I have been using Hydro when I wash Pepper Jack (about once a week). Between washings I use slick, mainly to wipe off bugs from the front area. This routine is working well but I just noticed in the description for Hydro that it can also be used for QD. If so, what is the advantage, if any, of using Slick? Why not use Hydro for both wash day and touch up?

 

You can. But Slick seems to leave your paint, well ... slick. IMO Slick is slicker than Hydro and seems to loosen the little crud bits better.

 

Use Hydro when you want protection.

Use Slick when you want the best look.

I use Hydro on my wheels as a wheel wax because it's easy and works well.

Yesterday one of my buddies was washing his girlfriends white Mercedes. I helped him and there was absolutely no wax on it. The waffle weave towel stuck to the paint making drying even tougher.

He wanted to know if I had something that would make it nicer without any effort, and I said Hydro! So I went around spritzing it, and as we dried--you could feel the slickness again--his comment was that it was night and day seeing where the wax was applied and wasn't just by feel. With Hydro, that slickness will last--Slick would be temporary.

 

yah, everyone hates bugs on the front area.


slick has tons better lifting capabilities vs hydro as explained above.
hydro is best used as a protective wax.

 

I use Slick as my quick detailer, except that I'll use Hydro on the black windshield A-pillar covers, since Hydro does such a good job of filling/hiding the microswirls that always seem to show up there.

 

First, a note about the difference in looks between Slick and Hydro...

Some colors look better with Slick and other colors look better with Hydro. AND, the look is in the eye of the beholder too. For example, Richard said he prefers the look of Slick, as many of our customers do, yet I prefer the look of Hydro... at least on most paints.


Here is a comparison description I've written in the past which helps define Slick vs. Hydro. They do overlap a bit and yet have separate characteristics too:

"Slick is pretty much what is considered a 'traditional quick detail spray' that also happens to leave an unusual super-slickness on the paint. Traditional quick detail sprays (aka QDs), including Slick, typically have the following in common:

• Mild cleaners/lifters
• Lubricants (primarily to help in safely touching/rubbing the paint)
• Polymers (primarily to add shine)

So when might you use Slick?

• After a wash- to add some shine or extra shine or just for the fun slickness!
• To remove water spots, bird droppings and other nasties- when you simply aren't able to do an immediate handwash (it's of utmost importance to remove such things ASAP or they will likely etch your paint... sometimes irreversibly)
• To wipe down wheels- if you're using a wheel sealant or other synthetic wax on your wheels and you don't need to use a powerful wheel cleaner (not to mention you'd want to avoid using a wheel cleaner when you're using a wheel sealant/wax unless really necessary simply because you'd be really wearing down your sealant!)
• To "dust" your car- IF AND ONLY IF your car is perfectly clean of real dirt or heavy dust. An example of this might be the morning after an evening handwash when the car has been garaged all night. As a rule, you never want to touch your paint unless it's been handwashed first or you could scratch it (unless you have water spots/bird droppings... it's worth the risk in that case!).

By contrast, Hydro is a concentrated spray wax. Yes, it can be used like a quick detail spray but it contains less cleaners/lifters (therefore less effective at any of the cleaning-related tasks) and actually has a “true” synthetic wax in it. It also gives a more glossy/wet/deep look than Slick.

Slick vs. Hydro?

Durability: Hydro lasts several weeks to 3 months (Generally, longer when applied to a dry surface and shorter when applied to a wet surface). Slick lasts several days and up to 3 weeks.

Appearance: Hydro tends to have more depth, gloss, and warmth than Slick, although Slick has a nice amount of shine. Both create a the slick surface, although Slick creates superior slickness. Note that Hydro's appearance will improve (deepen and become glossier) in the 24 hours after application (similar to Epic).

Function: Hydro is primarily a polymer-based spray wax (aka spray sealant) and contains a very small amount of cleaners. Slick, as most traditional quick detail sprays, contains some polymer-based wax but also contains light cleaners/surfectants too. This means that Slick can be used not only for "shine" touch-ups but for light "problem" cleaning (ie, cleaning bird droppings or water spots, from a relatively clean surface). Some people like to use Slick for glass cleaning as well.

