Tried A Leaf Blower Today

[VISITOR]

I would not blow anything on a finish that once was used as a vacuum. (ie. all those sand particles just sucked up are now flying back at paint).

agreed and i also would not use a gas blower (my personal preference) to dry a car as well...

 

[MisterShark]

Yeah, after I posted that I noticed the mph difference.

Too bad, because I like the more compact form factor. Seems like it will be awkward (haven't tried it yet with my leaf blower so do note my use of the word 'seems') to work with such a long tube rather than the shorter nozzle on the one I found.

My last 3 washes have been performed at night with ONR and a work light. If i fired up my gas-powered leaf blower I'm fairly sure the cops would be paying me a visit. Guess I'll havta wait till the next rare occasion that I have the time to do a daylight wash.

 

[TurboToys]

i had a question about what was said with using a dedicated blower instead of a combo.... of course you dont want to use a blower that is pulling through the same filter. but how does one fair if it was just the turbine attachment that did the blowing?

i need a strong shop vac, and a good blower for doing quick dry jobs. and saw this

RIDGID 16 Gal 6 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac With Detachable Blower - WD1665 at The Home Depot

the motor/blower part comes off the vacuum part, and turns into a 265mph blower, but how much particle would really still be traveling through the case of the blower? and wouldnt i just be able to spray some water or something through it to ensure nothing is stuck inside (which i doubt, at the speed that it claims, that anything would still be inside the turbine housing itself).

i wanted to get this, but now im reconsidering it because of the comment of having a dedicated blower and a dedicated vac... but this also seems like it wouldnt pose a problem either.

 

[DLB]

I would not blow anything on a finish that once was used as a vacuum. (ie. all those sand particles just sucked up are now flying back at paint). My leaf blower is dedicated to car care only !

This is a problem with the Vac-N-Blo. I have used it on occasion as a blower, but not on paint. When you first turn it on if you watch closely in good light, you can actually see a little dust come out.
Granted, after a couple of seconds it is cleared up, it is just risky. The hose is going to hold a little bit of garb that could come flying through at any time.

For blowing on a car, a leaf blower is much safer (because they never suck anything in). I have used my John Deere Backpack blower before, and it isn't amazing to me. I like compressed air with the right nozzle just as well.

DLB

 

[MisterShark]

I completely forgot that I can use this:

I use it with a bunch of air tools along with a LVLP spray gun for wood finishing.
It's got a 15 gallon capacity with a SCFM of 80 @ 40 PSIG/ 5.7 @ 90 PSIG so it should be up to the job.

 

[Blackthorn One]

I completely forgot that I can use this:

I use it with a bunch of air tools along with a LVLP spray gun for wood finishing.
It's got a 15 gallon capacity with a SCFM of 80 @ 40 PSIG/ 5.7 @ 90 PSIG so it should be up to the job.

So long as you have a tip that is big enough. Too small a tip can concentrate the air pressure enough to take the paint off the car.

 

[MisterShark]

So long as you have a tip that is big enough. Too small a tip can concentrate the air pressure enough to take the paint off the car.

Rate of air flow can be adjusted via the outlet pressure regulator knob: it can be as gentle or strong as need be.

Thanks for the cautionary note though; good lookin out.

 

[Blackthorn One]

Rate of air flow can be adjusted via the outlet pressure regulator knob: it can be as gentle or strong as need be.

Thanks for the cautionary note though; good lookin out.

I am assuming that you have some sort of air diffuser on the end of the hose. Otherwise, the diameter of the hose is so small that if you had adequate pressure to blow off the water even close to as well as a leaf blower can (which has a much larger diameter exhaust tube), you could risk peeling the paint. On the other hand, if you reduced the pressure to a safe level, it would not be as effective as a leaf blower. That is my take. I would get one of the Toro leaf blowers with the metal impeller that has 450 or so reviews on Amazon, with a 4 star rating and costs around $70 with a noise level of only 67 DB, which is quieter than the Black and Decker.

 

[alexjn1]

I completely forgot that I can use this:

I use it with a bunch of air tools along with a LVLP spray gun for wood finishing.
It's got a 15 gallon capacity with a SCFM of 80 @ 40 PSIG/ 5.7 @ 90 PSIG so it should be up to the job.

That looks like the same model I have and was using until I tried a leaf blower. I never used it for drying again after trying a leaf blower.

That compressor is a noisy sucker too, I always wear protective muffs when using mine.

 

[davey]

I purchased a blower from my buddy that bought it for his motorcycle it is called the cycle dry and it works pretty well. I belive if i tried to use it on a car it would take extensive time. but that sounds like a good idea might have to purchase a blower

 

[ScottB]

I have been warned if using compressed air to also have some type of oil catch can on it, otherwise they spit oil in air ??? Dont know enough about them but then again I am using a leaf blower with nice success.

 

[MisterShark]

I have been warned if using compressed air to also have some type of oil catch can on it, otherwise they spit oil in air ??? Dont know enough about them but then again I am using a leaf blower with nice success.

I use my setup to spray polyurethane finish on the poker tables I make so the in-line filter ensures air purity.

The oil spit is actually only experienced with an oil-free compressor such as mine when you've got an air tool attached which you've put the air tool oil into and which creates exhaust. It's the tool itself that contains the oil rather than the air line or compressor, so as long as that particular tool (think nail gun, stapler, cut-off tool, etc..) is not attached then there's no oil-laced exhaust.

Thanks for the warning though.