Using an air compressor to rid crevices of water

Hey guys, i hope this is the right section, it goes along with washing. I have a bad time with water underneath my truck bed trim and mirrors...i was thinking about investing in a small air compressor that is lightweight, portable and could provide enough pressure to zip the water right out. I have been previously been using Duster cans, which are meant for cleaning of electronics and such. I always run out and find i cant keep enough on hand....my question is if anyone uses one of these for this purpose, i would also like to use it to clean interiors, and maybe the engine as well..i dont want a great, big, huge one...what is the smallest that you avhe seen that will get the job done? I have been looking at harbor freight and they seem to have some that put out 100 max psi..what are your thoughts? I have tried a leaf blower and find it annoying with the cord and too bulky....

 

there is a little pancake porter cable one that should work.

just a note, you never want to blow to hard on any edges especially on repainted panels, around door handles, under window trim, etc.. If the job wasnt done correctly it could flake off.

 

Gotcha, i knew i should be careful...one even as powerful as just a plain duster can would work perfectly! Do you have a link sir, and thanks for your response!

 

Amazon.com: Porter-Cable CPFAC2600P 15 Amp 2-Horsepower 6-Gallon Oil-Free Pancake Compressor: Home Improvement

I've seen them at Home Depot for less; $150 I believe.

 

I've been using an air compressor for a while... you wanna get one that will pack enough air cause you use alot when drying out the cracks and what not... you don't want one that has to fill up a lot.

3-5 gallons, make sure it's oil less

 

:nod: I purchased a small unit too and yes they do have some advantages, being small and compact and all but the draw back is that you'll sometimes have to wait for the unit to catch up, I've had this happen to me with my small unit. I should have gone with a bigger one...oh well live and learn I guess.

This time around I'm going with a really big sucker in my garage :giggle:

 

What size was yours nica?

 

The unit I purchased is this one:



It's a 2HP and really it's way too weak for blowing water off the vehicles...like I said I sometimes have to wait for it to catch up so I can use it for a few seconds then wait again....way too small if you ask me..it gets the job done but it just takes too long that's all.

 

ONR washing reduces the problem considerably. I know that wasn't the question, but I just thought you might try it.

 

I have a 33 gallon air compressor and this isn't a place where smaller = better (unless you are traveling with it ... and if you have a trailer, a big one + plenty of hose would work as well). A small tank will get the job done but as Nica said it may take longer for the tank to refill. I use a trigger nozzle at about 30PSI and to go around the vehicle it fills up my tank twice ... plus you can use it to blow out vents, seats, carpets, cup holders, etc. as well as using other attachments for impact guns and such for light mechanical work.

 

For a 120 V. outlet, I use this and it does a great job, blowing out water, plus I found it will do other things too.



Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Co., Inc.

 

Here is a much smaller blower for just $10:

ELECTRIC PORTABLE BLOWER - GARDEN - DRIVEWAY | Lawn / Garden

Very similar to the one Chemical Guys now sells for $39 or the Cycle Dry that sells for ~ $40. I haven't seen the one that CG sells but I have both a Cycle Dry and the cheap $10 one I gave a link to. I love the Cycle Dry because it is small and very easy to use in drying off wheels/tires and blowing water out of nooks and crannies. The $10 version is not quite as nice quality wise but for the price it's hard to go wrong. I have a larger air compressor in my garage but I always grab my Cycle Dry to get water out after drying. If you think an extension cord is too bulky wait until you drag around an air hose.

If you do decide on an air compressor heed the advice to get a large one. I hooked my Tornador to a small compressor once and it was a real pain to use. Sears starts having some pretty decent sales on their Craftsman compressors in the fall/winter if you can wait a while.

 

I use to use an air compressor to blow the water out of cracks and hard to get places on my cars. While it works pretty good a leaf blower works even better and is great for drying off the whole vehicle.

 

I use my shop vac. Other outlet for blowing. I have a reducer and pieces similar to the metro vac n blow. that seems to be enough pressure for me.