leaf blower or sidekick

C

cloudbuster

New member
Good evening fellas

Just trying to get some advice before I spend some cash.

I saw the sidekick and I liked the idea small and it seem powerful enough, then after some reading it seem that others are using corded leaf blowers.
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/metro-sidekick.html#.VkK-srerQUE

So what about cordless leaf blower with variable speed?
I can already see the benefit of the leaf blower as it would make cleaning the sidewalk much easier after cutting the grass.

http://www.greenworkstools.com/gmax-40v-lawn-and-garden-tools/cordless-leaf-blowers/185mph-blower-vacuum/#product-tabs2
it have a variable speed dial

http://www.greenworkstools.com/80v-pro/commercial-leaf-blowers/80v-pro-500cfm-cordless-jet-blower/#product-tabs1
the new one, have a variable trigger but is $$$ it also seem to be quiet.

If you would have to buy one which one would you get.


thank you.
 
I have the B/D 40volt lithium battery and it works fine for me. I use it on grill,wheels,doors and trim. When done I use it for blowing leaves out garage with battery power still left.

Saying that I got side kick of Autopia`s open box deal and waiting ot try it out.

This is an opinion from a hobbyist :)
 
I have a leaf blower (corded) and a master blaster. The leaf blower was nt great for me, but mine is not as nice as the Sthil mentioned above. I purchased the 30 foot hose and mounted the master blaster. Its super convenient to use now and I really like it. If the battery powered Sthil has equal power I would do that. Hate cords and hose in the way. Even with 30 feet of hose, I still wish it was longer some times, especially when I wash multiple cars.
 
I have a leaf blower that I modified to use for auto drying, but AutoGeek has a unit just for the purpose and there is a 15% off sale today with free shipping.

LINK: DP Turbo Car Dryer


[/URL]Here is mine:
tn_AssortedDIY007.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I have a electric leaf blower and a side kick, I use the side kick for door jams and trunk, mirrors.
 
pwaug said:
I have a leaf blower that I modified to use for auto drying, but AutoGeek has a unit just for the purpose and there is a 15% off sale today with free shipping.

LINK: DP Turbo Car Dryer


[/URL]Here is mine:
tn_AssortedDIY007.jpg
[/IMG]
Click to expand...

Awesome invention and made more awesome by your Neil deGrasse Tyson quote. Saw him speak earlier this year - such a genuine person.
 
Thanks!! His mind is on a different level than the rest of us, but his ability to explain complex theories to the rest of us without being condescending is amazing.
 
I've used a leaf blower, the blower port on my wet/dry vac fitted with concentrator nozzle, and now own a Metro Master Blaster to dry my vehicles. The biggest advantage I see for using a Metro product or the DP blower is the ease of use and their paint safe rubber concentrator nozzles. Yes both products will filter air, and the master blaster heats it too, but neither of those things are as important as making sure you don't marr the paint when accidentally touching it with the nozzles tip:



A leaf blower on the other hand works perfectly fine for drying but is a) cumbersome since you can't hold it by the blower pipe's tip and must hold it further back which b) means you don't have the same control and run the risk of bumping into the vehicle and marring the paint because c) a leaf blowers pipe and tip are made out of hard plastic that will become ragged w/ sharp edges after it's been jostled around.

The last 3 points above is the reason I switched to using a master blaster - better control, increased user comforter, and reduced chance of harming the paint we work so hard to keep up.
 
I use my metro vac n blo to dry cars. I keep a separate hose that has never been used for vacuuming and dry cars with that. It works awesome. And speaking of the metro tools, I was checking out autopias open box deals and there are a number of metro vac n blo models on there for very good prices right now! If I didn't already have the portable one, if pickup that full size one in a heartbeat!

carcaautop on eBay
 
Are we talking "drying cars" or "blowing leaves"?

I have Stihl 2-cycle blowers (sheesh, got three of 'em!) for leaves and an electric (hooked up to an Air Wand) for drying the vehicles (along with the compressor). Wouldn't even think of using the blowers across-purposes due to contamination concerns.
 
I've been using an electric Toro two speed leaf blower for quite a while and the 200+mph muzzle velocity really clears off the water well. The power is so strong I don't have to keep the muzzle close to the paint so there's never been any contact with the car. I was thinking about coating the tip with a couple of layers of plasti-dip just in case. The Toro was way cheaper than a Metro unit but if I was a professional, I'd certainly be looking at one of those 8 hp. Metro units.
 
thank you all,

it seem that using a leaf blower is not a NO NO so I think I will end up buying one of them as it would serve to clean the sidewalk as well and not just to dry the car.

I make sure to keep the distance but as some other have mentioned the amount of air and the speed of air coming out it should work just fine inches away from the car.
 
KBsToy said:
I have the B/D 40volt lithium battery and it works fine for me. I use it on grill,wheels,doors and trim. When done I use it for blowing leaves out garage with battery power still left.

Saying that I got side kick of Autopia`s open box deal and waiting to try it out.

This is an opinion from a hobbyist :)[/QU

I received my side-kick and it is a solid unit and does put out the pressure saying that being a senior autopian its hard for me to use when blowing out wheels and bottom of doors / trim because you have to bend over to get nozzle close to car. I am adapting a longer vacuum hose nozzle to make this easier :)
Click to expand...
 
I absolutely love my Metro Blaster SideKick!!
I use it for every car I detail, full exterior blow dry, wheels, jambs, engines, and I blow out my shop every day!
I even use it to blow out interiors, carpets, dash vents, under seats and center consoles with excellent results!
I recently replaced the short cord with a 50' extension cord, looped and wire tied it to the handle to prevent damage due to constant bending at the grommet.
The "pro" version comes with a hose and a strap to hang from your shoulder as well.
I didn't buy the pro version but I was fortunate enough to get a hose from a friend and I use my Detailer's Helper Auto Detailing Belt to strap it to my waist.
I have zero issues with using it this way.
Its strong enough to blow out my shop and we don't have any leaves here so I can't say it'll work for that but I'm a firm believer of using the right tool to get a job done!
I will say that if a car has no LSP (protection) on it, its a waist of time trying to blow dry it

I highly recommend it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top