Car Blowers & Dryers
Blowing a car dry gets water out of mirrors, badges, grilles and panel gaps before it has a chance to run down a panel you've already dried, and it does it without touching the paint. Most people get there with a cordless leaf blower and a Stubby nozzle, which swaps the hard plastic tip for something that won't mark the car if it makes contact. Less contact means less risk, which is the whole point of drying this way.
Car Blowers & Dryers
FAQ's: Car Blowers & Dryers
Whether a leaf blower is safe on paint, and what a Stubby nozzle actually does. These are the questions we get asked the most.
Still unsure? Ask us ›Can I use a leaf blower to dry my car?
Yes, and a lot of detailers do. A cordless blower moves far more air than a compressor at the sort of pressure that matters for drying, and it's already in most sheds.
Two things to watch. The first is the nozzle. Factory leaf blower nozzles are hard plastic with a moulded edge, and the moment one touches a panel it leaves a mark. That's what the Stubby nozzles here are for, a shorter, softer nozzle with a protective band so contact doesn't cost you a polish.
The second is what the blower picks up off the ground. Point it at a dusty driveway before you point it at the car, and you're firing grit at wet paint. Blow from the top down, keep the intake away from the floor, and rinse the car properly first.
Where it really earns its place is the areas you can't get to otherwise. Mirror housings, badges, grille slats, wheel nuts and panel gaps all hold water that finds its way out ten minutes later and runs down a finished panel.
Two things to watch. The first is the nozzle. Factory leaf blower nozzles are hard plastic with a moulded edge, and the moment one touches a panel it leaves a mark. That's what the Stubby nozzles here are for, a shorter, softer nozzle with a protective band so contact doesn't cost you a polish.
The second is what the blower picks up off the ground. Point it at a dusty driveway before you point it at the car, and you're firing grit at wet paint. Blow from the top down, keep the intake away from the floor, and rinse the car properly first.
Where it really earns its place is the areas you can't get to otherwise. Mirror housings, badges, grille slats, wheel nuts and panel gaps all hold water that finds its way out ten minutes later and runs down a finished panel.
What does a Stubby nozzle do?
It replaces the long plastic nozzle on a cordless leaf blower with a short one built for detailing.
Two things change. The nozzle is shorter, so you've got far more control working around mirrors, badges and wheel arches instead of waving a metre of plastic at the car. And the tip is protected, so if it does brush a panel it doesn't mark the paint the way a factory nozzle will.
They're model specific, so you need the one that suits your blower. We stock nozzles for Makita 18V, Milwaukee Gen I, II and III and the dual battery model, DeWalt 20V and 60V, Ryobi, and EGO's newer generation. The BlowerBands guard is a cheaper option again if you'd rather just protect the nozzle you've got.
If you already own a cordless blower, a nozzle is the cheapest upgrade you can make to your wash routine.
Two things change. The nozzle is shorter, so you've got far more control working around mirrors, badges and wheel arches instead of waving a metre of plastic at the car. And the tip is protected, so if it does brush a panel it doesn't mark the paint the way a factory nozzle will.
They're model specific, so you need the one that suits your blower. We stock nozzles for Makita 18V, Milwaukee Gen I, II and III and the dual battery model, DeWalt 20V and 60V, Ryobi, and EGO's newer generation. The BlowerBands guard is a cheaper option again if you'd rather just protect the nozzle you've got.
If you already own a cordless blower, a nozzle is the cheapest upgrade you can make to your wash routine.