What do you use to dry your car?

Not to knock others preferences. buuuut....

The difference between a leaf blower and even a Metro Sidekick is night and day(and the Metro is only $79)...I wonder why people prefer this option.

Also, I need to see a video review of someone drying their car with a leaf blower....I just have to :) One bump of the paint with that big ole clunky plastic piece and...cut, take 2. lol
 
A yes...sheet rinsing should be mandatory...a well clayed, polished, WAX'd car...and 85% of your water will be gone with a good sheet rinse.
 
I like to use a few 16x16 mf towels damp with ammo hydrate then do a blow out of the mirrors and other areas.
 
So is it safe to use an electric leaf blower?

And so as soon as I finish up washing a car, you take spray detailer with a MF cloth and just wipe while it's still wait?

And do you dry with a blower or clothes after that ?
 
Look up some video's of the Metro Sidekick or even Air Force Blaster (Motorcycle version) or Master Blaster if you get a chance. Concentrated, filtered warm air is so much more safe and affective in IMO.
 
I use one cobra guzzler hd, and a final wipe with a cobra xl yellow plush towel applying instant detailer.
 
I used to only use Waffle Weave microfiber towels, after flooding the paint using the aforementioned method.

However... a few weeks ago I finally went out and purchased a leaf blower from Lowes (or was it Home Depot) for about $40. It is electric (which is what I preferred. With two stroke engines you have to mix the oil and gas and it becomes more work than it is worth. With this it is just plug and play!)

Now I still flood the paint, then I blow it and then follow up with the spots that were heavy or have water remaining with a drying aid and a waffle weave microfiber towel.

With my new method I really can't see how I could go wrong, because with my old method I didn't instill any major swirls or scratches (after about a 6 months since the last polishing session.) This method just lessens the amount of time that I am spending touching the paint, which is all the better in my book!


I do just about the same. I use a cordless makita leaf blower, while more expensive is a whole lot easier since I have no cords to deal with. After I have blown the car, another tip that I mentioned once before is to spritz teh car with a quick detailer as you wipe the remaining water off and it will leave the car completely spot free.
 
Come to think of it, when I purchased my 16 gallon craftsman Wet/Dry vac, I think it has a portable blower built in.

And is it safe to use some detailer spray from auto zone?

Or would this blower be suitable? GAS LEAF BLOWER(runs great)
 
Come to think of it, when I purchased my 16 gallon craftsman Wet/Dry vac, I think it has a portable blower built in.

And is it safe to use some detailer spray from auto zone?

Or would this blower be suitable? GAS LEAF BLOWER(runs great)


You could use any leaf blower you want, as long as it has enough power to move water. As far as detail spray, depends on the brand. If you are going to autozone, pick up Meguiars Ultimate Quick Detailer.
 
And as far as the blower, any specific HP to look for?
 
There is real good stuff and stuff that will "work" to dry. You could dry your car with old oil change rags and paper towels if you like. I have a leaf blower and it sucks compared to the Master/Air Force Blaster and Sidekick.

The leaf blower may help, if thats all you have. But a gas leave blower always has the potential of shooting oil/gas/combustion remnants out with the air flow onto your paint. It's not designed to dry cars (or dry anything), so there is no incentive for the manufacturer to concern themselves overly with this. Byproducts of combustion may make your paint slightly oily and attract more dirt.

It also won't filter or heat air, so you potentially could be shooting whatever particles or bugs that may be floating around in the air at your paint. If you don't believe in airborne particles, wash your car and leave it outside for a day. There will be "stuff" on the horizontal panels. How abrasive or damaging that "stuff" is at 160 mph shot at your paint is anyone's guess.

I use what I think is the "best stuff": Microfiber Madness towels (Dry Me Crazy/Wave Rider Jr)/Cobra Guzzler HD/Sonus Der Wunder Waffle Weave, a Master Blaster, and de-ionized water.

At least get some good towels and a good quick detailer. A single 16"x24" quality waffle weave towel will like last you a thousand washes or so if you care for it right. With numbers like that, I just can't see getting a drying towel at a department store unless you are not worried about scratches.
 
I'm going to pick up the detailer spray at auto zone and then go by my local detail supplier to get MFers. I am sure they have good stuff that won't leave scratches on paint. Anything else to look for that will help us noobs :) ?
 
Flood technique, wipe with damp but wringed out costco towel, fully dry with Pakshak waffle Weave MF towel.
 
Dear SoFlo1

Now is the best time to watch for sales on the Master Blaster air dryer. When 15+% off becomes available, get one.

There is no doubt that you must get one of these.
 
I'm going to pick up the detailer spray at auto zone and then go by my local detail supplier to get MFers. I am sure they have good stuff that won't leave scratches on paint. Anything else to look for that will help us noobs :) ?

:doh:

:surrender:
 
Is the Master Blaster sold by auto geek or something?

And can I get the waffle weave towels anywhere locally?
 
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