Detailing air blower

[FISH22]

I've been using the small Metro for about 15 years now. Thing is a beast and hasn't skipped a beat. Used on all my cars and past motorcycles. I like it because it concentrates a really good blast, pushes every drop of water out of anywhere.

But I use this in conjunction with my Makita leaf blower; that just does a better job of covering a larger surface and moving more air.

[Unimatrix0]

Got the Ego 765 CFM, with the "Stubby"
Complete overkill!
Works great and fast, but noisy... lol

[davidmct-M3]

I toyed with the idea of a blower rather than microfibre towels to dry the car. In the end I went for purified water as last rinse then air dry.

https://raceglaze.co.uk/shop/race-gl...lter-14-litre/

I put a splitter with valves on my tap to allow flow to this plus my pressure washer.

[MMnut]

I dont understand this purified water thing. I tested the garden tap water (75ppm) which considered very good but there is no way I can wash the car, even in the shadow, or no sun and let air dry without spot. Always have to blow it off quick.

[davidmct-M3]

Originally Posted by MMnut

I dont understand this purified water thing. I tested the garden tap water (75ppm) which considered very good but there is no way I can wash the car, even in the shadow, or no sun and let air dry without spot. Always have to blow it off quick.

My water out of the tap is rock hard. After each side/area washed I remove soap with the pressure hose. I then rinse down with purified water. I also make sure any overspray removed as well. No spots. Purified water tests at 0ppm ( as accurate as strip allows anyway).

I was going to feed the purified water into my pressure washer but my detailer said minerals in normal water result in a better wash and also cleans off soap better.

[Game]

Anyone try the Airforce blaster sidekick compared to the Blo Air S?

Looking for something small.

[malvern_man]

I use the BigBoi BlowR Mini+ and I've also got a BigBoi Buddi

https://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/...mini-plus.aspx

https://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/...cle-dryer.aspx

[jsf721]

I’ve got the master blaster 8hp. Dual motor unit with the 30 foot hose. It’s awesome.

[dudley@07726]

I use the blower from my shop vac. Perfect for blowing off excess water. Then, I use a thick microfiber towel to finish it.

[DarkThrottleM]

I use the blo air GT. Hands down one of the best. My master blaster stopped working in the first year and the BigBoi let out the magic smoke 6 months after use. I would not recommend either of those unless they have been updated.

[BadgerDog]

So what the consensus on just how dangerous it is for a leaf blower to do dual duty? As in be used in the yard AND on a car. I realize there's some risk of dust blowing onto the car, but I feel like a few seconds of blowing it off to the side to clear it out would get 99% of that out of the way... and if you have a dedicated nozzle (the stubby) that's even fewer areas dust can cling to, though the motor is probably the main culprit regardless.

I'm seriously considering an Ego (probably the midrange) because I can use an upgrade to my crappy craftsman blower... but if its dedicated to the car I'm far less able to sell the expense to the wife.

I could potentially do something like the Blo Air-S (the handheld one) as a total solution, but I suspect that is going to be a bit weak to do the entire car. No doubt possible, but perhaps a bit of a pain in the butt.

So its either Ego doing dual duty, something like Air-S as the sole system for the car, or keep going with micro fiber.

Thoughts?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

So what the consensus on just how dangerous it is for a leaf blower to do dual duty?

It's probably not that big of a deal to dual it & the concern is ... overblown

that said, if I was going to have a dedicated blower for the car I'd get the 530 as it's quieter, lighter, & easier to use and you really don't need any more. I have the 765 and it's just overkill and when I remember I'm gonna pick up the 530 powerhead as they're pretty cheap.

The stubby is nice, but if you're only using the blower to blow out the cracks, etc then it's not really needed either.

Overall I find it easier to just towel dry, but the blower does come in super handy when it does.

[Clark_Kent]

I have an EGO 530CFM and it's plenty capable to dry the car and tackle light jobs around the yard. I've been using EGO to dry the car for about 8 years now. I've always used hearing protection when operating the leaf blower and suggest everyone do the same.

In my opinion a distilled and deionized water system is the ideal setup. When I was a young lad, way before the car washing market exploded I used this and it was awesome:

Mr. Clean AutoDry Car Wash System Starter Kit https://a.co/d/eMqx7o1

Extremely low tech but it worked very well! There was never a need to have a towel touch the car for drying purposes. This is essentially the precursor to the various spotless systems now on the market.

