Leaf blower for drying

Got one from Wal-mart. it works great, speeds drying up, and helps get that annoying drip from the side view mirrors.
 
+100 on a leaf blower! The less you touch the paint the better!
 
Most efficient drying tool I ever bought was a leaf blower. I blow off my RO water and it saves tons of time!
 
I recently bought this one at Home Depot and it has definitely chopped a large chunk off the time I used to spend drying......BUT...

I noticed that if I used it to try to completely dry the car in a well-intentioned attempt to minimize physical rubbing on the paint, I ended up with a number of small waterspots. To address this, I started not trying to get all the drops of the car, but rather to get 80-90% off. I then follow up with a QD wipedown (I like to use Wolfgang Crystal Mist). I alternate the QD wipedown sessions with Liquid Sovereign spray wax to keep my Sig Series II fortified...

The net result for me is that the leaf blower accelerates the drying process but doesn't replace the actual final wipedown. But putting on a QD wipedown or a liquid spray wax layer is a good use of time that I would have otherwise spent just removing water with a MF and no leaf blower....
 
I bought one at Home Depot for about $50. It's a Toro, and it does a pretty good job at blowing water out of crevices. Having a good sealant and/or wax on your car does make it a lot faster.
 
Toro for me.

As a matter of fact I had to buy two. One for the car and one for the yard that I will NEVER use on the car. Since it's also used as a yard vac. I have visions of little pebbles flying out of it at 150mph and ripping the paint right off the car.
 
Plan b Detail said:
I just wanted to know what your thoughts on this and if any of you guys use one. I know personally I spend to much time drying cars and looking to speed up my process so I can get onto the next car. Can't wait to hear from you guys.
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The leaf blower would look kind of silly; better to wash your car on windy days only and let mother nature do the job for you.

hope that helps....kind regards to you!
 
My solution is to drive the car about 4 blocks. It gets about 50-60% of the water off. The first time I attempted it I drove too far (about 8 blocks) and it removed about 85% of the water but I ended up with water spots.
I tried once using my leaf blower but it seemed too weak and more work than my normal routine.
 
I have the toro as well

anyone know if they sell an attachment that creates a wider path of air as opposed to the tube like attachment that they come with?

When I do a search it comes up with a patent application for something like it but I don't see anything tangible...
 
Capa1970 said:
My solution is to drive the car about 4 blocks. It gets about 50-60% of the water off. The first time I attempted it I drove too far (about 8 blocks) and it removed about 85% of the water but I ended up with water spots.
I tried once using my leaf blower but it seemed too weak and more work than my normal routine.
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i used to drive it too but noticed that during the drive the car picked up much more dust/dirt then I went for the blower with wind speed of 200mph or was it 150 mph? Who knows but it works.
 
Maybe this helps....

My routine after the wash is complete Is to take the spray nozzle off the hose and let the water sheathe or pool the water off the car. This will pull 75% of the water off the car. I then air blow it with the electric leaf blower. Works great.
 
I have heard of using a leaf blower, but never tried it. Once my cars are dry I will go over cracks, crevices, mirrors, etc. with my shop-vac. Obviously I do NOT touch the paint with the shop-vac, and I used this technique for quite some time now. Works for me.
 
Anyone use a stihl backpack blower? I was detaling a camaro yesterday and the guy washed a bad as* ss trailblazer. He busted out the backpack and I was sold! It was freakin sweet! I've used the handheld stihl but this thing had some power.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
Anyone use a stihl backpack blower? I was detaling a camaro yesterday and the guy washed a bad as* ss trailblazer. He busted out the backpack and I was sold! It was freakin sweet! I've used the handheld stihl but this thing had some power.
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Yup thats what I use. Br380
 
What's that one run? The guy I'm talking about is a buddy he said he could get me it for 400. His was a nice sized one.
 
His is a br600. Said he could get me one for $400. Not sure I want to drop that much this late in the year.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
His is a br600. Said he could get me one for $400. Not sure I want to drop that much this late in the year.
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BR600 is A LOT of machine. If you have a huge lawn or are a landscaper go for it. That's a good deal. Mine was either $300 or $350, can't remember. I bought it for my yard and clean up, using it for drying cars is just a bonus. :) I use it all the time though to blow out the garages, clean the lawn tractor, leaves/grass. Awesome machine.
 
Lol yes its a lot of machine but you should've seen it at work! I may go with the 550 it I can get it around 3 or under.
 
once I went MasterBlaster, I will now NEVER look back.
 
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