Werkstat Completely Gone?

S

Setec Astronomy

Well-known member
Some of you remember Jeff`s Werkstatt, which then just became Werkstat, and then I thought they changed to Carlack USA or something...well I can`t find them at all now. Anybody know?


EDIT: I guess we kind of went through this last year...https://www.autopia.org/forums/forum-news-updates-feedback/188122-threads.html?highlight=Werkstat

And here`s the archive version of that thread that won`t work in regular mode: https://www.autopia.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-46473.html

So it seems neither the werkstat site nor the Carlack US site are up...I did send an email to the address from the last time I ordered (2014) and it didn`t bounce back, so we`ll see if I get an answer.

In the meantime if anyone knows anything please post.
 
I looked a couple years ago and could find no evidence that they were still selling. I`ve got a couple bottles in the basement if you want them, Setec. You pay shipping and I`ll send it out.
 
Thanks Tom, but I was really just trying to keep tabs on things, rather than actually needing any product...probably the last thing I need is more product, lol.
 
He hadn`t used that one for a long time, went from that to werkstat to carlack something or other.

But you inspired me to look up the werkstat domain and it sure doesn`t look like it belongs to Jeff anymore.
 
I miss the Werkstat stuff. I loved prime and prime strong. They had replace the Klasse AIO. Since they are gone I went back to KAIO. [h=2][/h]
 
TroyScherer said:
I miss the Werkstat stuff. I loved prime and prime strong. They had replace the Klasse AIO. Since they are gone I went back to KAIO.
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Yeah, later on he was selling the stuff in the Carlack packaging, which meant some of the "custom" stuff like Strong was no longer available. In that archive thread Phil at DD said he had been trying to get the product (not sure if he was referring to Werkstat or Carlack) in the store for a long time, with no success.
 
TroyScherer said:
I miss the Werkstat stuff. I loved prime and prime strong. They had replace the Klasse AIO. Since they are gone I went back to KAIO.
Click to expand...

Troy:
Speaking of Klasse All-In-One (KAIO), where and/or what do you use this car-care product for in your detailing process(es)?

I bought some on my last order of car-care chemicals because I could not decide on which AIO to buy, and since this was (meaning, past tense!) a "forum favorite" sometime ago, I thought I would try it. I use it on engine compartment paint and door jams, and interior painted or satin/matte-finish trim and it works pretty good for that. Only misgiving is the price of the product and that the stock that was sent me was manufactured in May 2013!! Apparently it is not in demand as it used to be.
 
Lonnie- I wouldn`t worry about the age of the KAIO. My oldest jug is well over 20 years old and to look at it you`d swear it had gone bad (lumpy, with black [stuff], really awful looking) but it works 100% fine.

I use it when I want a (functionally) non-abrasive paint/metal/plastic cleaner, primarily as a base for KSG (I generally reach for other stuff to use under FK1000P, but that`s just me). Also a great base for 845, including for exterior plastics and even some rubber items.
 
Accumulator said:
Lonnie- I wouldn`t worry about the age of the KAIO. My oldest jug is well over 20 years old and to look at it you`d swear it had gone bad (lumpy, with black [stuff], really awful looking) but it works 100% fine.

I use it when I want a (functionally) non-abrasive paint/metal/plastic cleaner, primarily as a base for KSG (I generally reach for other stuff to use under FK1000P, but that`s just me). Also a great base for 845, including for exterior plastics and even some rubber items.
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Thanks Accumulator:
Good to know. NEVER thought about using it on exterior plastic.

I do use KAIO on rims, since MOST of them are clear coated, and it is a chemical cleaner AIO, especially for minor tar dots that get on rims. I follow up with 845 on some of the rims, depending on the time I have and the condition of the rims, since most of the details I do are for family or friends daily driver vehicles.
 
Lonnie said:
Troy:
Speaking of Klasse All-In-One (KAIO), where and/or what do you use this car-care product for in your detailing process(es)?

I bought some on my last order of car-care chemicals because I could not decide on which AIO to buy, and since this was (meaning, past tense!) a "forum favorite" sometime ago, I thought I would try it. I use it on engine compartment paint and door jams, and interior painted or satin/matte-finish trim and it works pretty good for that. Only misgiving is the price of the product and that the stock that was sent me was manufactured in May 2013!! Apparently it is not in demand as it used to be.
Click to expand...


