The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Restoring Steering Wheel

Has anyone gone through the process of restoring a vintage steering wheel. I have read an article on the process of filing cracks, filling and re-painting with a flex additive but have not gone through the process myself. Are there any other considerations of additional procedures that are needed to restore a vintage steering wheel?

Don't worry about the flex additive. The properties of the flex additive only last for several days to weeks.

It's mainly good for polyeurathane bumpers. So the paint bends while your are getting the bumper mounted to the body. If you notice, those bumpers start showing spider cracks after a while even mounted firmly to the body. And if you bump anything, you get the cracks right away.

The easiest way to restore the steering wheel is to clean out the cracks and make a "V" cut into the crack. Fill it with body filler, prime, sand and finish just like you would with a car body. It'll look great and last a long time.

If you like leather steering wheels, go to Wheelskins.com and take a look at their covers. I have one on my car and looks like factory. I love the way it looks and so does everyone that has seen it.

Frank

Agree with Frank on veeing out the cracks. I used JB Weld to fill cracks and then primed. I still have some hairline cracks I figure I'll use some glazing/Icing to finish up.
Dan

I used JB Weld on my steering wheel cracks and it was great -- quick and easy!
See Here

Then I covered my steering wheel ('75 Caddy tilt) with elk leather:
See Here

I also used the v grinds on cracks in my '42 wheel...remember to grind to the core (not through). I used POR 15 Epoxy bars (mix two parts together)...worked extremely well. You can smooth the putty with water so it really cuts down on sanding. File, sand and wet sand, prime & paint ..works great!

What kind of paint are we talking about. I know they make steering wheel paint. Are you guys using that ro soemthing else, acrylic, epoxy, enamel??

I used a Dremel tool to make the cracks bigger and then filled them with bondo, sanded and repainted the wheel. Looks brand new!

You can use whatever paint your want. I would go with bc/cc. Think how great the wheel would look finished the same color as the body.

Clear is very durable.

Frank

I suggest spraying the wheel with adhesion promoter, like 'bulldog', before painting.

I've tried a variety of paints on the wheel and never seemed to get them to hold up for any length of time. I finally wound up with SEC spray vinyl upholstery paint.....it's no bc/cc but it's available in a broad spectrum of colors, it goes on smooth, doesn't look like "paint", and best of all it stays on....no flaking or cracking. Hope this helps.

Dave

bondo simply does NOT hold to the wheel material
my.02