for those using leaf blowers, what are you using?

 

I presume a leaf blower is somehow used to wash or wax a car?

 

Use it to blow- dry your car........no water spots.

 

I have one that I use on occasion to clean my work area, prior to detailing. I normally sheet the water off with the hose. This never stirs up additional dust or debris, which may end up on the surface, prior to using a PC. Just my personal method....

 

I use this one:



Works like a champ in getting the water out of the cracks.

 

leaf blowers actually work?

 

I use a Hi pressure hose with a rubber safety tip nozzle. I normally blow out the handles, moldings, mirrors, lug nuts, tires, wheels, emblems.....Here's my son with it today......

 

I made one modification to it. I took a piece of rubber hose and split it down the middle. I wrapped it around the edge of the blower nozzle so if it accidentally bumped against the car, it wouldn't leave a mark.

 

what did you pay Next?



Patrick, I love using compressed air, just don't have a tank w/ me, only up at my parents.

That said, does anyone know of a blower that has a filter in it?

 

$29.99 from Home Depot

Toro
Power Sweep™ Blower
Model 51586

links don't work on HD.com

 

I use the same blower on my cars. First, my neighbors think I'm an idiot for washing my cars as much as I do. When they see me with the leaf blower going at them ya just gotta love 'em just shaking their heads lol! Works nice for me.

 

I've heard about leaf blowers before and after reading this thread, so I decided to go try it out and bought the Toro Power Sweep. My thoughts were that it would cut down time and be less energy consuming on my arms (seeing as how I only been using an Absorber and Microfiber towels since the beginning). I have to admit that my thoughts were correct about using a leaf blower, but I did run into a few observations/problems during the process (maybe I was doing it wrong, and maybe you guys can share your knowledge since you guys have more experience using blowers).

1) It seems like the blower just spreads out the water in a thinner layer on the car, and either way I had to use microfiber towels to mop up the thin/particles of water. I was expecting that I was going to need microfiber towels anyways, but I was expecting more out of the blower, like blowing almost all the water off.

2) The thinner layers of water, after blowing the big globs off, just dry up too quickly, mind you that my car is Nighthawk Black Pearl and just leaves too many water spots.

3) These things are damn LOUD. Although I don't mind it, I'm sure the neighbors do.

I know it would have gone better if I was doing it in the shade, but shade only comes infront of the house during the morning, and lazy as I am, I did it in the afternoon. Plus I didn't want to be an asshole neighbor and use the leaf blower in the morning hours. It just seems that leaf blowers do exactly what my absorber does, just in less time. Either way I have to use microfiber towels to pick up the left over water cause it just shows way too much on NBP. I like how it gets into the cracks and stuff. I'm thinking about just returning this thing cause I don't think it's my preferred way of drying the car, unless you guys can give me tips so I'll try it once more. I don't think this method is for everyone, maybe a select few.

Basically I started from the roof of the car, blew most of the water off (although I think I could have blown more off, but I can't stand that much noise for too long). Then I just mopped up the rest with microber towels. Did the same to the trunk, then hood, then the sides. Basically I want to know what are your techniques on using a leaf blower???

Maybe I should invest in a waterblade? yes/no?

 

one of the guys that mows my lawn used the leaf blower after i washed & it worked well, but doesnt that way blow sand & stuff @ it? i think the air compressor is a lot more neat. vaccum is ok but kinda clumsy

 

The leaf blower isnt intended to get rid of all the water. At least not for me. I aim it at the headlights, wheels, door handles, tail lights, trunk and just lightly blast the main surfaces. I think take a waffle weave MF towel, some QD'er and wipe the rest down...

Waterblades are a waste of money IMO...

 

Or......one of my favorite tricks is to take my "wet" car for a quick spin around the block. That usually gets rid of most of the water from the cracks and crevices and slings a good portion of the water off the car.

Just make sure the roads are dry and clean. You don't want to try that if the roads are full of mud and dirt.

Then, take a good waffle weave MF towel and dry off any remaining water.

 

BTW....I do agree that water blades aren't very useful on the vertical or curved parts of a car. The only thing they have an affect on is the hood, trunk lid and top of the car (flat, horizontal surfaces).

 

I used to do this, but I always noticed some dust when I got back.

 

As mentioned I use it for getting water out of cracks and crevices as well as getting the water out of my wheels, mesh wheels are a bitch to dry.