Hydrotech + Sealant = Awesome

Okay guys, so I detailed a Benz this past weekend. Over the winter I bought some crimson 4" hydrotech pads to try out with sealant. I had been using the 6.5" blue CCS pad and was very frustrated with all the product soaking in the pad making me feel like very little was getting on the paint, which often led to overapplication, which then led to PITA to remove and sometimes putting minor marring back onto the paint I just polished.

Man, what a joy to use these HT pads! The smaller pad actually gives you more control over product amount (you don`t feel like you need to prime a big ol salad plate just to get started). The closed cell nature definitely put more product on the car rather than soaking into the pad.

If anyone out there hasn`t tried these pads for sealant or wax application, I would highly recommend it. Just thought I would share my experience.

Here`s a few pics just for the heck of it (smartphone pics). Process was:
- foam with CGCW Red and rinse
- foam each panel and wash with MF mitt and one bucket with water and grit guard
- IronX & TarX (tons of tiny tar specs on this car)
- Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay and final foam wash with MF mitt
- Polished with Menzerna PF2500 on a white LC flat pad and GG6
- BF GEP on glass roof by hand
- 15% IPA wipedown
- BFWD applied with 4" crimson HT pad on GG6 + hand application in tight spots - 12 hour cure
- 2 coats BFCS 1 hour apart

Tailpipe finishers removed and cleaned with S100 Polishing Soap and heavier carbon deposits restored with S100 Finish Restorer. Rear lower bumper fascia cleaned with M101 1:4 and sealed with BFTTTS.
http://www.autopia.org/forums/attach...id=27369&stc=1http://www.autopia.org/forums/attach...id=27370&stc=1http://www.autopia.org/forums/attach...id=27371&stc=1http://www.autopia.org/forums/attach...id=27372&stc=1http://www.autopia.org/forums/attach...id=27373&stc=1http://www.autopia.org/forums/attach...id=27374&stc=1

Didn`t spend much time on the wheels/tires/wells as the car will be back in a couple months for an engine cleaning and full off-the-car tire/wheel/well detail.

Granted they`re the only pads I`ve really used, but I like the hydros. I got the 5.5`s with my flex.

Mi Amigo !

This is Beautiful, Clear, Glossy, Perfect Work !!!!!!!! Holy Cow !!!!!!

Im glad you like the Lake Country Hydro-Shreds ( as I affectionately call them), I have been using the Cyan 5.5" on my Makita for years, since they first came out, and there is nothing better for normal correction work to finish down sometimes LSP ready...
And as you found, they dont absorb a lot of product and are nice and firm and just great !

I have all sizes and flavors of them also, and even though they will give it up eventually, I love how well they work and clean up afterwards..

And since they dont have a dozen colors, etc., much easier on the budget and brain to know Cyan - harder cut than Tangerine... See how easy??? :)
Dan F