Metrovac Sidekick

[tpr1634]

Been wanting one of these for quite some time if your on the fence like I was yes it's worth it. Works great for door jams, mirrors and trunks don't know why I waited so long to purchase one, made in U.S.A. very well constructed.

[GenesisCoupe]

i like it, but only use it on protected cars ( wax, sealant, coating) as it is impossible to dry a non-sheeting car.

[Kamakaz1961]

Nice little machine! I actually replaced my electric blower with it. It's definitely not as powerful as an electric blower, however, it is more precise and quite a bit more quieter and less bulkier!

[WaxMaster1]

I have one that I purchased for my Harleys (it is a necessity for motorcycles). I use on my cars as well. Great little tool.

[MoBenzOwner]

Also have one and love it. Would like to have the bigger one as well.

[willtothewong]

I too am on the fence but posts like this make me want to just pull the trigger!

[Mike Phillips]

For what it's worth...

If I were to make a list of my top 10 favorite tools the Metro-Vac Sidekick would be on that list.

I use it all the time when in the Gage. One major benefit to it is it's small and compact in size but it's INCREDIBLY powerful. Because it's compact and lightweight it's easy to move around a car with it no matter what the job.

I use it a lot for engine detailing because the first thing you do when detailing an engine be it a cosmetic engine detail or a traditional engine detail is blow out all the debris.

I use it to speed dry tire coatings. It's perfect for this and makes applying multiple coatings to a single tire faster so you coat one tire and then move on to the next tire instead of applying a coating to a tire and moving around to the other tires as you wait for the previous coating to dry.

Plus it pushes all the coating liquid into all the siping and grooves on tire sidewalls. It really can't be beat for applying coatings to tires.

I show this tool a LOT in all our 3-day detailing classes. From the last class, page 5 of the thread...

Pictures & Comments: July 2015 Detailing Boot Camp Class! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-detailing-boot-camp-classes/93574-pictures-comments-july-2015-detailing-boot-camp-class.html)




The finishing touch.... time to do something with the tires!

I'm a HUGE fan of DP Tire Coating. This is the coolest product for tires because as long as you do a great job of cleaning the tires first and then do a great job of applying the coating, the tires come out looking like new and they stay that way without any sling onto the side of the vehicle. Plus the coating dries to the touch so no mess into the future anytime you wash your vehicle or accidentally touch the tires.


Here's Nick explaining and demonstrating how to apply DP Tire Coating.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98972

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98973


Hands-on training and real-world experience

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98974

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98975

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98976

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98977



As you can see by the pictures in this thread these classes are about 95 percent hands-on training. There is very little time spent sitting around in chairs because I know that people learn best by doing, not sitting.



Finished!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=98984




One more thing.... if you DON'T own an air compressor this is the next best thing and often times even better for blowing because when using an air compressor you use an air squirter which blows a pin hole size and volume of air.

With the Sidekick you blow a huge mass of air and for most of us this is actually what we need.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/PlasticBagTip07.jpg





At Autogeek.com


Metro Blaster SideKick (http://www.autogeek.net/metro-blaster-sidekick.html)



:)

[Mike Phillips]

Something else we cover in all our detailing classes....



How to clean an engine compartment (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/67749-how-clean-engine-compartment.html)


The most important thing....

Tape-off and cover over ANYTHING you don't want to have to replace because it was damaged.

AND spend your time up-front doing a really good job of taping-off and covering up anything you don't want to risk damaging and then having to replace.

You can read all about how engines and engine compartments are designed to get wet and for this reason there's no risk involved when detailing an engine and the engine compartment, but when it's your engine and your time and money, you can decide what's best for you and let the other guys do it how they want to do it.

As for me?

After cleaning an engine compartment I want to turn the key, fire up the engine and have zero problems. Zero.

I like to take the time to do a really good job of tapping-off and covering up anything I don't want to get wet and risk having to either replace or simply have problems with.

I really only prefer to detail my own engines and engine compartments too. I teach 'Cosmetic Engine Detailing" in my detailing boot camp classes because this type of engine detailing is profitable for detailers and due to the amount of plastic inside modern cars, trucks and SUVs, it's usually more than enough to make a customer, (that in most cases cannot identify a single component in the engine compartment except the oil dipstick), happy.


Blow out engine compartment
First thing you want to do is blow out the engine compartment using some manner of compressed or forced air. This is where the Metro-Vac Sidekick comes in handy as you can simply plug it in and go to town with it. One of my favorite tools in all my arsenal of tools.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/PlasticBagTip08.jpg



More pics to the above thread here,

How to clean an engine compartment (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/67749-how-clean-engine-compartment.html)



:)

[KB in MD]

Back in the day I could not afford the Sidekick so I used to use my leaf blower to blow off the surplus tire dressings back when they were mostly greasy silicone. It greatly reduced and in some cases eliminated the sling. The Sidekick sure would have been handier.:xyxthumbs:
But with the advent of these new dry to the touch dressings & coatings no more worries :dblthumb2:

[mills3]

I purchased one of these Sidekicks a few years ago. I absolutely love it. I recommend that everyone have one in their arsenal.

[DeansDetailing]

You guys think the "Professional Series" is worth it?

[VISITOR]

You guys think the "Professional Series" is worth it?

if one already has a sidekick then all you need is to buy the 3ft hose separately and it would be the same thing if I'm not mistaken...

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2271_11385343http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2271_11481976
http://ep.yimg.com/ay/autogeek/sonax-blaster-sidekick-professional-series-1.gif