After washing, what is the best way to dry using microfiber towels? Thanks
Agreed. Helps you get all the water from cracks, wheels and tires. You don't need to have it on "hurricane" force, just move the water off the vehicle.
Easy for you guys in Wash DC to talk that way about "hurricanes". Next someone from CA is going to ask if it is OK to wash their car with clean dirt.
I agree not to use a towel of any kind to dry. I used to use a leaf blower, then I stepped up my game and bought a Master Blaster Air Force dryer unit. It rocks.
+1 for the Master Blaster!!!! Also has heated air in the winter weather you still get a great dry. Deiger
I use a leaf blower and pat the car dry no rubbing at all. Not much water left so the patting works. No swirls
Battery powered leaf blower followed by a Mequires waffle weave drying towel for any stray drops. Note, this works best if you have a good coat of wax or sealant in place.
For those now out shopping for a blower. Ryobi has a 40v blower that's as strong as any regular gas blower. I bought the blower and the weed wacker and love them both. Much less noise and no gas to mix.
I use a leaf blower as well. I bought a Rigid shop vac from Home Depot that has the detachable motor that converts to a leaf blower. I use the shop vac for the inside and the leaf blower for the outside. A good coat of polish/wax on the car speeds up the drying process.
For those of you using air drying techniques, is there any problem with drying around the edges of protective coatings? Will I lift the coating if I'm not careful? Do you have to direct the flow away from the seams? Thanks.
Master blaster has much stronger blast of air and is so much easier to handle than an awkward leaf blower. I use to do the leaf blower routine and decided to get the MB and there was no comparison. The MB has two 4hp motors and you start them independently and it is does have a lot of sound. Throw both switches at the same time and you will blow a 20 amp breaker, that gives you an indication of the power of the unit. I was told it was originally designed for the Harley guys and then the car people discovered it. Much safer to use because there is no chance of bumping and scratching the car with a leaf blower. The final thing I like is the fact it is made right here in the good old USA.
Yeah, Joe summed up the MB pretty well. I'm lucky that it doesn't trip the breaker assigned to my garage. It has a nice long hose, all soft / neoprene rubber parts so you won't scratch the surface if you bump the car. I usually dry the car with hearing protection and safety glasses on - it makes for a better experience because this thing is REALLY powerful. Be careful around headlamp gaskets!!! So, why is it better? The warm air is nice, though not totally mandatory (mine sometimes gets a bit hot in my hand), the motors roll on the ground, so it's not heavy lifting or tiring, the air is filtered, and it takes me about 20 minutes to dry my whole 360, including all the little crevices and nooks / crannies. Most importantly, drying with air reduces the chances of swirl marks or scratches on the paint!!! Personally, you gotta be a little car crazy to buy and use one of these, because they're a lot more expensive than a leaf blower, but that's OK because I'm car crazy. I used to use a leaf blower as well. Never again!
are you talking clear bra? If your air drying is lifting the edges of the clear bra, you need to have it reinstalled. It shouldnt have lifting edges to begin with. master blaster is a very solid drying machine, something that I will be buying soon after I get a DI setup. its pricey at 350, but heated air at 200MPH is a beautiful thing!
I use my air compressor. The most wise 150 euros I ever spent. You clean the cars interior, inflate the tyres, keep filters clean, blast the rims with detergent and blow the water from any surface. Plus you can use it to clean the engine bay with excellent results.
Very good use for drying! I was at a Ferrari dealership working on a car for a client and they let me use their wash bay area. Their drying method was compressed air. I swear, I have never dried a car so fast and efficiently in my life. i am pretty sure the PSI was around 175 as I had to stand a few feet back, but none the less, it worked like a dream!
Another vote for the Master Blaster. I watched my detailer use it and immediately got one. I use distilled water to wash, and with the MB, the whole job takes about 1/3 the time as it used to. An added advantage is that if kids or pets get to close, you can knock them back about 15 feet with a shot of that warm 200 mph air...
Wow, nice to see the leaf blower method getting some attention... I've been using it for years. Might look into the Master Blaster though.
I have also found the MB good for cleaning the engine compartment. It is really good at removing dust and then I just do a general wipe down. No need to get water in there to effect the electronics. Also good to use before you wash the car to remove dust. Good piece of detailing equipment.
