Taking the LEAF BLOWER concept to the next level
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Taking the LEAF BLOWER concept to the next level
As most of you guys know, I along with several others here use LEAF BLOWERS to dry our cars after we wash them.
I was thinking about taking it one step further.
Buy a High-Velocity blower like this one and mount it permanently up in the rafters in my garage.
Then I could transition the outlet and run a 25-30FT hose down to the floor between the cars.
That way instead of holding the 6-pound Leaf Blower for 20-minutes while I dry the car I would just need to aim the end of the hose appropriately.
As long as I size it correctly or get a variable speed motor I should be OK and not have to worry about blowing the mirrors off the doors.
They’re really not that expensive. Grainger sells them for like 60-70 dollars.
They range in size from 100 CFM to over 1000.
What do you think ???
Shawn S
PS.... I already know I'm crazy so you don't have to tell me THAT.
PSS.... Mods, Please don't move this to the Detailing section just yet. I want some general input.
I was thinking about taking it one step further.
Buy a High-Velocity blower like this one and mount it permanently up in the rafters in my garage.
Then I could transition the outlet and run a 25-30FT hose down to the floor between the cars.
That way instead of holding the 6-pound Leaf Blower for 20-minutes while I dry the car I would just need to aim the end of the hose appropriately.
As long as I size it correctly or get a variable speed motor I should be OK and not have to worry about blowing the mirrors off the doors.
They’re really not that expensive. Grainger sells them for like 60-70 dollars.
They range in size from 100 CFM to over 1000.
What do you think ???
Shawn S
PS.... I already know I'm crazy so you don't have to tell me THAT.
PSS.... Mods, Please don't move this to the Detailing section just yet. I want some general input.
Trending Topics
Capo di Tutti Capi
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: North East, MD
20 minutes to dry with the leaf blower?
I thought an advantage was time and ease. Ixnay on the bloway.
I agree that you need to look at the ceiling mounted fan unit. To complete the ecological circle, you need to have its electricity provided by a wind driven generator. You can do it Shawn!
I thought an advantage was time and ease. Ixnay on the bloway.
I agree that you need to look at the ceiling mounted fan unit. To complete the ecological circle, you need to have its electricity provided by a wind driven generator. You can do it Shawn!
Administrator Alumnus
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 26,326
Likes: 131
From: Northwest IN
The concept is good, but will it work the way you're thinking? Do you think you'll really be able to aim it with a hose. Sounds like a pain in the arse.
I guess the only way to find out would be to try it.
Why not just buy a three or four of them, knock out the other wall in your garage and have a drive through car wash???
I guess the only way to find out would be to try it.
Why not just buy a three or four of them, knock out the other wall in your garage and have a drive through car wash???
Where is my super sauce?
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 1
From: Tick-Tock Tech
Originally posted by Scrib
Why not just buy a three or four of them, knock out the other wall in your garage and have a drive through car wash???
Why not just buy a three or four of them, knock out the other wall in your garage and have a drive through car wash???
I think it sounds like a great idea.
but speaking to the subject.......aim will be an issue, no?
Administrator Alumnus
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 26,326
Likes: 131
From: Northwest IN
Yeah, you do have a hose attached...
So I could see doing left to right aim OK, but what about up and down? If it's aimed right over the top of the car, how are you going to dry the front and back... The lower parts of the doors? Wheels?
It's a great idea, but I doubt you'll be successful in getting the whole car dried without rotating the car on a moving platform!
So I could see doing left to right aim OK, but what about up and down? If it's aimed right over the top of the car, how are you going to dry the front and back... The lower parts of the doors? Wheels?
It's a great idea, but I doubt you'll be successful in getting the whole car dried without rotating the car on a moving platform!
Cost Drivers!!!!
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,392
Likes: 1
From: burbs of philly
Originally posted by soopa
i was just thinkin bout this the other day...
i saw a blower like that, i think in Griots, for like $40 on sale.
zapata? aim? you will still have a hose attached to the fawker.
i was just thinkin bout this the other day...
i saw a blower like that, i think in Griots, for like $40 on sale.
zapata? aim? you will still have a hose attached to the fawker.
aaaaaaaaaaaaah
i just woke up 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Thanks for the input, and insults.
