Review: BLACKFIRE Car Dryer

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Review: BLACKFIRE Car Dryer

If you're OCD about your car's finish then you want to air dry it.


Why?

Because by air drying - nothing touches the paint and thus you can prevent the build-up of the fine marring caused by drying with a chamois over time. My assumption is that if you're OCD about your car's finish you already maintain your car's finish by using one of these three things to protect the paint.

Car Wax - Waxy substance like Carnauba, Montan or some other waxy product.

Synthetic Paint Sealant - Man-made product to protect the paint.

Ceramic Paint Coating - Nano particles of glass that form a semi-permanent bond to the paint, typically outlasts car waxes and synthetic paint sealants.



The thing all three types of paint protection do to your car's paint is cause water to BEAD UP. And it is this feature that is a MUST if you want to use a car dryer to dry your car.

Why?

Because practically speaking, the only time you can blow water off a car to the point that you no longer need to touch the paint with some type of drying chamois is if the water ALREADY WANTS TO GET AWAY from the paint, thus the visual sign of surface tension is water beading and this is a sign that water wants to get away and off the paint. Thus it will blow off easily and in most cases, completely.

If you don't regularly wash and wax your car, or wash and apply a synthetic paint sealant to your car or wash and take care of the ceramic paint coating that you installed or someone else installed, then a car dryer is not for you.


But - if you do regularly maintain your car's exterior, then you'll love the BLACKFIRE Car Dryer.

Why?


Because it's lightweight, compact in size and powerful.


Lightweight
With the hose, handle and nozzle attached it weighs around 8 pounds. Because you hold onto the actual blower unit with one hand and hold the handle at the end of the hose with the other hand, the hand holding the actual car dryer is only holding around 6-7 pounds, that's not much. So yeah, it's lightweight.

Compact in size
The car dryer itself is about the size of a birthday balloon, so it's not large and cumbersome to use or carry around a car.

Powerful
With a 6.5 Peak Horsepower single stage electric motor, this car dryer has PLENTY of CFM or cubic feet per minute to blast any water lying on a body panel after final rinsing.





What's in the Box?
Let's take a look at what comes in the box...

Here's everything that comes in the box. (The connects were already attached to the hose by one of my co-workers)

Here's the actual blower unit...

Here's the 35' power cord - more than enough to reach all the way down one side of a car and in most cases up the other side without the need to re-plug or use an extension cord.

Shoulder Carry Strap

3 attachments to customize how the air is blown from the car dryer...

Soft Vinyl Concentrator Nozzle
This is the middle attachment in the picture above, it's soft vinyl and flexible as you can see by how I'm squeezing the end.

Crevice Tool - For blowing into tight areas or under seats when doing interior detailing...

Blower Nozzle
I'm not sure where I would use this attachment, I'll need to spend more time with it to discover it's benefits....

Hose Handle Grip

6' long flexible locking hose with connectors already attached in this picture

User's Guide and Plastic Adjustable Clamp

To assemble, attach one end of the hose to the BLACKFIRFE Car Dryer and tighten until snug.

Attach the Hose Handle Grip to the other end and tighten until snug.

Next attach the desired nozzle to the end of the hose handle grip. I like the flexible vinyl Concentrator Nozzle.

Use the plastic adjustable clamp to hold the soft vinyl concentrator nozzle onto the hose handle grip.

Your BLACKFIRE Car Dryer is now ready to plug-in and use to dry your car!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued....

I don't do mock-up reviews, articles or details for that matter. If it's important enough to write about and educate people then it's important enough to do the job right the first time and that means doing the real-deal. So to test out the BLACKFIRE Car Dryer I needed a car to wash and rinse so there would be real-world water on a real-world car for me to blow-off.

A few weeks ago I taught a class here at Autogeek showing how to use SONAX Polymer Net Shield on a co-workers Chevy Spark. Here's the write-up from that car detailing class.

Pictures: SONAX PNS + Pinnacle Jeweling Wax - Ford vs Chevy


One of the unique characteristics about the SONAX Polymer Net Shield or PNS as we call it for short, is how it creates amazing surface tension and forces water to bead-up. Because it's only been about 6 weeks since we applied the SONAX PNS to the Chevy Spark, I knew this would be the proper and correct condition paint to use with a car dryer. So I offered my co-worker a FREE CAR WASH if I could use her car again and she is so nice... of course she said "yes".


