Just wondering if we can use something like this:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100615529

to blow dust of the paint before we do NRSW?

If so, which product is best? Will dust be blown away without scratching?

 

I have used leaf blower on my S2000, its very good, took most of the water on my window and "hidden" places off. I just dont want to drop that sucker right on my fender (s2000 fender cost about 1400 to replace) but i think im going to try it on my TL when i do my 1st car wash!!

 

No problem with blowing dust off, great idea actually! But as mentioned, be careful of the cord when reaching, and make sure ya have a good grip on that blower. Dropping it would be terrible!
(If you have a compressor with a soft tip nozzle, consider using that. Much safer, and is really able to get into tight spots easier)

 

Never tried it for dust but I did try it for blowing off excess water and it was more effort that it was worth. I could dry faster with 2 WW towels than with it and way less setup/takedown.

If waxing etc I WW dry then blow out the hidden water with the soft tip nozzle on the compressor.

 

i use my compressor every time i wash/dry...after i have dried the car i go back over the car with my compressor set to 60psi and blow out the mirrors, lights, any trim and the window seals...then wipe down again...cuts down on 95% of the water blow out when i hit the road...

 

I use one often for drying those hidden areas where water lingers and for my wheels. It works great

 

I'd be too worried about blowing errant pebbles and sand againt the car.

I WW dry then drive around the block to help the "hidden" water from its hiding place. I then finish drying.

 

after you drove around the block you picked up dust and debris and now you have wiped that into your paint....once you leave the safe confines of your garage, i wouldnt wipe the car down again, unless i was using a quick detail product....

 

hmm..very interesting..I'll give it a try for drying as well...

They have the portable one though, with adapter or battery, which is obviously less powerful.., but it would be less risky to drop or mess up the cable against the car.....

Can anyone remember where you purchased this blower?

I checked Target and Home Depot. Not sure if there is other places I should check.

 

Another tip is after your final rinse (and the hose is off) open your rear deck, and hood. This will drain excessive beading/puddles while you dry the verticals....

 

Using a leaf blower for dust has been hit and miss for me. I think the car duster is more efficient IMO. Your car really needs to be outside when performing this step. Otherwise, you will kickup the dust in your garage and create more work for yourself.

I just love using the blower when drying the car after a wash. I have stopped using a MF to dry my cars. I'll use a MF and QD after using the blower.

 

Great idea for water blowout. This would be exactly what I would do if I had a house..(apt. life sucks)

As for the leaf blower idea...all I know is when I was growing up, my parents always used to make fun of our neighbor who would blow off his truck after washing it. And I agree with them...it looks ridiculous.

 

I use a leaf-blower to dry off my car, but that's after I use the waterblade to get most of it off.

 

I used to use the blade, then got worried about anything in contact with the TL surface I worked to get gleaming, so I went back to the old method of leaf blower.

Now I use MrClean auto sprayer with filter rinse to final rinse the car- then the leaf blower and a drive to get the brakes dry...great combo IMO

 

Exactly. This is what's holding me up. People think I am a maniac already for using Optimum NR, using a sprayer and washing my car in the apartment garage. Using a leaf blower will definitely make them think there is something wrong with me...uuughh I can't wait to buy my own house...

 

I once used the leaf blower to dry off the car after washing it. It worked good.

 

handy911. Who cares? These are the same people that wonder why their car is dull and full of swirls............Yours is shiny and swirl free.

 

isnt a leaf blower a LEAF BLOWER . . .

good idea though

 

Cordless Leaf Blower? I never thought of that!
Looks like a great idea to me.

Is this thing powerful enough? Will it last long enough?

 

Quick Tip, this DOES NOT come with a battery. There is one on Amazon with great reviews that comes with 2 batteries in the $70 range. Amazon one is probably a better bet in the end price wise, unless you have Ryobi batteries around that still hold a charge.

 

best time that is handy is of course in the Fall.

 

mine is electric, i plug it into the garage and use it, its kinda heavy, i uses 2 hand so it doesnt get drop on my car, by car i think its better than drying my car even with micro fiber towel which i will use at the end to touch up.

 

One hidden water tip ... fold your mirrors in when your starting to dry your car .. it will release a lot of that water that hides in there and you can't even blow out with a compressor.

Here is the tools I use




The long one I have added a piece of Tygon tubing so it won't scratch.

 

I've been using a leaf blower for years and it works perfect. Gets all the water out of the nooks and crannies and does a great job at drying rims.

