rob-2

Well someone here said they picked up a leaf blower to dry off their car. I first thought it was crazy, but as I got thinking I thought it was a great idea. I picked one up for $16 here - http://jackstoolshed.zoovy.com/c=ebX...er_Blower.html

It arrived and moves a lot of air. It's rated at 200mph. I'm going to test it out later this week and report back.

It was $26 delivered.

Phrosttz0

yep they work great, essentially the same thing as the end of the carwashes..

FL3.2TL

Wow, 200MPH? Hot damn. I would still use the "absorber" or any of sort to clean the body afterward. Just to make sure no water spots are left ( water marks are bitch to take out ), and just to clean and small residue. Good idea tho!

totaledTL

Lol, I bet your neighbors will get a few laughs-

rob-2

I bet... might even have some asking for car washes.

illmat1k

iTrader: (1)

lol I've been using a leaf blower to get rid off all the excess water first. I been using this method for the past 4-5 years since my neighbor always used to and his car's always came out great. Its a very old method, but its the best method around. And I would recommend using a shammy afterward.

Blaze.45

Meh, worth a try @ $25 shipped.

I wash my car every week or two anyway... this will help to minimize the deterioration of the clear coat.

Now if they only made a leaf blower that reliably waxes/polishes the car too. 'Touchless wax' products are a joke, and should never touch a proud A'ziner's ride... I better not see any of you coming out of the local gas station car-wash! :p

DC3328

iTrader: (22)

hmmm cant wait for the review

CL-Slick

iTrader: (7)

I used a leaf blower before. My dad laughed at me until he saw how well it worked.

harminder247

iTrader: (1)

Everyone laughs at me as is so im going to start doing this now. This way they will have a reason to laugh

harminder247

iTrader: (1)

BUT DUDE those car washes at the gas station are SOO COOL. They wash the car while YOUR IN IT!!!!

eleventure

+1 on the leaf blower. Its actually better than drying by hand. Its able to get the water out of the small little groove that a rag or chamois us unable to get to. Also, its ideal to have if you have aftermarket rims with plenty spokes.
I didnt know that leaf blowers were so cheap. I might have to pick on up for myself.

ChrisQ1980

I've been using a leaf blower for a few years now. Great price on that one there Rob. Mine is electric rated at 235mph. lol I use an open nozzle to sheet most of the water off, then use the blower on the car and the jams. Mist the car with Mequires Ultimate QD and dry with my waffle weave towel.

chrismeoli

been doing this forever, it is good as sometimes the shammys get dirt and you end up putting the dirt back onto the clean paint. gets everywhere nice, inside the gas cap area, hood channels, door jambs, and under the handles and inside the side mirrors good

01tl4tl

Another longtime user here- neighbors thought is was odd until they tried it
Now everyone is on the air~

Use it to get the water out of the door channel and body molding, along the hood openings and trunk.
Careful around the headlights and front grill- not meant for 200 mph use!
Step back a few feet and play nice!
Gets the wheels and brakes nicely for you too
The mirrors- of course- the mirrors!!

I also use the MrClean Auto-Dry, basically a Brita filter for the hose, it gives a spot free filtered rinse, then use the air blower, and if a drop or drip remains- its not going to leave a water stain!

QD sprays are meant for touch-up use between waxing- every 3 to 6 months the car needs a full waxing to protect the finish
See Off Topic area Wash and Wax, tons of tips there

bigeshorte45

iTrader: (3)

haha, i did this the past summer using my dads leaf blower... the one that looks like a jet pack and straps on ur back... dries the car sooo much easier...

rob-2

This is a small unit, a little smaller then I thought it would be. I was able to use this to remove about 70-80% of the water on the car. The glass was the best with the flat surfaces requiring a rag to ensure there were no water spots.

This made washing the car a lot easier.

01tl4tl

time to wax the car again rob! and the mrclean really is worth having just for its rinse

Caution to everyone- leaf blowers are LOUDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!
Wear hearing protection!!

You will be waving the unit around and holding and aiming it in directions far different that its design--- allowing more noise to be directed at the user

You want to enjoy music all your life~ protect your ears now

rob-2

But but, I just waxed it 3-4 months ago...

Good caution, I did have some ringing in my ears afterwards, but thought nothing off it. I'll bust out the ear plugs next time.

Blaze.45

Hmmm.. never thought of the hearing thing.

So Rob, is this thing powerful enough? I haven't received mine yet, although I did pickup the Mr.Clean wash and dry funny plastic gun thing from Walmart yesterday ($14.00).

rob-2

Enough to a hard thing to quantify. It removes about 3/4 of the water, if you want 100% you'll need a larger unit.

Blaze.45

Thanks for the report. Maybe a custom nozzle to concentrate the air flow is something to consider.

As for the Mr. Clean thing, I noticed it came with a sample concentrated liquid soap thing. Has anyone used this with other brand car wash concentrated soaps?

jayunsplanet

iTrader: (1)

Yea, it's not unusual. Detailers use this method all the time -- sometimes with a combination blower/vacuum (expensive, though).

Spot-free rinse is also nice -- either some car wash mix rinse stuff... or something that softens water like an inline filter.

Bones45

The blowers work really well, you just look like a mental patient while doing it. I have an electric blower---it works well for leaves, but not so great on the car.


I usually just use the water blade ( never has scratched anything) and couple of towels to finish up. If your car is clayed and waxed, the drying is alot easier.

Jake 6MT

iTrader: (1)

I used the leaf blower today and it was great until I got to the roof. haha thats a weird angle so I just pulled out the towels. Great way to beat the sun to drying the car though. and the rims came out great

01tl4tl

you can use other soap in mrclean- just water it down to the same thinness as the sample or it plugs the sprayer jet

You should be waxing your car every 4-6 months with quality stuff
Claybar- color cleaner-polishing compounds to remove swirls and scratches-
then a final wax layer to seal it all in!

Note that most leaf blowers are approx 130+ decibels-
thats the same as standing behind a 747 at takeoff power!
or next to the speakers at a concert

Blaze.45

I polish and wax every 2 months with Tech Wax... long story short when it came to a Class C fireworks demo I attended, one of the 500g 32shot cakes tipped over and shot at my car (which we were all hiding behind)... The entire time I watched my car take each shot and deflect it, I was cursing like a f***ing madman.

When it was all over, I looked at the damage and there were 2" impact spots, although everyone of the them rubbed off with my thumb and never broke the protective coat.

I still came down like a hammer on the demo company... got free shit out of it.

-Chris