BudgetPlan1
Active member
To keep things `above board` and in the interest of full disclosure, I didnt purchase this item (nor did I get to keep it afterwards). One day a big Esoteric box showed up at work, followed by a call from them saying "Hi, we`re going to be releasing something I think you`d like; give it a try and let us know what you think." I guess they were looking for the "lowest common denominator" opinion of it from a non-pro who can barely wash a car without tripping over the hose and breaking my hip 
I am certainly quite qualified given those circumstances.
So they announced yesterday they were bringing in the BigBoi line of auto air dryers, made in Australia.
I got a chance to play around with the BigBoi Mini air dryer unit for a bit, thing is *solid*. All the controls are very well designed, sturdy...just gives one the feeling you definately won`t be having any issues with build quality. Hose connections between machine and attachments are equally robust. And the hose is very sturdy and substantial as well, not prone to kinking or twisting and not a cheap, thin plastic.
Those folks Down Under sure know how to design a quality item; certainly not a re-purposed leaf blower motor and housing kludged together with a cheap hose. This is a purposeful item, designed from the ground up to do what it`s supposed to do...and it does it very well, IMO.
Bonus points for the heated air that keeps ya warmed a bit in chillier temps while helping to dry up/evaporate the lighter, misty areas of panels. Sometimes it`s the little things that move an item from `functional` to `enjoyably functional`.
One of the things I was really surprised with` was the light weight of the unit; it`s built like a tank but certainly isn`t heavy whatsoever. Even when it was sitting on a table doing nothing, couldn`t help picking it up whenever I walked by because it just looks like it should be heavy but it`s deceptively light.
Not a pro detailer here by any stretch, just having fun, keeping the cars looking as good as I can (as easily as possible) and I see one of these in my future...and, as with most things, will likely go overboard (for my needs) with the dual motor PRO model cuz, well...nothing exceeds like excess. If it helps me, I`m definately all in, especially given my affinity for black cars. I guess I need it the same way my wife needs 37 pairs of shoes for her two feet.
I did let go of the nozzle for a moment when hose was draped around my neck, challenging minute spent corralling that thing (both times I did it). Some of us need to learn to hard way, I guess.
I`ve wanted to move to air drying for a while now; air compressor with rubber tipped chuck can squirt some high pressure streams of air for sure but these dedicated blowers move a larger volume of air as well, clearing wider areas of wet panel far more efficiently in a` watercolor brush vs paint roller kinda way.
I`m in on this one, end of the day it seems well built and will make my life easier, especially when washing outside w a tree filled yard close by. Gravity sometimes `happens` when towel` drying...not good no matter what kinda of `greatest ever` drying towel is touching the surface.
While the Mini will no doubt do just fine, will likely go for the Pro model, add the wall mount and 29m hose which will easily work from garage by just dragging hose out. Not the cheapest way to go but much like pressure washer & foam cannon, if I dont make it easy to use, I`ll probably quit using it.
I`ve almost jumped in a few times with various blowers, hesitated as other models/brands seem to have had a `but` attached to them. "Yeah, that looks like it`ll work but..." or "That`s` great in this way...but I`m not sure about that other part". Had `em in my cart many times, just could never pull the trigger.
The BigBoi just didnt raise any of those `but` thoughts in my mind; did what it`s designed to do, does it well, does it easily, does it quickly, does it safely, makes my life easier and keeps the paint in better shape. Tough to beat that..
To be sure, I`ve never blown dry a car with a device like MetroVac or other popular air dryers so I cant compare to them, quite possible they`re as good or better...I dunno. But since I got to try this one and I *know* I like how its built and works, I`ll stick with buying it come this Spring. Certainly don`t need it during winter-time in Cleveland.
As with anything in this highly subjective profession/hobby, it`s all just my opinion and YMMV.
Pro, Mini and Buddi models below
I am certainly quite qualified given those circumstances.So they announced yesterday they were bringing in the BigBoi line of auto air dryers, made in Australia.
I got a chance to play around with the BigBoi Mini air dryer unit for a bit, thing is *solid*. All the controls are very well designed, sturdy...just gives one the feeling you definately won`t be having any issues with build quality. Hose connections between machine and attachments are equally robust. And the hose is very sturdy and substantial as well, not prone to kinking or twisting and not a cheap, thin plastic.
Those folks Down Under sure know how to design a quality item; certainly not a re-purposed leaf blower motor and housing kludged together with a cheap hose. This is a purposeful item, designed from the ground up to do what it`s supposed to do...and it does it very well, IMO.
Bonus points for the heated air that keeps ya warmed a bit in chillier temps while helping to dry up/evaporate the lighter, misty areas of panels. Sometimes it`s the little things that move an item from `functional` to `enjoyably functional`.
One of the things I was really surprised with` was the light weight of the unit; it`s built like a tank but certainly isn`t heavy whatsoever. Even when it was sitting on a table doing nothing, couldn`t help picking it up whenever I walked by because it just looks like it should be heavy but it`s deceptively light.
Not a pro detailer here by any stretch, just having fun, keeping the cars looking as good as I can (as easily as possible) and I see one of these in my future...and, as with most things, will likely go overboard (for my needs) with the dual motor PRO model cuz, well...nothing exceeds like excess. If it helps me, I`m definately all in, especially given my affinity for black cars. I guess I need it the same way my wife needs 37 pairs of shoes for her two feet.
I did let go of the nozzle for a moment when hose was draped around my neck, challenging minute spent corralling that thing (both times I did it). Some of us need to learn to hard way, I guess.
I`ve wanted to move to air drying for a while now; air compressor with rubber tipped chuck can squirt some high pressure streams of air for sure but these dedicated blowers move a larger volume of air as well, clearing wider areas of wet panel far more efficiently in a` watercolor brush vs paint roller kinda way.
I`m in on this one, end of the day it seems well built and will make my life easier, especially when washing outside w a tree filled yard close by. Gravity sometimes `happens` when towel` drying...not good no matter what kinda of `greatest ever` drying towel is touching the surface.
While the Mini will no doubt do just fine, will likely go for the Pro model, add the wall mount and 29m hose which will easily work from garage by just dragging hose out. Not the cheapest way to go but much like pressure washer & foam cannon, if I dont make it easy to use, I`ll probably quit using it.
I`ve almost jumped in a few times with various blowers, hesitated as other models/brands seem to have had a `but` attached to them. "Yeah, that looks like it`ll work but..." or "That`s` great in this way...but I`m not sure about that other part". Had `em in my cart many times, just could never pull the trigger.
The BigBoi just didnt raise any of those `but` thoughts in my mind; did what it`s designed to do, does it well, does it easily, does it quickly, does it safely, makes my life easier and keeps the paint in better shape. Tough to beat that..
To be sure, I`ve never blown dry a car with a device like MetroVac or other popular air dryers so I cant compare to them, quite possible they`re as good or better...I dunno. But since I got to try this one and I *know* I like how its built and works, I`ll stick with buying it come this Spring. Certainly don`t need it during winter-time in Cleveland.
As with anything in this highly subjective profession/hobby, it`s all just my opinion and YMMV.
Pro, Mini and Buddi models below
