OK, i've finally had enough of 'afterbath' soggy dogs running around the house, drying themselves on anything they can find! So i'm after a Blaster/Dryer to get rid of excess water and hopefully save my towels and furnishings. Preferably one that is under £100 but i could possibly stretch to £150.....at the moment i am towel drying as best i can, wrapping them in towelling coats, to absorb any excess and then blow drying with a Hairdryer! :-O it wasn't so bad when i just had the one Cocker, but now i have the hairy beast to do as well, it takes the fun out of pre-show bathing somewhat!
I have been looking at several different types such as the Metro Airforce Quick Draw, Metro Airforce Cadet (is that just a glorified hairdryer though? it looks a wee tiddler!) Aeolus variable blaster, Kwik Groom Maxx (another tiddler!) and those Kyklon blasters from Technogroom. Now before i go ahead and buy, i need to know i'm getting value for money and a good product, so are there any reviews on the individual blasters or have any of you wonderful peeps had first hand experience of any of them? I have looked through some old topics on here but they were more for the combi makes with stands etc, i only want mine for two Cockers (maybe three hopefully! I have to work on OH for that lol :)) used about once a week, my boys aren't bothered about noise, the hairdryer i have is pretty powerful/noisy but not powerful enough to blast away water!
any ideas/reviews most welcome, Cheers x

Hi, Both my friend and I have a Aolus Hand H-901 blaster/dryer. We purchased them off the Groomers stand at LKA and I think the cost was about £135, but it's probably the best money i've ever spent. It is very portable and has an extremely long hose. Both the power and heat settings are variable. You also get two hose attachments for directing the air, but to be honest I don't really find them much use and just use the hose with no nozzle. We use it on golden retrievers and it is more than powerful enough.

Hi crazy-cockers

I've had mine for years and it's badged as the Metro Air Force Commander but looking at the list on HERE  they now call the one of the same power as mine (4.hp) Metro Air Force Blaster Commander 3. (8th one down the page, Price £189.77 Including VAT)

It's excellent for my long haired and thick double coated breed (plus lots of furnishings).  Just noticed it's a little more pricey than you wanted to pay but you may get a deal at Crufts if you're going, especially if you can buy or reserve stock on display.  OTOH you may find the less powerful version enough for your Cockers and it appears to come in at your target price but again I'd try and strike a deal :)

Other stalls may sell them too so it pays to check out a few places before handing over the cash!

HTH, Teri

what sort of power do you think for my breed Teri? they arent double coated but they are quite hairy, I wanted something to blast them with after they have been hosed down to knock the rest of the dirt out of them (im wanting to put my cream wool rug back in the living room - pointless at the mo because as soon as they dry the dirt falls off of them) I was going to have a look at crufts.

I've got a metro air force  commander blaster as well and its great.  i use it on my gordons top coat and feet. 

I used to have a simpsons combi dryer, which I only used for drying not for blasting and didnt like it.  I found it really noisy and not all that efficient ( i did buy it second hand so could have been due to its age) 

I picked up an Aeolus  stand dryer at LKA and its great. the only down side of it is that its birght orange!! :)

I will keep an eye open at crufts, are they expensive ? Im not fussed about the colour, I was planning on putting it in my brick shed so I can get them washed and dried outside (im dreaming of a dust/dirt free house ;) )

Hi Claire

not sure if the lower power would suit yours better but TBH from the point of view of it blasting out dirt and debris rather than just a dryer I'd suggest you go for the same one (or similar power at any rate) as mine.  It has two power settings - I mostly only use high (except for introducing pups to the noise or doing around the ears) whereas you may find you only use high on feathering for example but like the extra power when the little critters are particularly dirty LOL.

HTH, Teri  :)

Thanks, the dirt seems to get right in their thick chest and stomach hair where even the power jet on the hose doesnt reach (im so evil!!)  today they went for a swim after their run so shouldnt be too dirty, would be nice to give them a blast though to dry them off.

I will have a look at crufts :)

We use a DOUBLE "K" CHALLENGAIR 850XL Forced Air Dryer on our Cockers not cheap but well worth the money

http://www.peasridge.co.uk/acatalog/Dryers_-_Floor_Standing.html

Hi Teri

I'm going to Crufts on the saturday, just bringing the one boy, so only the one to prepare! I will have a look at the Metro one you mentioned, plus the Aeolus one too, OH will be happy if i can get a good deal lol! do they have the blasters/dryers hooked up to power points so you can actually try before you buy?

So it looks like i have a lot of walking to do, best find my comfy shoes :)

Thanks for the help.

>We use a DOUBLE "K" CHALLENGAIR 850XL Forced Air Dryer on our Cockers not cheap but well worth the money

http://www.peasridge.co.uk/acatalog/Dryers_-_Floor_Standing.html >

wow thats a serious piece of kit! unfortunately lack of space means small but powerful only! now if OH built me a grooming room......Hmmmmmm now thats a thought :)

Claire

The blaster was around the £150 mark a few years ago and the stand dryer was around £330.   Not sure with an Irish coat, but I dont use the blaster on my Gordon's  feathering (apart from round his feet) as I tend to find that it makes it matt and I thn spend ages getting the matts back out.

(im dreaming of a dust/dirt free house  )

What's one of them :)

Jill

they dont tend to matt very easily (just under the armpits !!) but its worth bearing in mind. £150 is quite doable (I think) I saw one in the dog paper reduced to £150, not sure how powerful it was though, will have to have another look.