 

haha, a leaf blower does make you look ridiculous. although it is a good idea, i wouldnt want to be caught using it on the car. its like using a super soaker to water my grass, looks ridiculous

 

Easy to dry car > "looking ridiculous"

Are you self conscious about your hump too?

 

now that i am completely anal about keeping my car polished and protected, i have now started to use my compressor to blow dust off my car after it sat in my garage over night waiting to be spray waxed the next day....i spray off any dust on each panel right before i hit it with the spary wax....that way i dont wipe dust and swirl my paint....which sometimes just cant be avoided, but i can keep it to a minimum...

 

I never actually thought about doing this myself, but it makes sense...i guess.

 

for me it is really easy using my leaf blower b/c its gas, no cords to worry about and it blows up to 170 mph to get all that stubborn water out...I do have to admit though, it makes me get some weird looks from the neighbors

 

hmmm maybe i should try... would it scratch the paint though..

 

Hahaha. I laughed out loud.

 

An air compressor or a wet/dry vac that doubles as a blower would work. I personally use the wet/dry vac myself.

 

i find that with a wet/dry vac that the air-flow isn't powerful enough to do it efficently

 

Ah, well the air compressor would be your best bet then. Removing all the water from the crevices/cracks aren't all that important for me. It'll be even less of a problem when I purchase my CRSpotless system, hehe.

 

You would be surprised what the extra minutes spent really drying the car off well- how much they pay off in the long run
Once you get into detailing the TL and it looks really nice, you want to keep it that way- and its not hard if you do a little here and there.

After the leaf blower, I go for a quick run to dry the brake pads and rotors so they dont get surface rust

Wipe the doorsills,frames and door edges down, since all the water runs across them, Some Quick Detailer spray wax helps keep them clean for you

Take time to check under the door and clear the drain holes!
Same on trunk,hood and Sunroof drains especially
This is where a small compressor comes in really handy- shoot air thru all the tubes to keep them clean and clear

The neighbors used to think it was strange- until I got them doing it on their cars too! Safer than a towel or silicone blade, I combine with MrClean spot free rinse filter and the Optimal carnuba/synthetic blend spray wax for a perfect finish.

Now the neighbors think I got a NEW car, and its still my same ol 01TL

 

Leaf Blower is an absolute must after washing.......I wouldn't use if before to blow dust off because you risk scratching the clear coat by blowing particals across the surface of the car! If you have good polish....not wax on the car, once it's wet the water should bead nicely and blowing it off is an excellent Idea. I use a gas powered blower...no cord....and get 90% of the water off. It is excellent for the glass windows as it drys them without having to wipe them down.....great for cracks and trim and side mirrors.....Don't use any of those "blades"......if you have any thing on the car you are just dragging it across the clear coat......That's also why I woiuldn't use any wax product...wax contains some abrasive material in it and even if it says ok for clear coats....it's not......wax also melts in the sun and melts off your car.......Polish, Polish Polish......If you are really into detailing....and I assume anyone reading about using a blower on their is then there's only one answer.....Zaino...the stuff is sweet......no I don't work for them in any way......just one car nut to another!

 

^^ I think you have polish and sealant confused also polishes are abrasive .. waxes / sealants aren't but can contain chemical cleaners.

 

A leaf blower is not necessarily a must-have after washing. Using it before a wash is sort of a wasted step and time. Also, blowing dust across the surface of a car will not cause swirls and this goes the same for pressure-washing a vehicle (when used correctly). Wax and/or sealant is what protects your vehicle from the elements and causes water to bead and/or sheet. Wax and/or sealant also does not have any abrasive properties like polishes do. Polish in itself is for paint correction and when polish is applied, it tends to share the same properties as a waxed and/or sealed vehicle due to the oils in the polish that act as a lubricant.

Those silicone water blades are nice to use but only for glass. The chances of catching a dirt particle and dragging it across your paint are fairly high and you'd be better off with a microfiber towel. Zaino is definitely some great stuff but it's not the ONE AND ONLY answer to detailing products. There are plenty of other manufacturers that have better products for cheaper. You just have to try them out yourself and see what works for you.

 

I guess it's just a case of semantics.....Being a Zanio guy they use Polish and "sealent" interchangably........Wax is something different....What ever you call it look at the ingrediants.....Most "Waxes" include some type of abrasive material.....anytime you use a product and see the application pad or rag you are using change color you are using an abrasive material and are probably killing the clear coat.....to remove stuff on your paint, you should use a clay bar....then use your polish or sealant....

 

Is using the waterblade considered "safe"? Do you rinse it off after each swipe?