Technique

I recently ran into a friend of mine at the gym who's a personal trainer. After chatting with him I asked him a few questions about how I could improve some of my exercise techniques so I could get to the next level. While I've been exercising with free weights for over twenty years and have a lot of knowledge in the sport from both personal experience and what I've learned from magazine articles, it doesn't compare to his knowledge. After all, he makes a living from it so it's in his best interest to know as much information as possible. I may have ten years on him in age and years of working out, but his knowledge is deeper and gets into the details of muscle mechanics. That type of knowledge puts him way ahead of me in experience regardless of how many years I have under my belt.

After talking with him, it reminded me of some detailers that I've met over the years that have decades of experience but their work doesn't reflect it. I've also met detailers who had a few years of experience but were doing work that was far better. The difference? Technique and knowledge - the good kind. I've found that the most knowledgeable detailers are the ones who've taken classes in detailing or collision/bodyshop work. On occasion I've met someone who was a self-taught natural. But that's rare. Bottom line, more years doesn't always equate to better results. For example, I met a detailer who has a very successful shop and has been detailing for about thirty years. However, when I saw his paint correction work, I noticed a lot of what he produced was nothing but masking - hiding swirl marks with polishing glazes. It occurred to me that you can have a lot of years of experience of doing the wrong thing. Consider one who learns a bad habit when they're very young and continues to do it throughout adult hood. Sure they are masters at what they do but what they do is incorrect. 

Detailing has become more popular than ever in the last decade. Ten years ago we didn't have detailing forum boards where members discuss and share detailing techniques, preferred products and so on. We didn't have YouTube to watch how-to videos about using rotary polishers. If you wanted to learn, you had two options: you could either teach yourself or be taught by someone with experience.

While I believe that forum boards and how-to videos are fantastic mediums for learning, I believe that they are best seen as supplements rather than replacements to traditional one-on-one instruction.

If you are interested in becoming a professional detailer as a career or just to get to the next level, I highly suggest you seek a detailing class or some certification program in body shop repair. 

I truly believe that people who are best at what they do regardless of what they do (doctors, shoe makers, seamstress, chefs, detailers, writers, barbers) learned from someone who is a master at what they do and at one time was taught by a master. This master could be a mentor or a teacher.

The knowledge on the Internet today is immense and it's easy to believe that you can learn a new skill by reading posts or watching someone perform the task on a YouTube video. But absolutely nothing can compare to learning one-on-one with an instructor who is a master at their profession and has been recognized for it. Whether you've been detailing for months or years, it's never too late to develop good techniques.

-Michael Mankarious

Headed to the mountains - quick winter prep

Some friends and I are headed to the mountains for some snowboarding tomorrow. Currently raining here in Southern California so I'm going to do my prep in the garage. Give the car a quick polish with PolishWax and protection with Glanz Wax which can easily stand up to mud, dirt and snow (which I certainly will be experiencing). And last but not least some winter preperation by applying Gummi Pflege (Rubber Care) Stick (pictured) on all the door weather seals (trunk seals too) and adding our newest product Anti-Frost Concentrated Washer Fluid (pictured). I'm going to mix Anti-Frost in a mixture of 1 part AF to 2 parts water. That'll be good for 7°F (doesn't get that cold here). Mix it 1:1 and you have protection down to -15°F and 1.5:1 and you'll have approximately -25°F. The great thing about Anti-Frost is that you can use it year-round and mixes well with Kristall Klar (our warm season washer fluid). This makes the trasnsistion from summer washer fluid to winter washer fluid (and vice-versa) a snap. Like Kristall Klar, it cuts through grime so easily and doesn't leave any smearing or glare. But here's the key, use wiper blades in GOOD condition. My recommendation is to use the frameless wipers from Bosch or Michelin. I have the Michelins and they are awesome! One of the great features of einszett washer fluids (unlike the regular blue/ammonia washer fluids) is that they soften hard water and lubricate the windshield washer pump. This keeps hard water minerals from building which can cause the sprayers to clog or even worse, cause the washer pump to fail. My friend just experienced the washer pump failure. He's had the car for seven years and it's out of warranty. Spend a little now and save a lot later. Other key features of our washer fluids:

• They reduce the wiper blade skipping and shuddering which happens when the wipers are used during the rain. Just spray and they work smoothly again.
• No methanol. Believe it or not, almost all washer fluids on the market have this toxic ingredient. If just one ounce is accidentally ingested, it can cause serious harm. einszett only uses ethanol which is non-toxic.
• Ammonia-free. Ammonia is a low cost surfactant (cleaning agent) found in most washer fluids. We use the good stuff so it works faster and it's smear-free. Also free from that ammonia scent.
• Citrus scent. May not seem like a big deal but when you spray and the scent comes through your fresh air vents, you'll find out why so many people buy the washer fluid just for the scent!

So that's my prep for tomorrow's trip:

• PolishWax (16.9 fl oz/500 ml - $20.00)
• Glanz Wax (16.9 fl oz/500 ml - $20.00)
• Gummi-Pflege (3.5 oz/100 ml - $9.00)
• Anti-Frost Concentrated Washer Fluid (33.8 fl oz/1000 ml - $9.00)

With this preparation, the drive will be a lot more relaxing and safe thanks to the Anti-Frost Washer Fluid which will help remove mist and road spray kicked up by the cars in front, while the coat of Glanz Wax will help make the road grime wash off a lot easier post trip.

Car Care Organizer Bag

We're excited about introducing our newest product from einszett, the Car Care Organizer Bag. einszett customers have been asking for it for quite a while. Years in fact. 

So what took so long? Here's the issue: finding great quality and size at the right value. So after looking at thousands of bags and nothing matching what we had in mind, we finally found this one.

No, it's not going to revolutionize the way we carry car care products and it won't save the world. But we like it and we think you will too!

The bag is made from 600 denier polyester so it's durable and easy to clean. It's lined with PVC so if anything leaks, it's well contained and easy to clean up.

It holds up to 6 bottles (the 16.9 oz/500 ml and 1 liters (33.8 oz) comfortably. There's a top compartment to put your small detail brushes, keys or whatever else.

Embroidered on the front is the einszett/1Z Shield logo.

It's great to carry your Spray Wax and microfiber in your car just in case you need to do a quick clean up after a bird does its business on your paint finish. And of course you can carry your arsenal of einszett products with you to the car show. 

Here's another suggestion: use it as an emergency kit packing it with items such as flares, bandages, granola bars, bottled water, rubbing alcohol, etc.

Whatever you choose to use it for, we know you'll be having it around for years.

They're here... finally!

I'm relieved to say that are latest cargo of products have arrived and began shipping out to dealers today. Your favorites like Klima Cleaner, Gummi Pflege, Cockpit Premium and Windscreen Clear are all back. Plus we have our new line of winter products (Anti-Frost Washer Fluid and Eistau De-Icer Spray). By the way, to be fair to our dealers, the einszett Online Shop will not have the out of stock products available for sale until our dealers are stocked. So please visit them first. They all offer excellent service!