[BadgerDog]

Well my intent is to dry the entire care with air (and touch up the occasional spot with a towel after). I tried it with the cheapo leaf blower I have now and it worked well enough (though I had to move slowly) so I imagine any proper blower is worlds better. Thanks for the responses.

I may just go with the midrange ego. Itll be better for around the yard (I have a lot of gravel that gets leaves on it and its a PITA to get the leaves to blow off/across). And it will make short work of large panels / roof / etc.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

I have an EGO 530CFM and it's plenty capable to dry the car and tackle light jobs around the yard. I've been using EGO to dry the car for about 8 years now. I've always used hearing protection when operating the leaf blower and suggest everyone do the same.

In my opinion a distilled and deionized water system is the ideal setup. When I was a young lad, way before the car washing market exploded I used this and it was awesome:

Mr. Clean AutoDry Car Wash System Starter Kit https://a.co/d/eMqx7o1

Extremely low tech but it worked very well! There was never a need to have a towel touch the car for drying purposes. This is essentially the precursor to the various spotless systems now on the market.

I have a spotless but I rarely use it as I find it easier to just buy deionized water from the bulk section at the grocery store and use it for rinsing and/or my rinseless solution.

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I have a spotless but I rarely use it as I find it easier to just buy deionized water from the bulk section at the grocery store and use it for rinsing and/or my rinseless solution.

Interesting. How much are you spending on water per wash roughly? Also, what's your technique/approach?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Interesting. How much are you spending on water per wash roughly? Also, what's your technique/approach?

how much? I'm not sure, but it's $0.39/gallon at whole foods and I fill up both with de-i and RO drinking water every week in refillable jugs which is more/less what resin for my CR spotless costs, so, despite the fact I have quick connects, I also have a hydroshot which I usually have more/less ready to go. If I'm just doing a rinse, I just put the hose in the jug and rinse. If I'm doing a quick wash, I put the hose in a 5 gallon bucket with rinseless wash and spray down the whole car.

For the pre-wash, I do have a Kranzle pressure washer which sets up in about 20 seconds with the QDs and I have 3 foam cannons, each set up with either high-alkaline pre-wash, regular car shampoo, and wheel / tire cleaner (like brake buster).

For process, it depends on if I'm doing a quick wash or an ultra dirty pre-wash.

For a pre-wash, I'll foam each wheel/well/tire, wash, rinse, then do the next one. Then I'll pre-foam the whole car with a high alkaline shampoo, let it dwell, then either rinse with de-i if it's warm or otherwise just rinse with tap water and then spray down with rinseless solution which has de-i, then pull into the garage and do the process above.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Interesting. How much are you spending on water per wash roughly? Also, what's your technique/approach?

BTW, for road trips, the hydroshot breaks down easily, so I bring it and a collapsible bucket and it makes it easy to wash anytime anywhere, no hose or running water required!

If you keep your car washed at least every 2 or 3 weeks at the most, it prevents contaminants from working it's way into your paint via heat expand/contract cycles which is why you need to clay / iron remove in first place.

I'm going on 18 months and I can't feel any contamination yet.

[Frank851]

i rarely have time to detail my car, let alone my air blower. Do you detail your lawn mower too? Just wondering.

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by Frank851

i rarely have time to detail my car, let alone my air blower. Do you detail your lawn mower too? Just wondering.

Well, actually
I did wash and wax, then cleaned the inside of my tractor a couple of weeks ago. I did not wax the bush hog, only power washed it.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I have a spotless but I rarely use it as I find it easier to just buy deionized water from the bulk section at the grocery store and use it for rinsing and/or my rinseless solution.

I though about doing this, but I don't want to be bothered lugging heavy (I have a bad back) filled 5 gal containers home from the store. And the WF near me is 59¢ a gallon. Bunch of crooks. A DI system is for me.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

I though about doing this, but I don't want to be bothered lugging heavy (I have a bad back) filled 5 gal containers home from the store. And the WF near me is 59¢ a gallon. Bunch of crooks. A DI system is for me.

ha, yeah, that's the downside is hauling the jugs but since I do it anyway for RO it's just more NEAT for me

at one point I did a calc with my CR spotless resin cost incl shipping and it came out to 50¢/gal and I use about 2 gallons for a normal wash and ~7 if I'm going nuts, so that'd be about 70¢ more / wash.

For anyone interested, I have 2 five gallon, and 3 three gallons and typically I only use the 3 gallons for washes and the 5ers are for stuff I do around the house like the humidifier and my chiliPad!