Leaf Blowers

[davey g-force]

Re: Leaf Blowers

Top Gear you're making me want to get a blower now! Do you mind posting a pic or link to the one you've got?

[SpoolMe]

Re: Leaf Blowers

The hose-flood method still requires that i touch my car with a towel over and over, creating opportunity for scratches. I thought I'd be safe with all MF towels but scratches are making their way on anyhow so i think ill buy a blower. The less contact the better!

[Top Gear]

Re: Leaf Blowers

For those of you with serious water spot issues like I had, there really is no other way to reliably avoid them than with immediate blow drying. The hose-flood method just doesn't work for me, and even if it did, I'd still be wiping for a long time to dry and remove spots with several MFs, probably creating more swirls. In another thread I raved about my 2-micron Whirlpool water filter on the garden hose, but I've since realized hard water spots are still possible with the filter and it's the blower doing the work by my drying before any evaporation happens.

Once you blow your car dry that first time, in like 5 or 10 minutes, you'll be dumbfounded at how much time and back pain you could have spared before and how clean the car really is. It also helps to be tall and/or have a lower car roof so you can blow downward, but you can use a kitchen step ladder if that's a problem. After a few times you'll get good at sculpting the air to move the beads, not having to do the same sections more than once (like around door mirrors), and preventing any wiping at all after drying. I'd say the leaf blower is the single best trick I've picked up from this forum - and that's saying a lot!!

[Blueline]

Re: Leaf Blowers

Interesting. I never thought of using if for drying. Use it to dust off the car when I get back it after a few weeks before washing, and to start the BBQ.
Now it has three uses. (i don't have any leaves to blow)

Now that must be some BBQ.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Leaf Blowers

........ Then I would point it at my dog and let him pretend he was hanging his head out the car window LOL. .........

classic John!

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Leaf Blowers

When I used a leaf blower, I used a cordless. It was effective for the first ten minutes before the battery switched to low output, but that was all that I needed it for. Then I would point it at my dog and let him pretend he was hanging his head out the car window LOL. The new lithium cordless blowers run much longer. The obvious advantages are that you're not dragging a cord so you don't have to fight cord tangles, dragging the cord across your paint, or having to worry about puddles. I stopped using it after I started using flood rinsing because the sheeting action of the flood rinse actually removed enough water where the blower was no longer necessary.

[Richard1]

Re: Leaf Blowers

Interesting. I never thought of using if for drying. Use it to dust off the car when I get back it after a few weeks before washing, and to start the BBQ.
Now it has three uses. (i don't have any leaves to blow)

[novacharm]

I have a 4 gal blower vac by shop vac with 5.5hp it's perfect and portable

[Jimjc]

Re: Leaf Blowers

20+ Years ago I started using a Toro electric 12 amp. leaf blower, it`s the best thing I ever did. and I just purchased a new Toro electric 260 mph. [ at Sears $65 ] heck the last one lasted 20+ years for the car, deck and everything else and it`s still running great.

Anyway I dont think anything less, than the 250+ mph will completely remove all the water fast. and especially out of every nook and cranny on the car. I don`t like gas, to heavy and don`t like keeping gas around the house. I can completely dry the car in a matter of 5 minutes and I don`t have to touch the car to do it.

[wifpd4]

Re: Leaf Blowers

I tired my gas blower once, made a lot of noise and a mess. If you remove the nozzle from the hose, and let the water run slowly from top to bottom, on a properly waxed vehicle, you don't need a leaf blower. What little water doesn't sheet off, can be blotted off with a Kleenex. (almost)

Blue, you are absolutely correct, if the car has been waxed. However, get a car that hasn't seen a bottle or can of wax in long, long time and it can take forever to dry. Drizzle method of rinse or not !!

I use a blower mainly for tires and rims. Open the hood, blow out the leaves and loose debris. Open the doors and blow out the door jambs and door frames. Open the truck lid or lift gate and dry that out. And the rest of the body and inside of mirrors. All this after hand drying most of the car, except the wheels. This is for cars, trucks require blowing out the bed.

I was thinking, my blower was 200mph, but better look it up before making that statement as fact.

[Bruce Devilbiss]

Re: Leaf Blowers

I use both, electric and gas. I I'm in a hurry I will break out the gas blower if not I have a Sears shop vac that the motor comes off to convert to a blower. No problems with either.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Leaf Blowers

The cordless will work just fine. Your not using it for hours, your only using it for a few mins.
(Heck a hair dryer would even work. You don't need much power to move a little water around.)
I run around the car with a big waffle weave then I blow and wipe remaining water at the same time.

[Aenygma]

Re: Leaf Blowers

Those people who use leaf blowers to dry their cars - do you use electric or cordless?
Am considering buying a Makita 18v cordless blower - will that do the job or should I go for an electric blower with a bit more oomph?

I like the idea of the cordless but if it lacks the power to blow the water off the car then there is not much point in getting one.

Cheers,
Pip Poppy

I use a 150MPH corded blower. I prefer the "oomph".
It is great to use, and I have no issues with it being corded.

I have found it especially useful with my wife's new car, as they used a honeycomb plastic under the lift gate, and in the front of the car. I could blot for hours on those spots with a microfiber towel or water magnet, and still not get it all out. The blower takes care of it easy peasy. Not to mention all the other great water hiding spots on most cars.

I also own a gas blower, but do not use it for vehicles. It is strictly for yard work.

[chiptouz]

Re: Leaf Blowers

I got a $30 HomeLite 7am/150MPH electric blower from Home Depot and I've been very happy with it. Believe me, it's plenty powerful enough! I would not recommend a gas-powered one, as it will stink of gas/oil so you can't keep it inside, it will smoke and spew particles that you will blow right onto your paint, and it will be much louder and require more upkeep.

On my wifes minivan I have been using my gas blower with no issues what so ever. I do not see any smoke or oil or anything coming out of the air blower tube. It is noisy, but some ear protection solves that. I use a Stihl BG56c and highly recommend it. http://www.stihlusa.com/products/blo...lowers/bg56ce/

[davey g-force]

Re: Leaf Blowers

Have you thought about using air from a compressor to blow out water from the crevices/mirrors etc? May even work for getting rid of other water off the paint.

I have used a compressor for mirrors etc and it works well, albeit a bit cumbersome to move around the vehicle with.