Shawn S

I laughed like the rest of you when I read about a member here who said they dry their car with a LEAF BLOWER.

BUT………………………

Since I bought my new RIMS, they are a royal PAIN IN THE ASS to dry and clean.
I’ll be firing this sucker up this weekend and see if it’s all hype or if it really works.
It was only 38-bucks and has a flexible pipe so it should work well for what I want to do.

I have a GAS powered one out in the garage, but I heard they are not good to use on a car because they tend to spew OIL with the air.
Not to mention I’ll fume myself out if I’m washing the car with the garage door closed.

I’ll let you know if it works or not.

Shawn S

mattg

compressed air is the best way to dry rims etc. but it can't be had for $38. maybe the leaf blower is the way.

Scooter

hold up a sec...u think the blower will b powerful enough to blow the water completely off the rim??? i would think on Shawn's chrome, water spots r the biggest enemy...and what better to amplify the ugliness than to have chrome...i dunno...i hope it works, but i'm kinda the pessimist here

Achance

get in the car and drive it around the block and then use a shammy

Shawn S

I don’t expect to completely dry the wheels and call it a day.
There’s just SO many nooks & cranny’s that the water can hide and around the Lugs that I want to get a head start and then finish with a cotton towel or my “Absorber”.

I also got it to “BLAST” the other areas of the car that water tends to “hide” like the mirrors, front grill, door handles, wipers, splashguards & gas filler door.

Shawn S

EricL

A giant shop-vac or other "killer vacuum cleaner" with exhaust will blow the water off the car in seconds...

The advantage of a "pro" shop-vac, etc., is the nice air filter that keeps it from blowing abrasive particles at (or into) the car's finish.

Now, if they were only cheaper...

Rescuer

have somebody take a pic of you while your using the air blower so we can see just how dumb it looks

j/k

nvpscore

DUDE YOU COPIED ME, i got the same exact leaf blower 3 months ago, GREAT TIP isnt it SHAWN????

I love mine

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

I've been using mine for months now and I don't have even one swirl mark...and my car is going on 3 years old.

Just be sure to clean out under the car before you fire that puppy up. No sense kicking up crap from the ground onto that clean car.

Scrib

You dry the whole car with a leaf blower??? How long does that take?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I dry the whole car with a leaf blower as well. Black & Decker baby!! Not that one though!! Anyway, it takes about 10 min. or so, but you can really get all the cracks and everything dry, like the doorsills, under the door handles, under the sidemolding, etc.....

Scrib

Hmmm... Maybe I'm gonna have to take a trip to Home Depot this weekend. Which Black & Decker are you using juniorbean?

I don't want a big bulky one, that's for sure. And crap, I'm only 5'8"... It's gonna be a bitch drying the top og the car!

Shawn S

They had about FOUR different ones to choose from when I was there last night.
TWO cheaper ones and ONE more expensive (55-bucks I think) that had a vacuum system with a bag.
That one went to 200MPH, the one I got only does 140MPH.
The box felt REAL heavy though and I didn’t feel like lugging that sucker around.
And I liked the flexible pipe on this one.

Shawn S

Scrib

Thanks Shawn. I'll have to go this weekend and check it out. Weight is my main concern. That and dropping the thing on my car while drying it!

It'd be nice if it came with various attachments as well...

Shawn S

Actually, if it works I may be fashioning some “home brew” accessories on my own.

I’m thinking of something like a 4-FOOT extension with a 90-Degree elbow on the end for doing the roof and wiper area of the car easily.
I’m pretty tall, 6’-0”, but still don’t want to be reaching out over the car.

Another idea, maybe a restricting nozzle on the end that tapers down to 1” or so for some HIGH VELOCITY wheel drying.

I also though about a rubber tip to protect if I accidentally smacked the paint with it.

I guess by the time I’m done it will look like a new instrument for the BLUE MAN GROUP band.
Honey, where did you put the PVC glue ???

Shawn S

Scrib

My thoughts exactly. If it turns out this is something that I like, I may look into rigging up some attachments as well... I wonder if they sell the blowers online (Home Depot, etc)? I could order it and it'd be waiting for me at home when I return!

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Already thought of that. Go out and buy some rubber hose, I can't remember what size I got. I think it might have been windshield washer hose. Split it down the middle and use some glue to glue it around the end of the plastic nozzle. Works great.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I'll have to check on that. It's bigger then Shawn's, that's for sure. I'm 5' 5" and I don't have a problem with it... so it can't be too much bigger and since you're taller then me, you shouldn't have a problem either. It's also a little older, I think we bought it about 2 years ago......

nvpscore

Ya, i have an electric one, weighs 4 lbs and shoots at 200 mph, it blows off all water I aim at, gets everything out of cracks, and then you can just use ONE, yes ONE small towel to get the little water left over.

Great TOOL

Nick