Leaf blower
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,758
Likes: 668
From: Fort Wayne, IN
I'm at that point in life that I'd rather have the right tool for the job and lifting the leaf blower to the angles/heights needed to blow out all the crevasse is getting to be a bit much. Plus I wash in my garage, running the gas blower in there just stinks to high hell.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 260
From: Sturgeon County Alberta
they move air...lots of it. Other than the heated portion they do the same thing. Good coating on the car and 98% of the water is gone in under 5 minutes. Dual purpose is pretty damn awesome sometimes.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
I don't disagree, I just know that **** happens (personal experience) and a rubber hose is much less prone to cause damage. Electric leaf blowers (IMO) just don't cut it, so gas powered is the only other option. I don't think the leaf blower is a bad idea, did it for years myself.
I'm at that point in life that I'd rather have the right tool for the job and lifting the leaf blower to the angles/heights needed to blow out all the crevasse is getting to be a bit much. Plus I wash in my garage, running the gas blower in there just stinks to high hell.
I'm at that point in life that I'd rather have the right tool for the job and lifting the leaf blower to the angles/heights needed to blow out all the crevasse is getting to be a bit much. Plus I wash in my garage, running the gas blower in there just stinks to high hell.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 600
Some manufacturers only publish the speed (MPH) at which their blowers blow and not necessarily how much air it moves (CFM). Be sure to check for both values. Gas driven blowers feature both the ability to move debris (MPH) and keep it moving (CFM); this combination of high speed and high volume air output combine to create a air flow that will perform the job and be comfortable to operate. Most gas powered leaf blows can easily generate 400+ cubic feet per minute flow rates with velocities of 170+ mph. This volume of flow is what gets water out of crevices quickly and the reason why heat is not necessary. Dedicated air blowers have nowhere near the CFM volume nor velocity rating a gas leaf blower does. If you want to get the job done quickly and water spot free, go with a 2-stroke gas blower. Never had paint damage from using a gas blower.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 930
Likes: 333
From: Sherrills Ford North Carolina
Old Fashion.. I guess
I just wash my car in the shade when I can to limit water marks. I also use a Squeegee to get the bulk of the water off my cars and finish up with a chamois cloth. Keeping my car waxed probably helps. I do have a backpack leaf blower that I could use, but I just have not had a need too.
If I do find water marks, I keep a bottle of diluted Vinegar to clean it up.
Do what works best for you!
If I do find water marks, I keep a bottle of diluted Vinegar to clean it up.
Do what works best for you!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
CFM is king and the size of the hose creates the "speed/velocity" of the air coming out... SO the Master blaster has 400 CFM and they take that down to a 1.5 inch hose... I am going to try the same thing with mine so 600 CFM down to a 1.5 inch hose, should move some water
http://www.airshammy.com/what-is-peak-horsepower/
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 600
Some manufacturers only publish the speed (MPH) at which their blowers blow and not necessarily how much air it moves (CFM). Be sure to check for both values. Gas driven blowers feature both the ability to move debris (MPH) and keep it moving (CFM); this combination of high speed and high volume air output combine to create a air flow that will perform the job and be comfortable to operate. Most gas powered leaf blows can easily generate 400+ cubic feet per minute flow rates with velocities of 170+ mph. This volume of flow is what gets water out of crevices quickly and the reason why heat is not necessary. Dedicated air blowers have nowhere near the CFM volume nor velocity rating a gas leaf blower does. If you want to get the job done quickly and water spot free, go with a 2-stroke gas blower. Never had paint damage from using a gas blower.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 81
Likes: 39
From: Florida
I use my Husqvarna leaf blower. Never ran into issues. Sometimes use my air compressor with filter for hard to reach areas.
Lately I've been addicted to mckee's 37 hydro blue. It's awesome! Bit pricey though. I know most around here swear by bead maker but I have never used it so can't compare.
Lately I've been addicted to mckee's 37 hydro blue. It's awesome! Bit pricey though. I know most around here swear by bead maker but I have never used it so can't compare.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
I use my Husqvarna leaf blower. Never ran into issues. Sometimes use my air compressor with filter for hard to reach areas.
