thank you providing the model # ! will get this.

 

I highly recommend the newer cordless blowers. I love my 40 volt cordless Ryobi, that I just toss in the car and blow the car off right in the wash bay, or anywhere.

 

I've been using my 25 year old Toro electric which was state of the art at the time to do mine. When I have the backpack out, it at least dust off all the cars after whatever I was doing.

Bill, I had one of those blades, I think it was the "Ice blade" . I tried it on my black Z after washing and it left " micro scratches" . Could it have been and inferior product?

 

The one that I have is made of medical grade silicone. Branded as a California water blade. Because there is so much water on the finish, its not like a squeegee ( it floats on a cushion of water to remove 90% of the volume. I don't use it often, but I have used it. For me, the leaf blower works great, and with the Zaino protections its fun to see the water just blow away.
Ive tried all these blowers and settled long ago... they all work well. but some have more limitations then others.

The cordless ones all have a battery that almost weighs as much as my blower, combined with the blower itself, it weights twice as much as mine.

The gas powered ones are too heavy by a long shot, they smell and can be oily.

Now I am old and in poor health as I mentioned, and for me its all about fatigue and maneuverability.

I love playing like I'm still healthy and strong, but I have to used those things that work for me.

I also like this on because it is short, I that I can easily maneuver it with one hand, under the hood, inside the cabin and over my head while controlling the cord, effortlessly . I can walk completely around the car with out having to reset my hold. The one handed action and the maneuverability are critical for my ability to blow off the cars. The master blaster is too heavy to carry around the car, although the hose is long, there is too much going on for me. Its a great machine when it comes to heat and volume but just too restrictive for my use. and of course lastly, is the cost

Master blaster around 350 dollars

Battery powered 40 Amp blowers are 150 dollars ( last about 15 minutes )on a charge, You can buy an additional battery for 100 dollars. making this a 250 dollar deal and they are still heavy.
250 dollars

Then my Homelite weight 4.9 lbs cost 32.00 at home depot and have seen them as low as 25 dollars on Ebay.

The good thing about a leaf blower is the NO Touch approach. also it dries off areas that wou8ld normally collect water and sit until it evaporated. Areas of the frame, under the hood, between the door jams hinges and wire looms.

I am Not putting down anyone's method or their choice of blower, just offering my opinion based on my needs.

Bill

 

I'm going to weigh in here in favor of the Master Blaster. My wife bought me the heated 8hp version for Christmas last December and it has been a Godsend. I have been washing cars for 40+ years and this is easily the best upgrade I've ever used just in front of the deionizing water system I installed a couple of years ago. Where I live, the amount of contaminants in the water borders on criminal. It's hot here - even in the early morning in the summer months - so the water dries very quickly leaving heavy white mineral deposits all over the car, making it look dirtier than when I started and damaging the paint as well.

Enter the deionized water. After I started using this, most of my drying issues went away but there was still a fair amount of work to get the car dry, especially the wife's Audi Q5. Once I added the MB to the process, it all goes smoothly and easily.

I added the 30 ft. hose and hung the MB on the wall in the garage next to the deionizing setup. After the deionizing rinse, I use the MB hose to blow the car off, which is actually quite easy and fun. The hose nozzle is rubbery so very easy on the hands and the car. I just walk around the car with the hose and blow every drop of water off the car and out of every single crevice - not more unsightly drips from the mirrors, etc. I blow out the door jambs, hatch and even the inside of the car. The nice thin is you can use one or both blower speeds, depending on what you're doing and leave the heat off as well, if desired.

Cost is not so much an issue with me - results and ease of use are - and this is my favorite process to date.

As always, to each, his own.





Deionizing system


Valve system (with anti-backflow) for Deionized vs. unfiltered water I assembled and mounted next to the hose. I switch over to deionized water when I'm ready to rinse. The car will air-dry nearly spotless if I don't blow it dry.

 

Now we need a easy way to wax a car

 

I don't think there is anything easier or less labor intensive when working on a car's finish . Clay is just lightly slid over the surface of your finish with no pressure, gliding smoothly with an abundance of slippery lubrication.

when I do my car, I do one panel ( like a fender ) at a time which includes misting with water, blowing it off with air, then a mist of gloss enhancer and clay, then messaging in a very thin coat of Zaino. A buff off with a warm from the dryer, soft cotton cloth, then a final touch of gloss enhancer. then I move to the second panel ( a door panel ) roof top, or hatch. then to the rear quarter panel etc.

