Paint a steering wheel?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
Paint a steering wheel?
I notice that if there's the slightest humidity or moisture around, the steering wheel on my '54 F100 gets my hands dirty. I had the same problem on a '65 I used to have, but never got around to fixing it. I'm not sure about painting this kind of plastic. Can the steering wheel being painted, possibly with gloss black enamel in many coats, to keep this from happening?
Thanks,
Ed
Thanks,
Ed
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,440
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From: Ventura County, CA
Paint a steering wheel?
To the best of my knowledge, no, simply spray painting the steering wheel even in many coats will not solve the problem ultimately. The oils from your hand and the poor adhering properties of paint on plastic will eventually end up where you're at now. Contact a powder coating outfit and see what options you have short of replacing the wheel altogether. Typically, the NOS wheel has a coating over the plastic (like paint that has clear coat) that once it's faded or worn through results in what you're experiencing. Perhaps a powder coating outfit can do a similar procedure to restore the protective coating. If not, consider sanding the entire wheel and getting it powder coated or annodized whatever color you want.
Daryl
Daryl
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,902
Likes: 3,143
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Paint a steering wheel?
The steering wheel on my '49 was cracked and weathered. I filled it with epoxy and painted it black using acrylic urethane and about four coats of clear. I figured it would take some time before the clear would wear through before getting to the base paint. It’s been over five years and other than forming new cracks, I think the original wheel material gave way not the epoxy, the paint has lasted without any noticeable deterioration. I made sure the wheel was prepped thoroughly before painting it.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 344
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From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Paint a steering wheel?
There are kits to restore these bakelite steering wheels in many catalogs, probably the ones linked here that use PC7 epoxy. It supposedly repairs those nasty cracks and gets the handable sheen back on. I have a few testimonials on this.
I plan to do this someday.
However , I had a DOH! moment when I realize that $7 at the local parts shop would get me a lace on cover to keep me from wiping my hands on my pants every time I drove.
That was 7 or 8
years ago..............................
I plan to do this someday.
However , I had a DOH! moment when I realize that $7 at the local parts shop would get me a lace on cover to keep me from wiping my hands on my pants every time I drove.
That was 7 or 8
years ago..............................
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,902
Likes: 3,143
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Paint a steering wheel?
As I stated in my above post, the only problem I have with my wheel repair is that new cracks formed. I think this happened because the original material failed again, not the new epoxy. I think the only way to insure a proper repair is to have the wheel completely stripped of the original material and recasted with a more modern material. This is rather expensive and I have settled for the small hair line cracks that have formed.
Just my added two cents.
Just my added two cents.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 785
Likes: 6
From: Columbus, Ohio
Paint a steering wheel?
There's a guy out in Cali. that recasts wheels....His name is something - Garcia. No, not Jerry. Anyhow, I'll look around for his number and put it on if anyone's interested.....now where did I put that??? (scratching my head)
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