Towel drying + blow drying

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rover137

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I have ordered a little blower to help with drying the car. The main areas I’ll be using it on are handles, mirrors (nooks and crannies) etc to prevent water dripping. I will still be towel drying the majority of the car with a drying aid. The blower I have coming is battery powered and quite small, with a rubber nozzle for safety and is light enough to get around the car easy.

I was wondering if there is a preferred order to use this combination? Air dry nooks first, then towel dry as usual OR towel dry as usual then air dry the nooks and crannies? Does it even really matter? My initial thoughts are air dry then towel.

Thanks!


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To me, if it was hot and any water on the surface would dry quickly, I'd towel dry first. If that's not a concern, I'd blow dry first and then towel dry. Otherwise, you have to towel dry again after you've blown out the nooks.
 
If possible blow dry first. The water you blow out of all the irritating areas like mirrors, door handles, bodywork creases, lug nut wells and seams will blow all over the rest of the car.
 
MisterSnoop said:
To me, if it was hot and any water on the surface would dry quickly, I'd towel dry first. If that's not a concern, I'd blow dry first and then towel dry. Otherwise, you have to towel dry again after you've blown out the nooks.
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That's what I go by. My driveway always has sun, so 80% of the time, I dry first, then get the blower out for the never ending drip areas.
 
BudgetPlan1 said:
If possible blow dry first. The water you blow out of all the irritating areas like mirrors, door handles, bodywork creases, lug nut wells and seams will blow all over the rest of the car.
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^^^This^^^
 
It appears the consensus is to blow dry first and then towel dry - weather permitting. This confirms what i was thinking - water drying quickly and having to use the towel again etc after blowing out areas and it going everywhere etc
 
rover137 said:
It appears the consensus is to blow dry first and then towel dry - weather permitting. This confirms what i was thinking - water drying quickly and having to use the towel again etc after blowing out areas and it going everywhere etc
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Another thing blow drying first does, is to remove more water so that the towel has less work to do. ;)
 
rover137 said:
This is true. I don't think the little blower i ordered will be able to remove much water on flat panels :)

I have this guy coming - 18V ONE+ Workshop Blower
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If your vehicle is well maintained, you would be surprise how quickly the blower would disburse the water. Blower are also great at drying the wheels.

I have both the metro blaster side kick and the 8HP master blaster. I find myself using the sidekick much more due to the compact size. Both units have filtered warm air but the 8HP can blow a gallon of milk across the floor. LOL

Metro Blaster SideKick Now With 12 Foot Cord!

Metro Master Blaster
 
psnt1ol said:
If your vehicle is well maintained, you would be surprise how quickly the blower would disburse the water. Blower are also great at drying the wheels.

I have both the metro blaster side kick and the 8HP master blaster. I find myself using the sidekick much more due to the compact size. Both units have filtered warm air but the 8HP can blow a gallon of milk across the floor. LOL

Metro Blaster SideKick Now With 12 Foot Cord!

Metro Master Blaster
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I would like to think it is well maintained! Ceramic coating, polished, washed once a week etc

Sounds like a beast haha Yeah, that is why i got the little handheld compact one as i don't see myself setting up a full drying unit. I will also always use a towel with a drying aid anyway, so getting the majority of the car is not so much of a concern for me. It is those pesky little drips that i am sick of!

I have been reading about filtered air with blowers - the one i ordered doesn't specify if it is filtered or not. I assume it isn't as it is a blower and not a dedicated dryer. How much of a concern is this?

I know of a lot of detailers who use this exact model for nooks and crannies.
 
rover137 said:
This is true. I don't think the little blower i ordered will be able to remove much water on flat panels :)

I have this guy coming - 18V ONE+ Workshop Blower
Click to expand...

I have a similar Dewalt. It does a good job of getting a bulk of the water off my car and it's not ceramic coated. Should work better for you since yours is.
 
rover137 said:
I would like to think it is well maintained! Ceramic coating, polished, washed once a week etc

Sounds like a beast haha Yeah, that is why i got the little handheld compact one as i don't see myself setting up a full drying unit. I will also always use a towel with a drying aid anyway, so getting the majority of the car is not so much of a concern for me. It is those pesky little drips that i am sick of!

