Dedicated Car Dryers

[bob m]

Thanks Bill D. The secret search was "airwand leaf blower". I ordered it to attach to my Big Boi Blowr so we`ll see if I have to make any modifications. Thanks guys.

I have the same Blower, plus this one from Griot`s https://www.griotsgarage.com/produc...NbnscwWAmXuXYQcqm669LS2LbuNOgbLhoC5N8QAvD_BwE

I like them both, but it`s also louder than the BB. I`d be curious to see if adding the Airwand would make the BB - or any vac considerably louder.

 

[Older]

I have the same Blower, plus this one from Griot`s https://www.griotsgarage.com/produc...NbnscwWAmXuXYQcqm669LS2LbuNOgbLhoC5N8QAvD_BwE

I like them both, but it`s also louder than the BB. I`d be curious to see if adding the Airwand would make the BB - or any vac considerably louder.

That`s a MetroVac Sidekick. Or a Chinese copy. The Q&A on Griot`s page that states it`s made in the USA was from 4 years ago.

 

[bob m]

That`s a MetroVac Sidekick. Or a Chinese copy. The Q&A on Griot`s page that states it`s made in the USA was from 4 years ago.

Bought mine several years ago, made in the USA.

 

[Accumulator]

dgage- Glad you were able to find it (without any help from Yours Truly ). Hope you like it as much as I do...just don`t give up on it too quickly since there really is that Learning Curve you gotta climb. And be careful with that "microfiber" strip they put on it for "protection" (scare-quotes definitely intentional!).

 

[craigdt]

I use a couple drying towels plus a Stihl SH86BG gas blower that I have for lawn care.
Way more CFM than a battery/electric blower, but not everyone like a noisy, 2 cycle machine.

 

[Accumulator]

craigdt- Glad your Stihl is working out OK for you. I gather you`re doing this *outside*, right? Even my smallest Stihl blower isn`t something I`d want to run inside the shop.

On the "effective CFM", the probably-only-so-so one that came with my AirWand gets all the water off (of an area the width of the AirWand`s nozzle opening) with one pass...with that on the blower more CFM wouldn`t be of any use, but *without* that I can see how it would make a difference all right!

 

[jem7sk]

I use a couple drying towels plus a Stihl SH86BG gas blower that I have for lawn care.
Way more CFM than a battery/electric blower, but not everyone like a noisy, 2 cycle machine.

I thought I had read a few years ago that using a 2 cycle blower could blow small particles of oil or gas on the car.. is this not true I guess?

 

[Stokdgs]

I thought I had read a few years ago that using a 2 cycle blower could blow small particles of oil or gas on the car.. is this not true I guess?

I have never saw my former 2-cycle gas blower blow any particles on vehicles..
...
Perhaps if one is using an old worn out one, and have the mix way too high on the oil vs gasoline side, you may get something out the exhaust..
Dan F

 

[dgage]

Thanks Bill D. The secret search was "airwand leaf blower". I ordered it to attach to my Big Boi Blowr so we`ll see if I have to make any modifications. Thanks guys.

Ordered on 5/29 (Sat) and received the Air Wand on 6/1 (Tue) with Monday being a holiday in the US. That was quick! Seems to be a quality product but haven`t checked to see how well it fits the Big Boi Blowr Pro hose yet.

 

[Accumulator]

dgage- How is the build-quality on yours? The mismatched seams/etc. on mine would literally cut my hands without the measures I had to take, and the nozzle would detach from the hose when least expected (allowing it to flail around...talk about High Drama!).

 

[William_Wallace]

Here’s what I use a ryobi its 19.99 tool only I have a few tools already so I have a few 4amp batteries. It’s plenty powerful it lasts a while one a charge multiple washes.

I also bring inside car for blowing out hard to reach areas or spot drying.

It has a lock trigger.

 

[Older]

I think this is the link to Accumulator`s Air Wand review:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...share_fid=191540&share_type=t&link_source=app


See If it works for those on Tapatalk

I remember it now.

 

[bad penny]

What I`ve found to prevent water spotting is to first dry the car starting with the vertical surfaces. After the car is "dry" I blow out the mirrors, emblems, grill and lug nuts then come back and dry those areas again.
People who say "drying the car using a drying towel" causes marring is overrated imo. If your having this problem you must have tar stuck in your towel

 

[William_Wallace]

Yea agree with the comments get off what ya can with forced air then finish with a towel

 

[BudgetPlan1]

People who say "drying the car using a drying towel" causes marring is overrated imo. If your having this problem you must have tar stuck in your towel

Try drying a car on a breezy Spring or Fall day at a house w a heavily wooded lot. Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress

 

[bad penny]

Try drying a car on a breezy Spring or Fall day at a house w a heavily wooded lot. Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress

Water spotting isn`t as big of an issue during the spring or fall especially when you have shade.
How would you dry a car in direct sunlight on a +90° day?

 

[BudgetPlan1]

Water spotting isn`t as big of an issue during the spring or fall especially when you have shade.
How would you dry a car in direct sunlight on a +90° day?

It`s not a water spotting issue in Spring, Fall but rather `nature debris` falling as oaks, maples shed their seasonal `stuff` while trying to dry. Constantly picking stuff outta towels, off of paint while trying to dry. Air drying eliminates that irritating circumstance.

As for washing in direct sunlight, I avoid it. With all the trees, 8am to 10am in Spring/Summer and after 4pm are when the sun is behind the trees, offering driveway shade. Times shift a bit as sun changes position as seasons change but I`ll never be washing at high noon on a sunny Summer day.

 

[bad penny]

It`s not a water spotting issue in Spring, Fall but rather `nature debris` falling as oaks, maples shed their seasonal `stuff` while trying to dry. Constantly picking stuff outta towels, off of paint while trying to dry. Air drying eliminates that irritating circumstance.

As for washing in direct sunlight, I avoid it. With all the trees, 8am to 10am in Spring/Summer and after 4pm are when the sun is behind the trees, offering driveway shade. Times shift a bit as sun changes position as seasons change but I`ll never be washing at high noon on a sunny Summer day.

I dry with a leaf blower when possible. During the summer, in the heat of the day it`s not possible without encountering water spots.

8-10 or after 4. That made me chuckle. I forget this site no longer caters to detailers.

 

[bob m]

I have an older Toro electric leaf blower, but it`s so very loud. That`s why I got the dedicated car dryers.

 

[BudgetPlan1]

I forget this site no longer caters to detailers.

But I spent over $100 w a vendor at one weekend sale and they sent me free shirt that said `Detailer` on it; that doesn`t get me in the club?

I think if you`re focused on labels such as `detailer` you`d be better served to make a distinction between Professional Detailer and Hobbyist Detailer, with the real difference being Professional merely denoting monetary compensation for a job. If you`re implying that the distinction is quality of work, you`d be hard pressed to find a `Professional Detailer` whose quality of work exceeds that of some of the `Hobbyists` who frequent this forum (and I certainly don`t include myself in that upper echelon of Hobbyists).