Electric blower to dry car

A

atlantarange

New member
Hi all.. I was looking to purchase a Craftsman 12 amp electric leaf blower to use for drying my vehicles. Just wanted to know how you all felt about using this method to dry cars. It would only be used for cars and not to blow leaves. Thanks.
 
Before I got my Metro Blaster I used a Sears 200 mph leaf blower. It did a great job. I just saw a similar one in sale at Sears for $30.
 
i have came across this topic a few times and while i sometimes do use the leaf blower the argument against it is that particles could go through the blower and end up blasting your vehicle.

something like the metro master blaster has a filter in it that would prevent this from happening but obviously they are a pretty decent investment

sometimes i wonder if its better to use an electric leaf blower or the blowing function on say a 6.5 hp shopvac

just use with caution. i try to only use my electric leaf blower for wheel and tire drying and i try to keep my hand over the vent on the bottom as much as possible
 
I used to use an electric Toro. Two things I did though. 1- cut the nozzle down by half, stuck a 1/2 board in tip, then used a heat gun and another piece of wood to flatten because it will be hot. This helped with viewing how close is was and not standing do far back. 2 - I took two pieces of window screen and band clamped them to the inlet and notched the door for the head of the clamp to shut. I used a dryer vent clamp. It was tight to close but didn't look altered except clamp head. If you get a clip for the cord you can use both hands without worry of cord hitting car. Just a thought.
 
After I dry a car body by hand then I use a leaf blower to dry the tires/wheels and body cracks, mirror housings. I like using the blower on tires so I can dress them right after.
 
I wash, rinse with nozzle, take off nozzle and sheet off excess water, blow dry with gas leaf blower (usually two trips around), touch up with Guzzler MF towel, take it for a speedy trip around the neighborhood (if not polishing or LSP) to air dry and get the gunk off the rotors. Then re touch up with Guzzler.

My black car sparkles.

Best,
Tom
 
Used my leaf blower for years with no problems what so ever. Recently made this mode with some bits and pieces from the plumbing department and a 2.5" vac hose and nozzle from Sears. Much better control than the standard blower.

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ski2 said:
Used my leaf blower for years with no problems what so ever. Recently made this mode with some bits and pieces from the plumbing department and a 2.5" vac hose and nozzle from Sears. Much better control than the standard blower.

tn_AssortedDIY007.jpg
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thats a pretty good transformation right there. id bet you have more control with that for sure

too bad i cant try that on mine. its a rectangular ovaled opening
 
512detail said:
too bad i cant try that on mine. its a rectangular ovaled opening
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It took me a while of wandering around HD and Lowes to find the right pieces to make it work. You might be surprised if you spend some time looking around and don't stick to just one department. If I remember there are transision pieces in the rain gutter department that go from rounded rectangular to round.
 
ski2 said:
It took me a while of wandering around HD and Lowes to find the right pieces to make it work. You might be surprised if you spend some time looking around and don't stick to just one department. If I remember there are transision pieces in the rain gutter department that go from rounded rectangular to round.
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great advice..gonna browse home depot/lowes tomorrow
 
The leaf blower is at times more convenient than my metro blaster, because you do not have a long hose to lug around.
 

Like Pat, I started with an electric leaf blower and used it for a year+ before I stepped up to the MasterBlaster. Truth be told a leaf blower can / will do the job to a point. But the MasterBlaster takes it to another level and is so much better IMO.

 
TroyScherer said:

Like Pat, I started with an electric leaf blower and used it for a year+ before I stepped up to the MasterBlaster. Truth be told a leaf blower can / will do the job to a point. But the MasterBlaster takes it to another level and is so much better IMO.

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Agreed :)
 
If you decide to use your leaf blower and cant find a way to attach a hose, you can still cut the nozzle so it is not so long, and then get some air conditioning duct nice black rubber gasket material and tape the edge of the blower so it doesnt scratch anything if you touch the car, and it will be just fine...
I modded a toro electric blower like that geez, almost 10 years ago and it still works great.
And I can tell you, unless you stick the vacuum end of the blower in a pile of rocks and turn it on, it is Never going to suck something up and blow it on the car..

You will have it in your hands, way off the ground, away from anything...

Good luck with this !
Dan F
 
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