I always use a Grit Guard Universal Detailing Cart when I wash cars. The reason why is so I don't have to bend over. You see, without the car your bucket or buckets are on the ground and then you're always bending over. EVERONE that attends ANY of the classes I teach,

3-Day Bootcamp class here at Autogeek - January, May and September

2-Day Roadshow Detailing Class - all over the United States

2-Day Boat detailing class - Here at Autogeek every February​

These people know first hand how this car takes all the work out of washing your car because it HOLDS all your tools and you don't have to bend over to dunk a wash mitt or Nanoskin towels or mitt into the bucket. Think about it.... you wash your car more than you do anything else to it - so get the car and make washing you car fast and easy and also have a place to store all your car washing tools.



Here's my car with the 5-gallon bucket, Grit Guard Insert, BLACKFIRE Foam Gun, BLACKFIRE Foam Soap and spray nozzles.

When you pour some BF Foam Soap into the Foam Gun water jug because it's rich and thick it sinks to the bottom. If you DON'T mix it up with the water it's so thick it will clog the siphon tube for the Foam Gun. So I keep a Wheel Woolies Brush handy to stir it up!

That's the way you do it - stir it up until you have a uniform mixture and then you're ready to foam your car.

Before I ever start washing cars I practice and teach others to wash the wheels and tires first. I explain why in my how-to book,

The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine

and also share why in all my classes.

After washing all 4 wheels and tires it's time to foam the car....

Then wash using a Microfiber Chenille Wash Mitt - my favorite...

Then rinse - this is an Orbitz sprayer I keep around the garage as I show the SHOWER setting for doing "Wet Wash Engine Detailing" in all my detailing classes. In the classes I share "why" it's so important.

Look at the water trying to get away from the paint as I spray the paint..... that's SONAX PNS!

I coined this term for great water beading about 20 years ago...

Tight, Tall and Small

Cool. The car is now washed and rinsed.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued.....


Okay.... all the above work just to get to this point - a wet car perfect to test out the new BLACKFIRE Car Dryer!

Here's lots of water in the form of water beads due to the surface tension created by the SONAX PNS - perfect to blow off!

I turn the BF Car Dryer on and start blowing....

And without "touching" the paint, the water is all blown off!

Next I work down and around the car, look at the water blast away off the glass windshield!

Next the hood....

Hi volume air is the best way and the perfect way to blow out emblems and trim....

The BLACKFIRE Car Dryer also works great for blow drying your wheels and tires. It makes quick work of blowing water out of all the lug nut barrels too!

Here's a tricky place to blow out... the valve stem on the wheel....

NOTE: Do not BUMP valve stems when washing and drying your car's wheels. They can break off and leave you with a flat tire.



The BLACKFIRE Car Dryer also works great for blasting all the sitting water out of the inside of your rearview mirrors.

Completely blasts water out of emblems for no-drips later on....

And around and even BEHIND the license plate!

My review
The BLACKFIRE Car Dryer makes quick work of removing all standing water off your car WITHOUT you ever touching the paint. This means scratch-free drying and this means the pristine finish you worked so hard to create (or paid for), stays perfect longer. This tool is exactly as advertised, it's lightweight, compact in size and powerful. You get 3 optional nozzles to enable you to pick the nozzle that works best for you car drying or blowing project. The 35' electric cord is PLENTY long enough so in most cases you won't need an extension cord or have to stop and re-plug the cord to a different electrical outlet.

If you're OCD about your car's finish then get into air drying. After using this tool once or twice on you own car you'll get a feel for exactly the path of travel to follow to completely blast every drop of water off your car.




On Autogeek.com


BLACKFIRE Car Dryer

 

[Thomkirby]

Thanks, I was wondering how long the power cord was on the unit.

 

[HammersDetailing]

Looks like a great tool to own. Ill have to look into purchasing one my self.

 

[Sonic Pilot]

Terrific review as always Mike! Thank you for your insight on this new offering from Blackfire.

Could we get the performance specs with regard to air volume (CFM) and speed (MPH)?

The reason I ask about this is that many of us have been using leaf blowers as a method of "touch-free" vehicle drying. This method has become both popular and effective over the years.

Leaf blower performance specifications typically include a CFM rating as well as a MPH rating as a means of indicating "power." Thus far, Blackfire has listed the motor as 6.5 peak horsepower but no specific values with regard to CFM & MPH.

I did notice that in your review you specifically mention it has "PLENTY of CFM", just wondering what it actually is.