I have been reading about filtered air with blowers - the one i ordered doesn't specify if it is filtered or not. I assume it isn't as it is a blower and not a dedicated dryer. How much of a concern is this?

I know of a lot of detailers who use this exact model for nooks and crannies.
Click to expand...

If you're just doing your own vehicles, the blower you have is more than capable.

The thing that most newbies get their brains twisted over is the "There is always a bigger, badder, better, and newer" way to do things with "It's better than what you have" products.

There will always be something "better" than what you have. But, most times that just comes down to circumstances and/or opinion.

Stop worrying, and enjoy what you have at the moment. If, in the future, you find that you need something different, then cross that bridge when you come to it. (If you are in New York like me, you will have to pay a toll for the bridge). :laughing:
 
Nice! Never thought i'd be excited to use a blower on my car... haha
 
PaulMys said:
If you're just doing your own vehicles, the blower you have is more than capable.

The thing that most newbies get their brains twisted over is the "There is always a bigger, badder, better, and newer" way to do things with "It's better than what you have" products.

There will always be something "better" than what you have. But, most times that just comes down to circumstances and/or opinion.

Stop worrying, and enjoy what you have at the moment. If, in the future, you find that you need something different, then cross that bridge when you come to it. (If you are in New York like me, you will have to pay a toll for the bridge). :laughing:
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Yeah, very easy to fall into this trap! I started detailing about 1.5-2 yrs ago and have spent a fortune on DAs, chemicals, tools etc. It is enjoyable and for me, relaxing. There does come a point where you have to step back and let go of certain things though.

I watched a video the other night and some guy said to only used 'filtered air' blowers for your car. I doubt this will have any real impact.

This little guy will be perfect for my needs i think. :)
 
rover137 said:
I watched a video the other night and some guy said to only used 'filtered air' blowers for your car. I doubt this will have any real impact.

This little guy will be perfect for my needs i think. :)
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I have used my gas-powered backpack leaf blower on my truck for years with zero problems.

The blower takes in the air surrounding the intake. Maybe some people have sand and pebbles in their air??

Don't sweat it. :)
 
PaulMys said:
I have used my gas-powered backpack leaf blower on my truck for years with zero problems.

The blower takes in the air surrounding the intake. Maybe some people have sand and pebbles in their air??

Don't sweat it. :)
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Good point! If that were the case, then every time you drive your car at medium-high speeds you are damaging the paint with air particles.
 
rover137 said:
Good point! If that were the case, then every time you drive your car at medium-high speeds you are damaging the paint with air particles.
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Driving the car would be more harmful than drying it with a blower.

(Cars kicking up debris in front of you at 60mph, etc.)

At some point, we all need to slap the OCD in the face, live life, and accept the fact that nothing is perfect. Ever.
 
I like the Sidekick. That's my go to. I often use the electric leaf blower too. Gas one spits out more fuel within the air than you may realize. I learned that one day blowing out the interior with it.

I keep a towel in hand while air drying and use it when needed.
 
PaulMys said:
Driving the car would be more harmful than drying it with a blower.

(Cars kicking up debris in front of you at 60mph, etc.)

At some point, we all need to slap the OCD in the face, live life, and accept the fact that nothing is perfect. Ever.
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You speak the truth! Catch 22 though - it is usually the perfection element of this hobby that draws most of us in.
 
Using a blower to dry will reduce the chance of marring even further. I had a jet black BMW years back and the paint was so soft that it would mar if I sneezes on it. The only way I could maintained it was with aid of a blower. At the end of the day, all blowers will do the job. Warm filtered air is nice in the winter months but honestly speaking... it not that much better than what you got (except for the 8HP one---its a beast). Just as long your vehicle protection is maintained, all blowers will make quick work of the drying process.

The other reason I went with the metro blaster was due to my dog groomers. They use them all day long and the pets were not afraid of it for some reason. I can dry my dog with it in less time it takes to write this paragraph. Now...Only if I could ceramic coat my dog. LOL
 
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