Lately I've been addicted to mckee's 37 hydro blue. It's awesome! Bit pricey though. I know most around here swear by bead maker but I have never used it so can't compare.
Lately I've been addicted to mckee's 37 hydro blue. It's awesome! Bit pricey though. I know most around here swear by bead maker but I have never used it so can't compare.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,758
Likes: 668
From: Fort Wayne, IN
I'll wash my vehicle in the cool of the morning in my driveway. A maintenance wash will take me about 1/2 hour. I'll dry the vehicle in 4-5 minutes. My Echo leaf blower weighs about 8 lbs. That compares with about the same weight as an AR-15 (~7.5 lbs). With a nylon strap on it is very manageable even for us old guys.
A good leaf blower works great for moving the water off the car. I think it's less than optimal to hold at head height or higher to blow out the crevasse, and all it takes is a simple mistake/slip to drop it on the car. I agree it should be easy to hold it over and not drop it, until I did! I assume most people dry more than their prized sports cars? Trying to dry the top of SUV's makes it even more challenging. End result is getting water off the car, do it with what you're comfortable with. If something new and better comes out for this task, I'll welcome it!
Dual purpose? If that was truly important, we'd all be driving Teslas... just as quick if not quicker, haul more people, offer better tech and will take you everywhere a Vette will. But we prefer sports cars as a purpose built machine for a completely different experience.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,992
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
^^^
"Different Experience"
My doctor has a M3 and a Tesla. He says the Tesla is a great road trip car for people who like to read- drive for a couple hundred miles, then read for a couple of hours while recharging. Repeat until dinner time.
"Different Experience"
My doctor has a M3 and a Tesla. He says the Tesla is a great road trip car for people who like to read- drive for a couple hundred miles, then read for a couple of hours while recharging. Repeat until dinner time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,758
Likes: 668
From: Fort Wayne, IN
. Good thing is you can surf the internet while you drive/charge.Tesla's are okay, I've kicked it around since most of my work travel is less than 200 miles round trip. Great tech and seem to be reliable, but the fit and finish are terrible... at least on the one's I've been in. Wind noise is simply not acceptable for the price. But then again... if it's a work car, who cares?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
I guess I'm just low class - Sub $70 Toro 12A 120V electric leaf blower. Just used it today. Been using it for 10+ years.
As others have said - if you keep your car waxed - the drying becomes less of an issue. Using a blower on a car that is not waxed does NOT work well.
IMHO - There is no way that Metrovac is all that much better - Yes - they probably have a higher efficiency motor - but there is loss in flexible hose - and every foot of hose causes more loss. So I expect that the leaf blower I'm using is actually putting more air on the car than the Metrovac.
I didn't see this in other posts - but I typically use the blower to move the majority of water off the horizontal surfaces first - then go back and really get things dry.
As others have said - if you keep your car waxed - the drying becomes less of an issue. Using a blower on a car that is not waxed does NOT work well.
IMHO - There is no way that Metrovac is all that much better - Yes - they probably have a higher efficiency motor - but there is loss in flexible hose - and every foot of hose causes more loss. So I expect that the leaf blower I'm using is actually putting more air on the car than the Metrovac.
I didn't see this in other posts - but I typically use the blower to move the majority of water off the horizontal surfaces first - then go back and really get things dry.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 305
Likes: 67
From: york south carolina
top half comes off as a easy carry blower. Kill two birds with one stone. I was lucky paid 40 for it but amazone 80 or so.
Advanced
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 81
Likes: 39
From: Florida
Safety Car
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https://www.autogeek.net/mckees-hydro-blue-coating.html
Scientific Negotiator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,724
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From: USA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'10, '14
I use to use my leaf blower as well. Works good just a little long on the nozzle. But now I ;use my shop vac with blower attachment that came with it for car. I like it much better.
top half comes off as a easy carry blower. Kill two birds with one stone. I was lucky paid 40 for it but amazone 80 or so.
top half comes off as a easy carry blower. Kill two birds with one stone. I was lucky paid 40 for it but amazone 80 or so.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
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From: cookeville tennessee