Thanks again for your time and effort in reviewing this new item! Sounds like a winner so far!

 

[LSNAutoDetailingLSNAutoDetailing is verified member.]

Terrific review as always Mike! Thank you for your insight on this new offering from Blackfire.

Could we get the performance specs with regard to air volume (CFM) and speed (MPH)?

The reason I ask about this is that many of us have been using leaf blowers as a method of "touch-free" vehicle drying. This method has become both popular and effective over the years.

Leaf blower performance specifications typically include a CFM rating as well as a MPH rating as a means of indicating "power." Thus far, Blackfire has listed the motor as 6.5 peak horsepower but no specific values with regard to CFM & MPH.

I did notice that in your review you specifically mention it has "PLENTY of CFM", just wondering what it actually is.

Thanks again for your time and effort in reviewing this new item! Sounds like a winner so far!

From the product page on Autogeek: BLACKFIRE Car Dryer

Featuring a 6.5 peak HP motor, the BLACKFIRE Car Dryer blasts water from your vehicle’s surfaces with no touching required! And you know what they say, “the more you touch, the more likely you are to mar” – the BLACKFIRE Car Dryer prevents this! Using the rubber attachment makes for an even safer drying experience – if you accidentally touch the paint, no scratching or marring should occur!

BLACKFIRE Car Dryer features:
6.5 Peak HP, Single-stage motor
120V ~ 60 Hz. 12A
Accessories:
• 6’ (1.8 m) x 2 ½” (6.4 cm) Locking hose
• Hose handle grip
• Soft vinyl concentrator nozzle
• Crevice tool
• Blower Nozzle
• Plastic adjustable clamp
• Shoulder strap
1 year warranty
Made in the USA
Utility Concentrated Tube
Speed (ft/min) 17910.90 21627.00 7856.34
Speed (mi/hr) 203.53 245.76 89.28
CFM (ft^3/min) 223.11 106.46 182.19

 

[Sonic Pilot]

LsnAutoDetailing, thank you for that info, that is exactly what I was looking for.
I didn't see all that data on it when I looked at the the initial product listing here on Autogeek about a week ago or so. Perhaps I missed it.

The numbers are indeed impressive. Looks like another winner from Blackfire....nice!

Thanks again!

 

[theamcguy]

Does the BlackFire Dryer supply filtered and heated air? TIA

 

[Bruno Soares]

Does the BlackFire Dryer supply filtered and heated air? TIA

Pretty sure it does since it's basically the same as McKee's 37 Turbo Dryer. Keep in mind the heated part is because the air is passing through the motor which gets hot with use so it heats it up after 5 or 10 minutes of use. It's not a major temperature gain though, feels warm but may not be as hot as you want. It's a solid unit if you don't mind carrying it around with you.

 

[ToddC]

Does the Blackfire Car Dryer blow filtered and heated air?

Please advise.

Thank You,

Todd

 

[acuRAS82]

Not sure about filtration but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t blow heated air.

And sorry to piggy back here... but does anyone have any good suggestions for screwing the blower tube on without it falling off? I don’t recall having issues with this the last few years (but I didn’t use it a whole lot) but now I can’t get the hose tube/wand to stay attached to the main unit.

 

[dwaleke]

Technically all blowers blow heated air as their motors heat up.

Any one that is marketed as blowing heated air is just that - marketing. Unless it has a separate heating element.

As to the filter part. Perhaps that sounds like a nice feature but remember your car drives through unfiltered air every time you drive.

I did buy a blower that advertises these two features but those features are not why I bought it and I don't feel they are important at all. If anything a cordless blower is faster and almost as effective.

 

[Bruno Soares]

I have the McKee's version of this and it works fine but it's cumbersome to use and I end up using my Metrovac Sidekick most of the time. Carrying this on your shoulder and that thick hose around your body is just not natural or easy to do.

They both have a filter and as you use the machine, the motor gets hot and the air going through it feels warm. The hotter the ambient temperature it, the more you notice that as the motor gets hot faster. I don't think the "heated" air helps in any way to dry faster as the drying is really coming from the velocity of the air.

