Tool dip steering wheel

[Alte Blechdose]

I recently bought a 64 bug for parts car and would like to use the old steering wheel , The chrome is nice and the Wolfsburg logo is pristine shape . The wheel had deep cracks that were routed out and filled in with JB Weld , Been doing some reading on various repair kits for covering the wheel again but wondered if anyone has tried spray on tool dip ( cushion grip for hand tools ) ? Seems like a good solution to restore or repair problem ? What do you guys think .



Alte Blechdose

[Harris]

Depends on what is OK with you. This would be covering up problems as I see it and is not really a repair. The nice chrome and Wolfsburg logo goes with a nice wheel.

[vdubdan65]

I'm not sure if I would use plasti-dip. It doesn't get very hard, at least not as hard as the existing material. I'm not sure how long it would last either.

POR15 used to have a steering wheel repair kit, but it's close to the same cost as a new wheel. Upon further inspection it seems the main ingredient is their epoxy putty.

http://www.por15.com/EPOXY-PUTTY/productinfo/PU/

What color is the wheel?

[evlwevl]

We know that plasti dip works on tools, but I wonder what repeated hnandling over a long period of time will do to the finish. A gummy feeling wheel won't feel good to hold. I refinished my '59 wheel at home with some 30 minute epoxy mixed with micro balloons for thickening and a can of filler primer and a can of appliance white epoxy. Probably spent about 20 bucks total. Other than sore finger from sanding, it wasn't too difficult to do. It now looks brand new and feels smooth to the touch.
I'm just hoping it will hold up to the Bakersfield heat.

_________________
Make it three yards, motherf*****, and we'll have us an automobile race
-The Driver(Two Lane Blacktop)

55 Prostreet Bug
59 Daily Driver Bug
63 Baja
00 Turbo New Beetle

[vdubdan65]

Wow evlwevl, that turned out amazing, good job!

[Harris]

[evlwevl]

Your wheel looks very nice. The original poster should see these examples and give restoration a try rather than something he might have to scrape off later when he's not happy with it. I decided to restore this wheel because the cracks which were worse in the back of the wheel, not pictured, were in areas that were not too detailed. I also have a bat wheel at home that needs a restoration and in much worse shape than my '59 wheel. I'm hesitating that work because that wheel is very detailed front and back and it will be much more challenging to recreate all those small indents than lets say an early 60s wheel.
_________________
Make it three yards, motherf*****, and we'll have us an automobile race
-The Driver(Two Lane Blacktop)

55 Prostreet Bug
59 Daily Driver Bug
63 Baja
00 Turbo New Beetle

[Harris]

Yeah, the earlier wheels are much harder to do. I've heard of guys taking many many hours to do one and do it right. That's why a restored one brings good money.

BTW Did you also do the turn signal. Looks good.

[Alte Blechdose]

I was doing research on suitable paint after the crack repair and saw the por15 kit but also saw a result for plasti-dip that shows a vintage steering wheel on the site . Looked good but had the same concerns you guys seem to have . I called the 800 number and they said that tons of people had had great results without any problems , I would settle for a pound of feed back before I decide to actually do it .

I used JB weld on the cracks around the spoke to horn button and they aren't nearly as rough as the picture posted above . It's the minor scratches on the wheels outer rim ( and knuckles ) that are killing me , this had to be owned by a married guy or a pimp , Looks like somebody had a helluva ring on there finger in any case . Anyhow I got at least another day or so of filler work and sanding to be done and hopefully will come up with a decent way to paint this thing . Still taking suggestions but that wheel above does look pretty nice .


Alte

[Harris]

Alte,

Good instructions with photos on steering wheel restoration. From the Bug Shop by John Henry.

Scroll down to Misc near the bottom for Steering Wheel Restoration. Very detailed.

http://www.thebugshop.org/gotech.htm

[Alte Blechdose]

Thanks for the link Harris . This guy has some pretty neat stuff besides the wheel ................ Having sex in a Beetle !!!! .


Alte

[Alte Blechdose]

I decided to try Rustoleum automotive plastic trim restore as a top coat on the steering wheel . Used one can so far = 4 coats with a day or so between coats and a ton of wet sanding in between . Looks like at least another coat will do the job . I will post pics of before and after when it gets done .



Alte

[esde]

Back to the original question, the tool/ plastic dip stuff that I've got has no inhibitors for UV light, so it goes funky when left in the sun. Sticky, soft, color running and fading, definitely NOT what you want to be holding.

[Alte Blechdose]

Thanks esde , I just had to many doubts about the tool dip solution and not nearly enough experienced feed back . Sorry you had to be the Guinea pig on this one but the feedback might keep someone else from doing it . I can't help but ask . How bad is it to remove or did you bother yet ?


Alte

[esde]

About the only solvent that cuts it well is MEK, and you know how much fun that toxic poison is..