Other: Hydro is thicker and heavier and is therefore slightly more stubborn to buff off when applied to a dry surface (relative to Slick). Having said that, Hydro is still easier to buff off than any other spray wax, IMO. And, when applied to a wet surface, it is very easy to work with. Slick is very light in consistency and super easy to buff off.


The one you choose depends on your preference... easy of use vs the different looks each imparts, etc. It also depends on what your goal is. Again, for me, I use Hydro primarily as a spray wax, mostly on a wet post-washed surface. I use Slick as a QD... when I want to spruce up the car and/or if I'm cleaning off light dust, bird droppings and water spots. I do sometimes use Hydro on a dry surface... but not as often as Slick. However, Nick sometimes uses Slick to spruce up but usually just when the cleaners are needed. He uses Hydro much more often as his touch-up QD. So even between the two of us, we use them differently based on our different preferences."


I hope that helps!

-Heather

 

Thanks Heather (and others). This is exactly the info I needed. Sounds like I'm using both in much the same way as most. One other question; if I wash every week should I not use Hydro every time? Is there a build-up problem?

 

I use it every week with no issues.

 

sometimes even more often.

 

True.

 

I can't seem to find Hydro anywhere but online.

 

I think online is the only option, unless you live close enough to one of the online vendors' retail outlets to pick some up.

(Or, you could sneak into Ken's garage and take two or three gallons - I'm sure that wouldn't even make a dent in his supply.)

Seriously, unless you need it in a hurry, just order it from Detailer's Paradise. If you toss in a few Waffle Weave towels and Monster Fluffies to get your total order over $100, the shipping's free anyway, and you'll be avoiding sales tax.

 

Well, I like no tax and free shipping. Thanks.

 

FYI... you have to get the order over 300 to get free shipping

 

I just saw that on their FAQ page. Wow - when did that change? I know there *used* to be a $100 threshold, but I guess the increased shipping prices must be hitting them pretty hard.

Sorry about the mistake, and thanks for the correction.

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

You can use Hydro as often as you'd like without any build-up issues.

Note that most people tend to use more than is necessary per use though... a few spritzes per panel is all you really need. More doesn't hurt but you'll go through your Hydro more quickly than is necessary.

-Heather

 

No issues with buildup on the paint.

Though I've found that it WILL buildup around the edges of stripes and clearbra over time... have to go along those edges with a microfiber or a soft detailing brush occasionally to clean of the white waxy residue... just like what's left when you wax with Epic or whatever. But that's not Hydro's fault.

 

Indeed, you receive free shipping from us on orders over $300 now. A while ago the threshold was $100 and then several months ago we had to bump it to $150. With all of the increases in shipping costs over the past year, now we can't afford to do it under $300 anymore. Sorry!

We really held off on the big threshold increase for as long as we could. It is mind-boggling how much and how often our shipping rates go up lately! The increases have been killing us, as you might imagine.

Again, I apologize that we had to bump up the threshold!

And yes, either way you avoid sales tax.

-Heather

 

Heather,
Your clear explanations are worth the shipping. I'll be up on your page soon.
R

 

Heather,
Can you tell me what kind of clay is right for a new car?

Also, is it OK to wax and then Hydro?

R

 

It's the smell that keeps me spritzing the stuff. Heck with the build up, the satisfying olfactory experience is worth it.

 

Well, just watch for unsightly build-up around your nostrils. Of course, you could say you were just waxing your nose hair.

 

I'm not Heather, and if you have seen her and me you would not have any problem telling the difference , but

There is not a different clay needed for new cars. A new cars paint is ready for any detailing the day you get it.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself (about the clay, not telling us apart! )

Fresh paint is only a concern when it is freshly painted by a local body shop or dealer, etc. When from the manufacturer, fresh paint isn't really fresh anymore by the time you receive the car, plus they use a different painting technique.

-Heather