I'd like to refurbish my bake light or resign steering wheel, but I've never done anything like it before. I searched a little on here but I couldn't find anything. I found this in an article online but I was wondering if anyone had any tips to add. It's not in terrible shape, but it has some cracks that may cause issues once I get my truck on the road. Thank you in advance!
"...Varying expansion at different temperatures or mechanical stresses caused by pulling or pushing on the steering wheel make a repair necessary - or in severe cases even questionable. If a repair still makes sense, a restoration can be carried out with a multifunctional milling cutter, sandpaper, epoxy resin and varnish:
Step 1 – Milling Generously mill out larger and deeper cracks with a multifunction cutter. Mill down to the original substance.
Step 2 - Remove residues In the next step, sand off the old paint completely. Remove all residues and remains of the router - it is best to clean with a silicone removerr so that dust and grease remains are completely removed.
Step 3 - Fill cracks Now use a filler element. Decide on either: epoxy resin or epoxy compound, the professional solution or 2K polyester resin (cheaper than epoxy resin, but has a lower adhesive property, e.g. on metal), feasible if you have nothing else to hand at the moment. For larger cracks, glue in a filler to bridge the gap. If you use epoxy compound, be sure to press the compound in all the way to the metal core to fill the entire crack. If the compound sticks too much, it helps to wet your fingers from time to time. Tip: Simple, straight cracks at the separation points of the steering ring can also be closed with PU sealant: Simply tape both sides of the crack in a ring, inject PU sealant, then smooth with soapy fingers.
Step 4 - Sanding First roughly sand any protruding areas with the multifunction cutter, then with sandpaper (e.g. first 120 grit, then 400 grit, then 600 grit) until the steering wheel is ready for painting. If your steering wheel has nicks and other damage, sand out to shape as well.
Step 5 - Cleaning and priming Clean the entire steering wheel again - preferably with silicone remover. Then paint it with filling primer and let it dry for at least one day. Sand the primer thoroughly again the next day. It is best to use 600 grit or higher for this. Step 6 - Painting and finishing Once the primer has dried, you can start painting: Spray on several thin coats of paint or 2-K polyethurane acrylic lacquer at sufficient intervals. The cured lacquer can be polished to the desired shine.
Tip: The rules of a good paint job apply: cleanliness, chemical consistency of the materials used and patience. If you are working in the garage, it helps to run the room with a water spray bottle - this binds the coarsest dust."
1946 Chevy Getting started on Bruno Follow the story in the DITY Gallery You can't buy happiness but you can buy a truck ... and that's pretty much the same thing.
