Blast N Vac

[Earl Weiss]

Blast N Vac

Got an e-mail today from Coleman re a Blast N Vac.

Seems it's a Vac that blows as well as sucks. They advertise the blower to blow away dirt and moisture.

their unit includes a seperate motor for Blowing since it specs out 2 Vac Motors and one blower motor. Did not see a link to a video so I have no idea what type of hose etc. is used for Blowing.

Got me to thinking about a retrofit or some way to use the vac exhaust as the blower.

Most vac motors don't have the tube type outlet so you would need some sort of shroud covering the motors, but if you used the existing motors how clean would the air be? Would restricting the exhaust shorten motor life?

Could you somehow try to mount a blower motor with a shroud under the dome and use a selector switch as a rerofit?

Any thoughts?

 

[Buzzie8]

I used compressed air all the time when I detailed cars back in the 80's. My first thought when I received that same email was that someone would blow dirt in their eye or put the nozzle in their eye and hence another insurance claim.

 

[DiamondWash]

Or try to dry their vehicle with it.

 

[Waxman]

you'd want customers to sign a waiver saying they'll wear eye protection during blow cycle thus not practical.

 

[rph9168]

There seems to me that there is a little over reaction here. There is a lot of opportunities for a customer to injure themselves at a self service wash. I would assume there would be an instruction sign along with warnings by this equipment much like is found in a bay. While I know many of you will jump on me and say no one reads signs it may provide protection against misuse of the equipment. I could be wrong but i can't see this being any more of a hazard than misusing the high pressure application or spraying chemicals in ones face which could be done in the bays.

 

[escarwash]

I like the idea of using it to dry the vehicle. What if you could seal the dome somehow and have a hose come out with a air shammie or blasto dry nozzle on the end?

 

[MEP001]

Got me to thinking about a retrofit or some way to use the vac exhaust as the blower.

Most vac motors don't have the tube type outlet so you would need some sort of shroud covering the motors, but if you used the existing motors how clean would the air be? Would restricting the exhaust shorten motor life?

I've thought about building a dryer using three standard vac motors enclosed in conduit boxes. I would probably use a plastic box, cut a hole in the lid for the motor, a hole in the bottom and cut some thick plastic for a spacer so the bottom of the motor can seal, and cut a hole for a 1 1/2" fitting in one side.

I don't believe that restricting the exhaust would be any worse for them than restricting the inlet. There's probably a HEPA-type filter that could be modified to fit each motor inlet so the air will be as clean as possible.

 

[Kevin Reilly]

There seems to me that there is a little over reaction here. There is a lot of opportunities for a customer to injure themselves at a self service wash. I would assume there would be an instruction sign along with warnings by this equipment much like is found in a bay. While I know many of you will jump on me and say no one reads signs it may provide protection against misuse of the equipment. I could be wrong but i can't see this being any more of a hazard than misusing the high pressure application or spraying chemicals in ones face which could be done in the bays.

You're right about signage. A guy tried to sue me in small claims court to repaint his junker black pickup saying our foam brushes scratched his truck. My response was that the signage sez: check brush before using and spray with high pressure for any dirt. The judge asked me if I had that sign up, I responded "yes sir!" and damned if he didn't drive into the bay that evening. I pointed out the sign, he read it (I never even talked to him and he drove out) and the Judge ruled against him. So it's true most of the time. Nobody reads it, but if it's there it will help solve a problem!

 

[Earl Weiss]

There's probably a HEPA-type filter that could be modified to fit each motor inlet so the air will be as clean as possible.

My guess is that such a filter would clog in no time.

 

[Waxman]

There seems to me that there is a little over reaction here. There is a lot of opportunities for a customer to injure themselves at a self service wash. I would assume there would be an instruction sign along with warnings by this equipment much like is found in a bay. While I know many of you will jump on me and say no one reads signs it may provide protection against misuse of the equipment. I could be wrong but i can't see this being any more of a hazard than misusing the high pressure application or spraying chemicals in ones face which could be done in the bays.

Very true.

However, 'Safety First' applies with every new purchase we make. And all our detail shop employees are required to wear eye protection at all times. I haven't extended this policy to the wash bay but should.