Ok, so I've read if you're a real fanatic about not scratching your car during the drying process...you should consider buying an electric leaf blower. I had tried my mom's gas powered one once, but it's so heavy and spits out gas fumes etc.

Well, I recently researched it for sh**s and giggles because I now have a NBP car that has to be washed once a week and shows water spots like nobody's business. That and let's face it, it's not a compact car so that huge drying surface can be quite dreadful. I'll preface also by saying that I recently put another coat of zaino z-2 on the car so the water beading is amazing, which helps with it sheeting off with the blower.

Ok...so I stopped by home depot yesterday and pick up the below item. First off, it's light, the nozzle comes off so easy to store and boy does it BLOW! Plus, the trigger stays on so you don't get tired of having to pull it. It gets the water off the car in a hurry, and best of all scratch free! Plus, I HATE when I think the entire car is dry and then you open a door and water runs out of all the crevices on to the dry surface!

Anyway, for 30 bucks, considering how much a lot of us spend on car care products...I thought I'd share my thoughts and the bargain! Between this...my california water blade and my absorber...my car should be spot free!

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100615513

 

Your going to have a hard time getting approval on these items......The leaf blower has its place, with discretion. The blade should clear windows, not paint, and the Absorber? Eh.....its been replaced long ago with the Waffle Weave Drying Towels......

 

the only way to get your car spot free is to dry it with waffle weave/micro fibre towels....i (shame on me) still use my absorber to clear the majority of the water, then i follow with ww towels...i use a compressor to blow out the mirrors and all the lights and cracks to get water out...

let me know how the leaf blower works for you as i have considered getting one of thoes....

 

I have a husqavarna gas leaf blower, yes it is heavy, but I do not have to contend with an electrical cord. I just wish they made a rather small reducer like shown in the picture on yours to help really focus the air flow.

 

I have a Rigid shop vac/blower. Great strong vac and the blower for drying. Two in one. $100 at Homedepot. Of course we use the blower for the driveway, deck, sidewalk, etc. as well. I recently replaced it and kept the old attachments. I'm gonna try using one of the old extention tubes to make a dryer wand and see how that works. I saw this posted a long time ago.

 

I use my compressor and waffles. The nozzle I use has a rubber tip so there can be no scratching. I would be afraid to use the blower. Good luck.

 

I did use it yesterday and it worked like a charm!

As far as scratching...it's really light so I doubt i'll have a problem holding it up and scratching.

I've heard the waffle weave is great, but it's another thing I have to hand pass over the whole car...which is what I'm trying to avoid.

Are there other dangers to air drying that I'm not aware of?

I too have a shop vac and air compressor...the shop vac seems less easy to maneuver around the car and doesn't blow as concisely. The air compressor is too loud and a little too concise.

For blowing crap out of the garage and off the driveway and drying the car, this works for me!

 

I guess one danger of using a portable blower is touching the nozzle on the car or dropping it.

 

Are you sure your using it so you don't have to pass something over the car or you think its easier.

I have used WW drying towels on a properly washed / rinsed polished out black car for over 3 years and never marred it.

 

My method as well. What worries me about the leaf blower is the amount of unconcentrated air it blows. It tends to stir up a large mass area which could add debris to an already wet surface. The Compressor with rubber tip is VERY easy to handle with just a few fingers, has a very concentrated air stream and works sooo good for door handles, wheels/tires, emblems, trim pieces etc.......Not too mention if you need air in your tires. Also works well for quick detailing the engine compartment.
Im not saying the leaf blower is a no no, im just saying watch where ya blow and inspect the surface before wiping with a WW.

 

Thanks excel...
well the plan for me is to use JUST the blower...I guess I'll see how it works. I figure if I start from the roof and work my way down i'll lessen the chances of blowing debris on. Yesterday when I tested it i did the hood and windshield and since the water beading is good it really left a completely dry surface with no need for anything else.

and to the other response...YES, I am sure the reason for using the blower is because it's EASIER...AND avoids material on the surface. HEy...if it doesn't work out I can always return it. If you want more complicated then use a pack of q-tips to dry it. I'm sure that'll work too.