Personally I use KAIO on some door jambs, smooth exterior plastic trim, exhaust tips, interior glass.

I really like it on interior glass once a year to remove any film that builds up.
 
I love KAIO on anything external except tires. It`s my favorite bug and tar remover. Also great for baked on brake dust. Awesome on oxidized paint, especially trim like wiper arms. I`d be sad if it wasn`t available anymore.
 
Dan said:
It`s my favorite bug and tar remover..
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Huh, I wouldn`t use it for that unless things were really bad, if only because I`d have to reLSP (which I can generally avoid). But OK, I gather most people redo in a pretty big way after most tar cleanups anyhow.

Also great for baked on brake dust. Awesome on oxidized paint, especially trim like wiper arms...
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Hmmm..it only works for me on such stuff when the problem isn`t very severe. I generally wish it were far more potent. Eh, guess I`m just spoiled by the Chemical Cleaners from back in the day, which were absolute murder on oxidation (and/but would "bleach" some paints if you weren`t careful). (off-topic Q: do we even deal with oxidation much these days? I haven`t really had to deal with that since forever, never more than just an occasional new-to-me-vehicle`s initial cleanup.)

But OTOH, it *is* often sufficient for my annual wheel cleanups during seasonal change-overs since I`m seldom dealing with anything very bad. Wouldn`t want to use it for wheels that hadn`t had their backsides cleaned for months though.

I`d be sad if it wasn`t available anymore.
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Same here, IMO it belongs on every Detailer`s shelf. Incredibly user-friendly as long as you 1) remember to use a damp applicator, 2) don`t use too much (sound familiar? ;) ), and 3) don`t overwork it in a big way.
 
I`m sure there are some better tar cleaners but KAIO works almost as good as a real solvent. And it leaves behind a hint of protection.
 
Lonnie said:
Thanks Accumulator:
Good to know. NEVER thought about using it on exterior plastic...
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Just remembered...you might not want to let it flash/dry when using it on stuff like that, and especially not on Rubber or textured surfaces. Buff it dry while still a little wet as the dried residue that`s so easily buffed off paint can be a PIA to buff off those surfaces.
 
Dan said:
I`m sure there are some better tar cleaners but KAIO works almost as good as a real solvent. And it leaves behind a hint of protection.
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Yeah, not arguing that at all :D When a very gentle claying won`t do it and I know I`m reLSPing anyhow, the KAIO is a good first-try product. But I will say that my "real solvents" work a lot better...might just be my old pre-VOC stuff has spoiled me.

I`ve never left it untopped since trying it once. Incredibly short-lived and IMO offered minimal protection. But you know how off-the-deep end I am about my expectations in those areas :o It`s sure enough to hold things over until the next wash if you want to delay LSPing until then, which is a lot better than leaving things stripped by a solvent.
 
Sorry to the Original Poster for "morphing" (AKA, hijacking") this thread from Werkstats existence to uses for Klasse All-In-One (KAIO).
I assume SOME of you still have Werkstat products somewhere on your back shelf of "don`t-use-that-any-more" car-care chemical collection/inventory/stash.

Would you still buy these products IF they were available OR if a car-care chemical manufacturer bought the rights/patents to the formulations and re-introduced them again??
With the plethora of so many car-care manufacturers out there since Werkstats demise (like Polish Angel, CarPro, McKee`s 37, CarBrite, Kenotek, Gyeon, Double Black-Renny Doyle, Dr. Beasly`s) and all the new products or variations of existing applications (like car soaps!!) that are available, for myself, I would say "No". Then again, sometimes you find that "niche product" like KAIO that works so well it becomes your "go-to" product for certain detailing applications or covers a wide variety of detailing applications (like Accumulator pointed out for exterior plastic and certain rubber trim or Troy Scherer`s use on interior windows).

That said, it also sounds like SOME of you miss not having Werkstat`s around and their products were (past tense) one of your favorites to use.

Maybe a better question for a new thread topic would be: "Car-care products that are no longer made you wish were still around and you would use"
I know Accumulator would say anything outlawed by Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) regulations. Myself, PPG`s DX440 Wax and Grease Remover. That stuff is nasty, but SOOOO effective on grease and door hinge sealants/adhesives.
 
