Air compressors can build up rust inside the tank due to moisture content in the air. If you are going to use an air compressor, it needs to have a sump/filter so that any rust particles don't sandblast your paint.
Air compressors are great for blowing water out of small crevices but for drying an entire car there is simply not enough airflow. Like 07rs said, leaf blowers work great. Even then it's nice to have a dedicated one to minimize the risk of blowing yard crap all over the car.
Air compressors are great for blowing water out of small crevices but for drying an entire car there is simply not enough airflow. Like 07rs said, leaf blowers work great. Even then it's nice to have a dedicated one to minimize the risk of blowing yard crap all over the car.
Some leaf blowers come with a built in filter. I recommend that type.
If you do try the compressor route, I would definitely recommend hearing protection!
In the winter here at the shop I'll sometimes use compressed air to blow the snow off of cars before working on them. Our lines have filters and moisture traps.
I can dry my daily driver way faster by hand with waffle weave towels than I ever could with any kind of blower. And I have a dedicated blower, I rarely if ever use it. It's kind of like a pressure washer, I'm halfway done washing my car with a foam gun and two bucket method before I can get my pressure washer out, plugged in and hoooked up to the water source.
I look to Mike P and his post and how he washes and dries vehicles. A blower is great for getting water out of crevices but down here in Florida in the middle of the summer water spotting is a major issue so speed is everything.
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2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 2016 Pearl White Nissan Altima SR
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If you do try the compressor route, I would definitely recommend hearing protection!
In the winter here at the shop I'll sometimes use compressed air to blow the snow off of cars before working on them. Our lines have filters and moisture traps.
Good point! Even the leaf blowers need hearing protection since the motor is inches from your ear. (I flip the blower upside down while drying the car. It gives me better control over it but it puts the noisy motor right next to my head.)
a compressor would be more ideal for smaller areas to blow out and doesn't have the wider air mass to push water like a blower would. using a tool like this would be more efficient since it was designed for the specific task...
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Originally Posted by 2black1s
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