So between a dryer like this one you linked to, a regular electric leaf blower, and the sidekick, I use the sidekick 99% of the time. They all work but the only one that isn't some sort of pain in the butt is the small sidekick. Sure it doesn't pack the same punch as the others but I find that it doesn't matter, I'm just using them to get the water out of the crevices to make sure I won't have drips or runs when I start driving it. The PFM will pick most of the water on the body must faster than one could do with a blower. Especially with how aggressive the beading is these days on ceramic coatings, I feel like I get to a point the blower just pushes the water around and it keeps turning into smaller and smaller beads but doesn't dry, it just moves away from you but then stays there for you to push it again from other side.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Does the Blackfire Car Dryer blow filtered and heated air?

Please advise.

Thank You,

Todd

This car dryer does not offer filtered air nor does it have a dedicated heater onboard. Like mentioned, as the motor warms up, the air passing through the unit also heats up but it's not a dedicated air heating system.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

And sorry to piggy back here... but does anyone have any good suggestions for screwing the blower tube on without it falling off?

I don’t recall having issues with this the last few years (but I didn’t use it a whole lot) but now I can’t get the hose tube/wand to stay attached to the main unit.

I think Andre or Bobby here at Autogeek are both pretty much experts with this air dryer, I can send them the link to this thread and hopefully they can answer your question. They are both slammed in their jobs so it might not be until next week.

If they can't get to it - I'll ask them and share their answer.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Just to comment,


Most of my car washing is PREP WASHING - this means I'm working on NEGLECTED paint and this means I don't use any type of car dryer or air blower to dry the water off and instead use Guzzler Waffle Weave microfiber drying towels.

Here's why for Prep Washing I don't use a car dryer.

With a neglected car, the paint does not bead-up water. In order to use any brand or type of air-blowing car dryer, it's NOT going to work well unless there is already HIGH SURFACE TENSION on the paint surface forcing standing water to bead-up. When a car has a fresh coat of wax, synthetic sealant or a paint coating, for most of these products, they are going to cause high water beading. In these examples, a car dryer will work great to blow off the water.

No water beading after washing? Water is NOT going to blow off.


Now if I am washing a car that I've detailed and thus the water is beading up. I still tend to use the Guzzler Waffle Weave drying towels because the water IS beading up - it wants to get away from the paint and will quickly be absorbed or sucked-up into the guzzler.


I do use the FLEX Cordless Car Dryer to blow out cracks, crevices, emblems, door handles, windshield washer squirters, grills, lug nut barrels, wheels and tires, etc. Basically any place that is not a flat surface that can be wiped easily.


When it comes to car dryers - more power or MORE MPH is better. That and keeping a fresh coat of "something" on the paint that causes surface tension.

Even after blowing a car dry, in my experience, there are always going to be TINY WATERMARKS on the paint surface. These water marks will tend to diminish the overall gloss, clarity, shine, etc.

The way to remove them of course is to WIPE the paint with something. For me I will tend to use whatever is closest to my hand, something that is a waterless wash or a water-based coating detailer. Solvent-based products do NOT tend to remove water marks but instead, coat over them.

So because I'm going to WIPE the paint after drying it anyways, it's no big deal to dry the paint by wiping it with a Guzzler.

The reason I like Guzzler is not because I think it's the best drying towel, but because I think it's the SAFEST drying towel.

Because it has a FLAT WEAVE - it's pretty much impossible for the weave to become contaminated with abrasive particles. Thus pushing the weave of the surface of paint means you have reduced the potential to mar or scratch the paint. Blotting with a waffle weave is even safer.

Any type of towel that has a fluffy or looped nap has the potential to become contaminated over time. Contaminants, sticks, wood chips, leaves, metal bits, dead bugs, whatever? Can become LODGED in the fibers and hard for you to detect visual and even tactically. Thus you don't know your towels are contaminated and then when you use them you scratch your paint.


It takes HOURS to buff out a car and only seconds to put scratches back into the paint -Mike Phillips



Me? I'm all about,

Reducing the potential

 

[acuRAS82]

I think Andre or Bobby here at Autogeek are both pretty much experts with this air dryer, I can send them the link to this thread and hopefully they can answer your question. They are both slammed in their jobs so it might not be until next week.

If they can't get to it - I'll ask them and share their answer.

Thanks Mike! Next week or whenever they are free is perfectly fine. I appreciate you getting this to them!

 

[Markymapo1]

I basically use the blower to blow out cracks, crevices, emblems, door handles, windshield washer squirters, grills, lug nut barrels, wheels and tires, etc.(as stated above) since the coatings I have on my cars really allows the water to bead up well after rinsing ( with DI water). Then some LSP n drying towels to finish things off