Drying tool = shop vac

[EPHIOS]

Can you use a shop vac, turning it reverse (so it blows air, instead of sucking air), to blow water off small crevices, when drying my car? Have anyone tried it yet?

I could not afford an air compressor. I saw one of these yesterday in WalMart.

[Murr1525]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

As long as you hadn't been sweeping with it, and blow dust back out.

[BobbyG]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

Theoretically yes but you could be blowing particles of dust and debris onto the finish, sort of like pelting it with fine sand. I'm also not certain if a shop vac is capable of producing sufficient velocity of air.

[Matt Majeika]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

Theoretically yes but you could be blowing particles of dust and debris onto the finish, sort of like pelting it with fine sand. I'm also not certain if a shop vac is capable of producing sufficient velocity of air.

Sounds like a great idea, but I agree with Bobby - you wouldn't want to risk blowing debris and dist back at your car.

Matt

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

Speaking strictly from personal experience, I use a wet/dry shop vac all the time to actually draw water out of these areas rather than blow it out. I've tried using a leaf blower in these areas on my cars, one of which holds crazy amounts of water in certain areas, and all it did was leave little trails of water spots that needed to be cleaned up after.

I found leaving the thing in vacuum mode and pulling the water out was faster, more effective, and I don't need to go back over everything with QD and a towel to remove the water spot trails.

[TLMitchell]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

Can you use a shop vac, turning it reverse (so it blows air, instead of sucking air), to blow water off small crevices, when drying my car? Have anyone tried it yet?

I could not afford an air compressor. I saw one of these yesterday in WalMart.

If you're going to use a Shop Vac to blow water off a vehicle and the nooks and crannies you'll want one with a removeable blower. I've been using one that way for 15+ years. With a decent coat of wax or sealant I have very little drying to do and no runs or drips after a wash that can be so annoying, especially on dark colors.

I don't think reversing a vac that's used as a vacuum is a viable solution, as others have pointed out you risk blowing any residual grit left from vacuuming on to your finish. I was unaware you could even reverse the dedicated vacuums.

TL

[Bunky]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

You can really invest in something like the Metro Master Blaster.

[b2bomber]

Re: Drying tool = shop vac

or just buy those mini-blowers, a leaf blower IMO is an overkill.