Drying with a Leaf Blower Scares Me

I could've sworn I saw either that Air Wand thingy or the said same from a different manufactuer at Pepboys when last there.



I pasted it up as I did not think it would do anything significant.
 
Bill D said:
I really would like to see it, please post some pics of it in action. Thanks!
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I have 2 short 20sec clips but I don't know how to list them. :(





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Thanks very much. I may just pic up the Air Wand Unit itself and see if I can attach it to my existing, untouched electric blower
 
I would be glad to email the movie clips to anyone interesting in them or if someone knows how I can list them for all to view. They are about 3mb each.





A few notes about my Air Wand.



The box says some assembly required but arrived assembled. The strap and "D" rings were already attached.



The Weed Eater is pretty loud so I used ear protection.



I was charged approx $11 for shipping, it was shipped USPS priority mail with $26.50 in postage. Not sure why it wasn't shipped UPS.



If ordered, don't forget your 10% discount.
 
I have been drying my cars using Air Wand system. It has extended reach to areas that is hard to reach while the blower is carried around shoulder and it takes a little effort.

Please take a look at this website www.theairwand.com. You will get 10% discount.
 
The Toro Leaf blower is just over half the price as the air wand.. and gets the water out of recesses, which is the whole idea anyway isnt it? Also the Toro has a speed of 230mph. Better deal IMO.:xyxthumbs
 
I really like my Metro Blower. It has a filter and a long hose with a neoprene or soft rubber nozzle that really concentrates the air.

I use it to take off 80% of the water. It is great on door jams and drying engines as well.

I watched ebay for a long time to find the right deal (cheap because it was sold without a hose) and ordered a new hose from a pet supply company.
 
Can someone explain exactly what the Air Wand does? It's not a blower itself so what does it add to an exisiting blower like the Toro? How is it better than just using the 225 mph Toro by itself?
 
By the looks of it it's an attachment that gives you a "curtain" of air rather than a fairly directed jet of air.



To dry my car I use a well cleaned water blade to take the majority of the water off the horizontal surfaces and the windows, then use a leaf blower (Stihl BG85) to get the remaining water out of the cracks and shut lines. I then follow up with a WW. So far I haven't put a single mark in my paint.



Ben
 
akrame said:
I have been drying my cars using Air Wand system. It has extended reach to areas that is hard to reach while the blower is carried around shoulder and it takes a little effort.

Please take a look at this website www.theairwand.com. You will get 10% discount.
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FYI, everyone, akrame is a representative of the company that manufactures Air Wand. Take any positive reviews with a large grain of salt.



Tort

(moderator)
 
Thanks for the warning.... I was seriously thinking about purchasing one. Posing as a satisfied customer, to me, is shady :nono That is enough to keep me from purchasing one.
 
I don't see the point of a grit guard. Most of the small particles that come off of your wash mitt are going to stay suspended in the wash water due to the turbulence created when you stick the mitt in there and rinse it around. Also, sticking the mitt way at the bottom and running it across the grit guard will surely stir up what lies just underneath the guard and perhaps redeposit it. This little invention has always seemed extraneous to me.
 
audia4guy said:
I'm surprised that people here support this drying method so much. Unless you are drying your car completely dirt free garage, you are almost guaranteed to pick up some dirt from your driveway or elsewhere from the amount of air being pushed around.

People also seem to not like the idea of "dragging" anything across the paint to dry the car. I have used a California Waterblade with quite a bit of success. I always double rinse the car to make sure I won't be dragging any dirt across the car.

I just ordered some WW microfiber drying towels to replace my cotton t-shirts that I was using. I'll use these as a "finished" after I waterblade the car.

If waterblades are bad,,, PLEASE let me know. Just like every other fanatic here, I want the car to look the best and if a California Waterblade is hindering me,,, to the trash it goes.
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I use a waterblade (waterblades are highly effiecient) on /clean/ vehicles that dry more completely (do not have lots of hidden recesses that retain water) but I love to blow the water out of places where it seems to linger for long periods.



I use the leafblower in my driveway. My driveway is clean for the most part. Having a leafblower handy is a great way to remove dirt, sand, and debris from the work area (driveway) prior to washing. I wash my car in the same place I dry it, so there is little dust coming up off wet pavement. My water supply is virtually sediment free, and I rinse my car off thoroughly before I dry.



My electric leafblower is rated at 220 mph, so it is efficient at removing trapped water (mainly under trim,etc-) If the leafblower technique "scares" you, then by all means dont use it. For me though, the prospect of water continuing to drip even at the stage of the second coat is more than an annoyance, so the leafbower is a great way to insure I can detail without the hassle of the occasional presence of moisture on my work.:xyxthumbs
 
Wow, I'm surprised this thread is still alive and kicking. :) Since I started this thread a few months back, I have switched my drying process to using an Air Wand and a single waffle weave towel. I am much happier with the results. To now clairify,,, "Drying with a Leaf Blower NO LONGER scares me." :cool:

I learned a lot from this thread and have a superior method now. The California Water Blade hasn't left the shelf of my detailing cabinet for months. Thanks again everybody. Autipia Rules....
 
I purchased this one below. They sell them on ebay all the time. It is not great but it is pretty good and the price is right. I open all the doors and blow out the car before vacuuming and blow out all the door jams and mirrors and it works real well.



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audia4guy said:
Wow, I'm surprised this thread is still alive and kicking. :) Since I started this thread a few months back, I have switched my drying process to using an Air Wand and a single waffle weave towel. I am much happier with the results. To now clairify,,, "Drying with a Leaf Blower NO LONGER scares me." :cool:

I learned a lot from this thread and have a superior method now. The California Water Blade hasn't left the shelf of my detailing cabinet for months. Thanks again everybody. Autipia Rules....
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I guess some threads go on and on... on here the opposite of "Only the Good Die Young" Applies, this thread provokes thought and so, this thread lives on, and on and I doubt you can stop it ! :p



Good original Post !
 
"WOW" I am surprised I wrote that so long ago but it does still work well but I have moved on to ONR (Optimum No Rinse). For about a year now my ONR has served me well and no need to blow out seams as it does not get that wet. I still like washing wheels with soap and water as if you do with ONR they have to be hand dried and that will ruin what ever you are drying with as the wheels hold so much brake dust. Maybe the black would wash out of an MF but I just don't want to get them that dirty.
 
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