Lonnie said:
Sorry to the Original Poster for "morphing" (AKA, hijacking") this thread from Werkstats existence to uses for Klasse All-In-One (KAIO).
I assume SOME of you still have Werkstat products somewhere on your back shelf of "don`t-use-that-any-more" car-care chemical collection/inventory/stash.

Would you still buy these products IF they were available OR if a car-care chemical manufacturer bought the rights/patents to the formulations and re-introduced them again??
Click to expand...

Don`t worry about the thread-jack. As far as being available, rights/patents, etc....I don`t think that`s really the right perspective. From my years of observing this (and other importer arrangements) it would seem that Carlack (who has been around a long time) had no interest in establishing a US presence. Somehow, back in the 70`s, someone wanted to import the products into the US, and either that importer wanted to brand the products differently, or Carlack didn`t want to jeopardize their brand when they didn`t have a US office to oversee it, or they didn`t trust the importer...whatever--Klasse was born. Of course the Klasse products were a subset of the Carlack line.

Later, again, in a confusing way, a different importer gained rights to the newer, "nano" Carlack products, which ultimately became Werkstat (after a flirtation as Shokar with a former forum member, and current online store owner in Canada...who`s name I`m blanking on...the guy who was selling the Erazer clay until the patent ran out). Werkstat included more Carlack products, and even some custom blends.

Unclear to me why Carlack wound up with two different US importers (Klasse & Werkstat), maybe this is one of those things when lawyers didn`t run everything in the 70`s they signed a perpetual agreement with Klasse that they couldn`t get out of...or whatever. As was discussed in this thread or a different one, Werkstat for a while at the end after they ended the Werkstat brand and were selling off remaining inventory, were selling the Carlack-branded products, and even had a separate Carlack US website, and I thought Jeff (Werkstat) had just given up on the Werkstat brand and decided to just sell the stuff as Carlack (or Carlack decided they liked him and allowed him to sell it as Carlack)...but that`s all gone now. Anyway, Carlack is still in business, and I guess still isn`t really too interested in the US market. Which maybe isn`t surprising...Sonax was the same way for a while until they developed their current importer arrangement (with the company that now owns PBMG).

The Klasse guy and the Werkstat guy were both very low profile secretive operations (maybe because of agreement with Carlack), so this is all very mysterious for whatever reason. I don`t know if the Klasse guy is still alive, maybe Accumulator knows, I haven`t researched that for a long time, I think there is a very old thread here where we tracked the guy down to an apartment in San Francisco...kind of like Sal Zaino`s factory in the Mailboxes, Etc. on Rt. 9.

Sorry if I`m rambling.
 
Lonnie said:
Would you still buy these products IF they were available OR if a car-care chemical manufacturer bought the rights/patents to the formulations and re-introduced them again??
With the plethora of so many car-care manufacturers out there since Werkstats demise (like Polish Angel, CarPro, McKee`s 37, CarBrite, Kenotek, Gyeon, Double Black-Renny Doyle, Dr. Beasly`s) and all the new products or variations of existing applications (like car soaps!!) that are available, for myself, I would say "No". Then again, sometimes you find that "niche product" like KAIO that works so well it becomes your "go-to" product for certain detailing applications or covers a wide variety of detailing applications (like Accumulator pointed out for exterior plastic and certain rubber trim or Troy Scherer`s use on interior windows).

That said, it also sounds like SOME of you miss not having Werkstat`s around and their products were (past tense) one of your favorites to use.

Maybe a better question for a new thread topic would be: "Car-care products that are no longer made you wish were still around and you would use"
Click to expand...

Until recently I was still using up my Werkstat products. Once I ran out of the spray sealant I still had the cleaner/base (Prime & Prime Strong) I paired them with Sonus Acrylic Glanz Spray Sealant since they were similar products. I had been and still do use Klasse AIO on door jambs, etc. But I have now started using Opti-Seal or Reload and my sealant of choice.

Would I buy Werkstat products again if they were available. I would most likely pick up Prime & Prime Strong. They seemed to be unique and they worked well for my uses. And with multiple layers of the spray sealant I could get 1 year out of them.

I think newer sealants and coatings have taken over and essentially pushed some of the good older brands out since they don`t have the R&D and product development any more.
 
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