The Air Force Master Blaster vs. the Electric Leaf Blower

[Junkman2008]

In this video, I talk about the pros and cons of both the Air Force Master Blaster by Metro, and a standard electric leaf blower. I give the insight that I have from using both devices for a few years. You may find my conclusion surprising so kick your feet up and hear my take.

One thing that people like to suggest is the use of compressed air. Compressor tanks have a nasty little habit of collecting dirt and water in the bottom of them. If your compressor lines are not properly filtered and the tank and filters are not checked and maintained often, you risk the chance at sandblasting your paint with debris. NOT a smart scenario. Compressed air can also do damage to emblems and decals if you get too close to the car. Thus, I never recommend the use of compressed air to dry a car with. I know first hand how much of a hassle it is to maintain pneumatic lines as that was one of my responsibilities at the Motorola depot that I worked for years ago. No compressed air!

Another thing you must take into consideration if you plan to buy a Master Blaster is the amperage that the unit draws. You must have a 20-amp outlet to use the device at full tilt or it will shut down the line that you plug it into. It draws a hefty 19-amps on full tilt so understand that before you plug it up and turn it on.

If you decide to purchase the Master Blaster, this link on Metro's website shows all of the authorized resellers of Metro's products. Take a look at them as you may find one close to you, which will keep you from incurring shipping charges if you can pick it up locally. Otherwise, check out this link for the electric leaf blower that I would recommend.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7TSEfNWds

 

[PDCjonny]

I agree. The Master Blaster is a nice tool, but it's not ten times the price nicer or ten times more efficient.
And you can actually use the cheapie leaf blower to.....blow leaves.
If it was 100 bucks or 150 I'd give it some thought but its just too much dough.

 

[MikeG]

Respect.

Hats off to ya. You "Trued It". Not everyone today is willing to step up to the plate publicly and call it what it is. Good video. Very Hi "Kudos" to ya.

I wanted a Master Blaster real bad. But after doing my own testing, to my surprise, found there was just no way to justify the excessive price difference. And I can afford it. I just can't rationalize throwing money away, just for a name. I too use a common leaf blower, that as the prior poster so astutely observed, also blows leaves. And mine also ***** them in and mulches them too.

 

[CEJ]

"Talk to the hand on that one." at 10:33.

Had to laugh at that one. Completely agree with your conclusion. Gotta put cash where it makes sense. Thank for sharing that vid.

 

[B & R]

I doubt the leaf blower's CFM is nearly what the 8HP Master Blaster is, was made to dry pets so good for that as well. Can't argue the cost though.

 

[2003 Viper]

I got the foam gun that you added in the PM AJ and got the blower u have. Thanks and see you on DC!

BLK 1

 

[SSGSNAKE]

Have a master blaster it is awesome was only like $250.00 on line once you use you would never use a leaf blower again

 

[Next Phase]

My wife got me the smaller master blaster for my bday earlier this year and I really like it. I was hoping it would speed up my drying time, but it actually takes longer than when I used a chamois. The positives are that it gets all the water out of the mirrors, doors and most importantly the wheels. No more rusty rotors or standing water in the wheel wells. The smaller one was cheaper, but doesn't have the two settings.

I've used a leaf blower for years and the master blaster is hands down better. I like that you mentioned the soft rubber nozzle as that is a nice benefit over the leaf blower. My wife bought the smaller one by accident as she thought she was getting a deal. Don't remember what she said it cost - $150-$200? Also, the MB uses filtered air which is better than a leaf blower, but to be honest the leaf blower I have isn't very powerful, so hard to compare.

I'm hoping for a new leaf blower for fathers day...so we'll do a comparo then.

 

[Junkman2008]

Good to see all of you guys chime in. Let me reinforce some of my main points about the Master Blaster that I made in that video.

The Master Blaster is by far the better machine with its key features (heated and filtered air, quiet, moves lots of air, easier to maneuver, dual speed and built like a 800lb gorilla). However, the cost and that 19 amp draw really creates an issue for some folks. So it's not a question of which unit is better, it's a question of whether or not the Master Blaster is $300 better. With that being the main question, I think that we would all agree that $300 is a stretch.

 

[MikeG]

Dependent upon where you live, and what kind of neighbors you have, there is one feature that might be "Key". The AFMB is very quiet compared to the Leaf Blower.

 

[johniew398]

Junkman - I reviewed your comparison and you're right it would be hard to justify the cost difference. Having said that, my wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday which is tomorrow and I told her an Air Force Master Blaster. I think she thought I was making that up so I showed it to her and part of your video.

