and it sheeted off so easily. worked top to bottom and then following up with a QD and MF as per usual. It also helped pick up just a few bits of water left over around panel egdes

all in all, took me under 10mins

im converted!!

 

i don't consider a leaf blower as a complete and dependent means of drying a car, but more of an aid to help get into tight spots where water hides (head/tail lights, seams, wheels/tires, gas cap, windshield vent/cowling/wipers, in/around emblems, door hinges, etc, etc)...