Leafblower drying method

S

Sidney Trainer

New member
I have recently started to blowdry my cars with a leafblower and remove any other water left with an MF what do you guys think? Is this better than using the california water blade followed by a chamois? It seems to me the blower not making contact with the paint and then drying what is left with an MF is better than with a chamois? your thoughts?:nixweiss
 
I use a leaf blower. First you need a blower that has a filter. Most electrics have filters. One advantage of the blower is to help remove water from place you can not reach like mirrows, grilles etc. I do not try to completely dry with the blower. After I shed the water with the hose ,I blow and then follow with an mf.



good luck
 
I've always wondered if this leafblower thing is actually worth all the hassle.



I CWB the vehicle, waffle weave then leave it out in the sun to dry off while I wash the next customers vehicle.



Seems the sun gets rid of accumulated water and any drips only leave a few small water spots easily removed by QD when I go round finishing up.



I guess I only do it this way to save time.
 
Using a leaf blower is nice, easy, and fast. Once you're done washing, just quickly run it around the car around lights, door handles, door jams, etc., and then go back with a microfiber to wipe up little drips here and there. Works like a charm! Goes sooo much faster!! (in my opinion anyways) Neighbors might look at you funny, but it's well worth it :)
 
I tried a gas powered leaf blower and IMO it would be necessary to hold the nozzle within inches of the surface and move it along to effectively remove the water. Of course this was on a surface with a good beading wax on the surface. Using the hose without a nozzle to 'cascade ' the water off in a sheet is much more effective AND a lot less subject to potential disaster !
 
drying with a leaf blower is god damn genius!! I recently discovered this technique as a great way to remove water from under door handles, under spoilers and wheels especially.



I'll use the CWB, then leaf blower, and mop up the rest/finish the car off with a Ralph Lauren 100% cotton towel...:up
 
Hmm I dont know about that towel most of if not all bath towels leave swirls. I would only trust a microfiber like autopia drying towel or Viper MF's.
 
Well, only thing I can say about this technique is to echo what was said earlier. You really better have a blower with a filter. Ya just never know what crud you're blowing at your paint at that high air speed.
 
I have been using a leaf blower now for a good number of years, more than I care to count cause then it shows my age....sheesh that's depressing:(



As long as you have a dedicated leaf blower, meaning it is not used on Sunday to mulch your lawn cuttings, it will work great. My method of drying after my final rinse is to use the blower to blow off the standing water only but not to completely dry the car off. A MF and some QD to finish it off. I will demonstrate how I wash and dry cars in my DVD which we "HOPE", God willing, to have done around Christmas time.



Anthony
 
i use the toro 215 mph leaf bloer to get 98% of the water off then get the rest w/ the absorber, but i find it hard to get all the water off on cars that arent waxed w/ the blower but wil my 20+ coats of zaino it just flies right off
 
You guys and your leaf blowers!



Why don't you guys just take the car around the block goin really fast! I've tried it and it works well. 215 mph leaf blower... I think thats overkill:o no leaf should deserve that much wind...:D



-Andrew
 
Gee, must be nice you all have a "Clean Room" to use a leaf blower in!



There is no way I would ever use a leaf blower on a finish!



Between whatever you have in the area, this includes walls, floors, ceilings and whatever is in the air to get sucked into the blower and force onto the finish. This is just a disaster waiting to happen.



Use a CWB and a waffel towel and you're done. Very simple, less risk to the finish.



Deanski
 
dru85 said:
You guys and your leaf blowers!



Why don't you guys just take the car around the block goin really fast! I've tried it and it works well. 215 mph leaf blower... I think thats overkill:o no leaf should deserve that much wind...:D



-Andrew
Click to expand...



Going around the block.... :hm



I can think of a few reasons not to...



dirt, dust and debris on the street



the local landscapers blowing lawn clippings and other crap off the lawn and into the street, adding to the dirt, dust and debris



speeding through the neighborhood



kids riding bikes, skateboarding, or skating in the street....



I do use the leaf blower do get the "dripples" out of the door handles, seams and grill area.



I would never use the leaf blower inside the garage.
 
i blow out the area around the car before I wash it to get rid of any debris. The blower is used only for the car so I really don't have to worry about any crud flyig around. I prefer using an electric blower over gas because the gas blowers leave an oily film on the car.
 
Again, a "dedicated| leaf blower (one used strictly for car drying) will not cause any damge to your finish BUT driving the car around the block or down the street will pick up debris and fine dust and the dust will then "cling" to your wet car.



Using a california water blade is no better because it can catch a piece of grit and then drag it across your finish. I use a leaf blower on $100,000 to $300,000 exotics and never had a problem. If it was a problem I would of given up on them years ago. Most electric leaf blowers have a screen or filter right where the intake is so there is no need to worry about it sucking in dirt and then shooting out at your car. Besides if you wory about dirt and debris hitting your car then you had better leave it garaged because it gets tons more debris thrown at it on the open road in one day then any leaf blower will ever blow across it.



But each to his or her own.



Anthony
 
Yes, driving is sheer idiotic when wet.



If i was to used a forced air method, I'd use my good old air compressor with the dryers attached and the HEPA filter as well (used for painting cars) so this is by far the cleanest air, but I'd wet the floor first so not to P/U any dust. I had one area set for painting, fully enclosed, proper vents, all surfaces treated to keep dust/dirt to min.



For me, the CWB is fine. If the car is clean, it will not p/u any dirt, besides, it's checked each time during use. I have a small amount of water running that it runs under each wipe if needed. Follwed by a clean waffel.



Leaf blower method may be OK for some, but in the wrong hands and w/o a wet area to keep dirt down, dust is back on the finish.



Enjoy "blowing" your cars. Doh!



Regards,

Deanski
 
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