I have a 49 F-3 with many cracks in the plastic of the steering wheel. What would be the best method of filling these? Body filler or some type of epoxy or other material? What sort of paint is best for a repaired steering wheel?

 

You can use a product called PC-7. It's a 2 part epoxy you mix and fill the cracks with. You need to widen the cracks with a hacksaw blade so you can push the epoxy in. The stuff is sandable and takes primer. You have to fill and sand, fill and sand. There's alot of sanding and priming involved. I've restored several wheels and it's alot of work. I use a good primer and a good epoxy black paint to finish.

 

Where do you get PC7 Barry? I have a 41 Buick banjo wheel I'd love to restore for a project rod.

 

I bought my 2 cans at a local hardware store. Not sure if you can get it at Home Depot or Lowe's. It's also available in tube form. Real sticky stuff!

 

Will it(pc-7) work the rubber ebonite(?) wheels as in a 1960? Also, any special primer? Thanks, -4speed

 

The steering wheels I've done are the 48-50 trucks and a wheel for a 1950 car. The surface of the wheels were very easy to sand, almost where if you weren't careful, you could sand the details off easily. I think you could use it on your wheel. Just prime with a good sandable primer. I'm told you can use a epoxy based primer. Just be prepared to sand the heck out of your fingers!! It's a excellent winter project. I can't tell you how many times I wet sanded those wheels!!

 

I found a terrific product called "Repair Plastic" I am planning to use on the cracked steering wheel in my '49 F1. It is also a two part product, fully curing in about 5 minutes and comes in white, black and a tintable chameleon. It fully bonds with acrylics, ABS, PVC, CPVC, styrene, polycarbonates, wood, stone, concrete, textured metals, textured polypropylene "and more". It then can be machined to whatever you want to do. The latest price I have for a 3/4 oz kit is $5.95, which makes a ball about the diameter of a quarter. The 5 oz kit goes for $14.95. The smaller kit should be enough for one wheel. I have no idea about shipping or minimum order quantities. Oh yes, it's made by Catalyst Specialty Products. email me and I will give you their email address or call them at 360-834-6143. (Camas, Washington)

I used one kit to repair a plastic (PVC) part inside my RV refrigerator and it is better than new. I was very impressed and I had wanted to try it on my wheel first, but I couldn't pass up this thread. I'd like to hear from somone that tries it. You can repair your sprinkler system while you're at it.
Johann

 

What's the set up time on that stuff? Sounds expensive, I'd sure hate to waste any of it.

 

Completely hardened and ready to sand/machine/paint in about 5 minutes, depending on the temperature. Outside this time of year, I'd guess maybe 10 to 15 minutes. The kit is a bottle of powder and a bottle of liquid, so dividing up a larger kit might be possible but not as easy as two tubes of paste. My RV repair used 1/4 of a small kit so I glued a couple of PVC fittings together with the rest to see what it would do. They became one.
J

 

Hey Johann, I too bought the special liqiud glue, but the powder did not come with it. The seller told me to just use baking soda!! It works great. But for the steering wheel repair, I would just go low tech and use common epoxy. I used it on my 55 steering wheel ten years ago and it is still going strong. Good luck, John

 

I just got my kit from the eastwood company. it cost me about 27.00 but it comes with the self etching primer the paint prep and enough pc-7 epoxy to get my wheel and probably another done also. ----chevy