As for AIMING, I’m thinking a long flexible hose like something you use to vacuum out the pool.
Very flexible and movable.
If I attach a short (3-4 foot) wooden handle on the end to move and control the tip out over the car.
The very tip of the hose will have a soft edge on it in case I accidentally bump the paint.
Stay tuned, I think I’m gonna do this.
Shawn S
As for AIMING, I’m thinking a long flexible hose like something you use to vacuum out the pool.
Very flexible and movable.
If I attach a short (3-4 foot) wooden handle on the end to move and control the tip out over the car.
The very tip of the hose will have a soft edge on it in case I accidentally bump the paint.
Stay tuned, I think I’m gonna do this.
Shawn S
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Originally posted by Klamalama
20 minutes to dry with the leaf blower?
I thought an advantage was time and ease. Ixnay on the bloway.
20 minutes to dry with the leaf blower?
I thought an advantage was time and ease. Ixnay on the bloway.
My wheels take the longest, but it’s still much quicker and more effective on them then doing it by hand.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Originally posted by NSXNEXT
You're thinking way too small Shawn.
You're thinking way too small Shawn.
The neighbors might complain about the noise though.
Argh, Argh, Argh.....
Unregistered Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 45
From: New York
Yeah, I was gonna say just get yourself a decent sized air compressor...
Think about it-- you could use it to dry your car (with a decent air gun attachement) or you could use it for any air tools you might have.... not to mention powering a variety of other shit.....
Think about it-- you could use it to dry your car (with a decent air gun attachement) or you could use it for any air tools you might have.... not to mention powering a variety of other shit.....
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Originally posted by Tom2
Yeah, I was gonna say just get yourself a decent sized air compressor...
Think about it-- you could use it to dry your car (with a decent air gun attachement) or you could use it for any air tools you might have.... not to mention powering a variety of other shit.....
Yeah, I was gonna say just get yourself a decent sized air compressor...
Think about it-- you could use it to dry your car (with a decent air gun attachement) or you could use it for any air tools you might have.... not to mention powering a variety of other shit.....
A compressor is good for HIGH PRESSURE air delivery, but not HIGH VOLUME CFM (cubic feet per minute).
Mine is a 20-Gallon unit and I can empty the tank in about 5-minutes of steady use with the air gun attachment.
It takes 2-3 times as long to recharge the tank.
I think you would need a MUCH larger unit to get a useful volume and those suckers cost 500+ dollars. Mine was only about 200.
Shawn S
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Prototype #1 has been built & tested with some spare parts I found from my Shop-Vac & pool vacuum.
The Leaf Blower is CLEARLY not setup to push air through this much hose, but I just wanted to see what happened.
The blower I’m gonna buy this week shouldn’t have the same problem.
Shawn S
The Leaf Blower is CLEARLY not setup to push air through this much hose, but I just wanted to see what happened.
The blower I’m gonna buy this week shouldn’t have the same problem.
Shawn S
DC Cruiser
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 813
Likes: 4
From: Washington, DC
I personally think, after using my backpack gas leaf blower once or twice, that my California water-blade and terry towels do the job more quickly and easily. The one advantage to the leaf blower, however, is that it gets the water out of the tighter spots, like from the door handles, mirrors, etc. so that the water doesn't run and leave those nasty water marks.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Originally posted by greyjhu
I personally think, after using my backpack gas leaf blower once or twice, that my California water-blade and terry towels do the job more quickly and easily.
I personally think, after using my backpack gas leaf blower once or twice, that my California water-blade and terry towels do the job more quickly and easily.
I heard they tend to spit small amounts of OIL out the nozzle onto the car.
Not to mention you’ll probably go DEAF and pass out from the fumes.
Depending on when and how well the car was last Waxed/Polished will have a BIG effect on how well the blower works.
I know in the wintertime when my car doesn’t get polished much, the blower doesn’t work well as in the summer time.
Shawn S
Suzuka Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,940
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Originally posted by Shawn S
I heard they tend to spit small amounts of OIL out the nozzle onto the car.
I heard they tend to spit small amounts of OIL out the nozzle onto the car.