 

my first experience with clay was when I had to remove overspray from the cab and windows of my RV. I used medium and tho' the job ad results was 10 X easier than using a solvent, it was still tedious. Fast forward to Vette ownership and the process was a very pleasant revelation. I have a dedicated "claybar mix" in a separate bottle and I think the process is the easiest process in car care.

 

Another master blaster user here. Love the idea of blowing off the cars. Really helps avoid those swirl marks. The leaf blower looks like a much better value, but I will say I am very happy with the MB.

 

I am usually a proponent for the best quality tools I can find. Master blaster certainly fits that bill. I could certainly afford to buy one, but when I looked at the task at hand.
" Blowing the car off " a five minute process, I could not justify the cost for the result.

Ive been doing this long before the Master blaster was around. ( 20 years ) ... I looked at the master blaster and noted that it was 350 dollars. And what was I getting for that 350 dollars ? A blower that would dry my car off in 5 minutes...

So for me it would be a 1000% cost increase, I said 1000% ! cost increase to deliver almost the same result.

It would be like buying a hydraulic press that cost 500 dollars to crack a walnut that could be done with a 5 dollar nut cracker. Just an analogy of cost and result that would be 1000% difference.

I could not see any advantage and now that I am not in good health, the lightweight blower is even more attractive, and appreciated.

Ed is a very close friend and well respected, and I would normally take anything he says to the bank. IM only 0ffering my input, because not everyone is as well healed as Ed, and for the most part, the people here are buying into a C5 because its a great car that can be bought for little money. So , while many could afford a master blaster, things like College tuition, big mortgages, food etc, make people choose priorities.

The blow dry method is by far the best avenue to dry your car. it can be done for 35 dollars or 350 dollars... I can remember when I was in College, weighing the value of a 6 pack of generic dog food over a brand name in order to save 50 cents. I was just saying that to my wife the other day and that we have come a long way in 50 years of marriage.

 

Point taken, Bill. You know I never compromise when it comes to my passions - my wife, my work, my pups my house, and my Vettes. Like you, I've worked hard to get where I am so I don't take purchases like this lightly. The MB is so easy to use (since you're not carrying anything but a plastic hose) that it makes drying the car a stress-free task and does a fantastic job blowing every last drop out of the crevices, so, to me, it was worth the price of admission.

I only relate what my experiences are here to help round out the experience base and help people make better choices - I'm not trying to persuade anyone to buy something that is not of use or outside their budget. Most here will choose not to buy the MB because it doesn't represent significant value over other products so my posts have helped them make a choice. For those who are looking for that next level of specialty product and can easily afford it, I hope I've helped them as well.

 

Can I hug you Ed ?
You have been my longest and closest friend here for 15 years. I value everything you do and say... But what I really want to know, since we are long friends and colleagues... Who is actually longer? IM 5'9" in.

 

5'11"

Every time I look at my C5, I think of you, Bill. And I did today, btw.

 

Sorry about that ED... you wont have me to kick around forever ya know... I even texted Kenny today.

the only reason I bought the Homelite blower was because it was torch red.. had the master blaster been red... this thread would have taken on a whole new twist.. LOL. There is a lot of extra value in a torch red master blaster. would have been willing to spend an extra 318 dollars for the right color.

 

Same here. I use the Master Blaster about twice a year on the C5 (since I only wash it a couple times a year).

The Master Blaster also heats and filters the air (you can see crap always floating in the air around here) and the cone nozzle concentrates the air velocity in areas like the weatherstripping, door jambs and mirrors. It actually compresses the rubber weatherstripping (like around the back glass) to get EVERYTHiNG out). In fact I usually wash the car quickly, then blow out all the seams (which usually flushes out some fine trapped dirt and crud) then continue washing the car.

Since I have a tiled garage, I also use it to blow out some of the standing water after I mop.

 

This is what I've been using for the past 12+ years.



Blows my 3 piece polished non-cleared HRE rims dry in seconds, rivets and all. Never have to touch them and no water spots. Blows the taillights, emblems, door handles, mirrors and 90% of the body of the car dry in minutes and no water spots on my black paint.

 

Using an electric blower now but I think I will eventually get the MB. Probably does a much better job although pricey.

Bill

 

Of course!!!!! the red ones have much more power and can melt iron on the high setting!

 

How much water are you using to wash your interior. All I use is as much a damp rag can hold.
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My backpack exhausts to the opposite side, but it's really tough getting in and out of the car....