Might be more expensive; but, I ordered one last night. If you go to Amazon and do the comparison shopping they run from $315.00 to $593.00 which includes shipping. So someone gets a hell of a lot of markup on the one they are selling for almost $600.00!

 

[Junkman2008]

And that is why I posted a link to Metro's website so that you guys could compare prices among all the vendors, and maybe find a vendor close to you. There are definitely some shady folks out there. However, you will be happy with that unit. I am very happy with mine. Just remember, your paint has to be in excellent shape in order to really see the unit perform at its best and don't forget to do a pooling rinse BEFORE you dry.

 

[SRT09]

Has any tried any of the battery powered blowers I don't usually dry my car at home?

 

[Junkman2008]

Everyone that I have heard from that has tried one has said that they don't hold a charge long and that they are no where near as powerful. I wouldn't buy one.

 

[Steve M]

I've owned a Master Blaster for quite some time now (4-5 years at this point...can't remember), and the two most valuable things I've found are the rubber nozzle and the heated air. I used an electric (corded) leaf blower prior to it, and I always seemed to bump the plastic nozzle into the paint when I wasn't careful enough. Yes, it can be avoided if you are always vigilant, but I didn't seem to have that ability, at least not at all times.

The Master Blaster seems like it might be a one trick pony, but I've found it quite useful in blowing grass clippings off of my mowers, and it also works quite well to blow snow and ice off of my snow blower before I pull it back in my garage during the winter (that's where the heated air comes in VERY handy). It is a bit more cumbersome than using a leaf blower for blowing dust and grit out of the garage, but you can't argue with the volume of air it can displace running full tilt. I was fortunate that I had attic access to most of the walls in my garage, so I was able to put 20-amp outlets on nearly every wall in my garage. Without a 20-amp outlet, the Master Blaster really doesn't pack a lot of punch, so I'd second guess buying one if you don't have access to that kind of power.

 

[MoparMap]

I've never had much luck with our electric leaf blower, but then again I don't know its rating off the top of my head. It does a decent job of moving the water around on the car, but it doesn't really seem to "dry" it or get it off, just to a different location. We do have a little pet air dryer though that I've debated trying a few times that's similar in style the Master Blaster, just a fair deal smaller. Probably about 12-16" long with a filtered intake. Don't recall if it is heated or not though. I think it would be good for the annoying spots like mirrors, lenses, wheels, and the like at the least.

 

[Steve M]

I've never had much luck with our electric leaf blower, but then again I don't know its rating off the top of my head. It does a decent job of moving the water around on the car, but it doesn't really seem to "dry" it or get it off, just to a different location. We do have a little pet air dryer though that I've debated trying a few times that's similar in style the Master Blaster, just a fair deal smaller. Probably about 12-16" long with a filtered intake. Don't recall if it is heated or not though. I think it would be good for the annoying spots like mirrors, lenses, wheels, and the like at the least.

Well, the Master Blaster isn't really "heated" per se...that the air gets hot is a function of how hot the motors get pumping the air, and that heat gets transferred to the air in the process of being used. I've seen identical designs marketed as livestock dryers:

http://dryerlow.net/cattle-blow-dryers/

So your "pet dryer" is likely the exact same thing, only it probably has one motor instead of the Master Blaster's two.

 

[witz323]

My Stihl gas leaf blower works perfectly.

 

[3whitevipers]

Paid 299.00 on line including shipping and the wall mount--love it--Dave

 

[Junkman2008]

My Stihl gas leaf blower works perfectly.

Like I said in the video, you should NEVER use a gas powered leaf blower to dry your car. The exhaust from the blower will land all over your paint. That cannot be helped. It's just like using a rattle can to spray something outside of your garage with the doors open. The over-spray that floats away will always find its way inside your garage and will land on your paint.

 

[JAY]

I use de ionized water , and find it works the Best ! No towel , no swirl marks .

 

[johniew398]

I received my Master Blaster on July 2nd. I used it the first time yesterday on my Abarth and it works great.

If the end comes off the hose you have to screw it back on counter clockwise.

 

[Stealth]

The area behind my garage is an alley that is always dusty.

Won't using a AFMB or Leaf Blower stir up the dust on the ground, put it in the air and back on the car?

I have been using the Junkman Platinum Puffle and it is slow but sure.

Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[viper k]

I used a leaf blower and put a rubber end on it and taped a filter on it works good just got a 06 very viper red with white stripes number 37 of 50 love it.........