 

I just bought a 5.5HP shop vac yesterday. My question is: how "safe" is it to use the blower after you've already used the vacuum portion to suck up junk? I don't want dirt projectiles shooting onto my paint!

 

i think that was one of the "downsides" to using the shop vac rather than a clean electric blower.

 

I thought that is what the filter was for?? if your concerned, purchase a upgraded filter that filters out the superfine particles, if its a Rigid, its blue in color and feels kinda like a K&N filter.

 

Just remember with the "clean" electric blower it might have also been used to pick up leaves giving it something to shoot back out . Also I have tried this and the biggest concern is if the place where the car is parked isn't pristine the blower is going to blow stuff up on the car . Also it will dislodge stuff in the cracks and blow it out on the paint.

And believe it or not by the time I drug out the cord & blower and put it all away it was a lot less effort to dry with a couple of WW towels.

Come on guys .. I do it 4 times a week on my car and I'm pushing 65 ... you youngins prolly need the exercise more than I do ..

 

^ Haha so true!

 

Dale shoots right from the hip doesnt he?

 

Just keep more WW towels, that's what I do.

Oh and Pat, I may have to put another order in for more WW's. One of my clients had me wash his race car trailer and his full size dually truck and I was really pushing it with the towels and I was ONRing both of them, haha.

 

I use the Waffle Weave drying towels that I purchased from Patrick, and I've had NO issues whatsoever when drying my car. The WW's work especially well with the Optimum No Rinse stuff. I'd recommend the WW's, but that's just my opinion!

 

I use a shop vac and everything it sucks up goes into the canister. There is a large air filter in there so nothing is coming back out. I have theb 6.5HP model and it is very strong. Pushes the water right off the car.

 

^ Alrighty. Thats perfect. Do you use it for the entire drying process or just for the gaps/jambs/license plate etc?

 

well...i have a pull down 30 ft electric outlet. it's easy for me to do and i thought it was a cool experience i had to share. to each his own.

about exercise...i tend to agree...i guess the grueling 11 hours i spent applying the zaino stuff had me begging for shortcuts wherever I can find em! i guess i'll plan to blow off the driveway prior to putting my car on for the wash just to be safe...that and this blower is dedicated to just drying the car basically.

 

What's wrong with the absorber?

 

The Absorber is non-forgiving .. if you happen to get one grain of sand/grit under it it will scratch the paint as you drag it over the surface.

Wet the Absorber and lay it flat on your hood then try to pull it off. Huge resistsnce to get it to move. Now visualize a grain of sand between the 2.

 

It can scratch your paint since it doesn't have any nap to trap any debris that may be caught in it.

 

Wow, I've had no luck with that at all. Dust always gets stuck in the grooves of the hose and blows up a dust storm.

I would never use it on my car. I used it on my computer, thank goodness I let is run in mid air before blowing in the computer.

Even when dust can't be seen coming out, I still don't trust it haha

 

Ok...so this morning I attempted to blow dry the entire car and I have to bow to you guys' greater expertise. It sucks. At night....just doing the hood was grand...but the entire car when the sun was out...doesn't work.

Water beads up but you end up with little TINY waterspots instead. and takes a long time and the electric cord inevitable rubs against the car and it gets heavy. I'll be in the market for some WW soon.

Thanks for the feedback all...and I guess this thread was short lived and can be closed.

Have a great weekend!
J.

 

Contact Patrick here at Exceldetail.... his Pacific towels are great and low $$ .. just order 3 of the 24 x 36 and make it worth while ..

 

 

will do. Thank you.

 

Detailing........hell, even car washing and drying is a learned experience. Air compressors or leaf blowers arent meant to completely dry a car (unless you live in So Cal and have ever experienced Santa Ana winds), use them only to assist you.
We're all here to teach something, another doesnt know. I know I speak for all, when I say "your welcome"......

 

The Excel Monterey Waffle Weave towels are a couple dollars more than the Pacific Waffle Weave towels but are better than the Pacific's, IMO. It's definitely worth it to spend the extra couple bucks, trust me. Patrick knows that these are my favorite! Right Pat?!

 

I guess cause the WW doesn't feel soft I thought it might scratch...do you guys wipe the water off or just pat dry?