TheSamba.com :: View topic - Steering Wheel Repair

Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:15 pm

I'm Thinking of trying to repair my old steering wheel, (cracks) read an article on repairing the Steering wheel by filling in the cracks with epoxy and then doing the standard sanding exercise (80-120-220-400) etc., painting and so-on...

Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion for which type of epoxy would be best? Or a process?

Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:48 pm

I opened up the cracks with a Dremel with a V bit and used JB Weld epoxy and Rustoleum Appliance enamel with no primer, rubbed it and waxed it. Came out pretty good and holds up well. Take a look:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=108697

Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:17 pm

Eastwood sells a kit. More expensive and probably does no better job.

Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:17 pm

Looks great, can you get the epoxy at any auto parts stores?

Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:22 pm

Got mine at Home Depot, but I think most AP stores have it. It's important to open up and deepen the cracks to improve the bond and penetration. Most of the work is just sanding, using various shaped items as blocks.
After spraying with the Rustoleum Appliance enamel (also from Home Depot) I let it sit in a warm place for two weeks to harden prior to rubbing it with Turtle Wax red compound and a coat of wax.

Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:29 pm

Great Thanks! Last question, what color enamel? Black? dark gray? Your picture looks as though the wheel color matched the other plastic/bakelite??

Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:43 pm

I messed around a little restoring wheels,I used por 15 epoxy putty,its great stuff,drys hard as a rock. If you just have a few cracks I could probably send you a little,I have a big bar of this stuff. I ran across a steering wheel restoration piece on the internet where a guy was restoring VW steering wheels,very informative,do a search on the internet and you may find it. I sanded down some wheels by hand,filled in the cracks,primered and painted them with Krylon and they didn't look half bad,just take your time at it,it's very time consuming.

Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:55 pm

I used black enamel, and was not really happy with the color until I polished it with rubbing compound to soften the color. Almost matches the original now.

I took a pocketknife to the wheel while opening up the cracks. Guess what? The original plastic is very soft, and the JB Weld is similar in hardness. Makes sanding easier when the two materials are similar.

It's a great backyard, beer and tunes project with no heavy lifting. Careful sanding to a smooth finish will prove worthwhile when you lay the paint on. The materials cost about 20 bucks.
Since the paint label says to avoid priming. it's a little tough to see imperfections. Trust your fingertips. :wink:
I put on one coat, waited a few minutes and sprayed again, being wary of runs.

My wife thinks the smoother wheel feels sexy. Whatever! :lol:

Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:36 am

Hiya Caq,

The article about steering wheel restoration to which otto refers will most likely be found at John Henry's Bugshop: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/4000/
This is an excellent resource. Look for the steering wheel restoration piece in his Tech Section.
John recommends using a laquer (IIRC) as a final coat on the wheel. For an accurate color (of enamel) go to Wolfsburg West. It is VERY likely that they have your color already bottled in rattle cans.

Mike

1970 AS Bug

Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:30 am

I know of an excellent epoxy that has done wonders on other things at work that should be good for this too. It is made by a company called Pacer and the epoxy is called "Plastic Fusion". I found it a home depot. It is a quick setting epoxy and you can start grinding on it after a 10 minute set time. I was planning on trying it on a steering wheel myself since it is so strong and bonds so well with plastic. Make sure to carve out the cracks first.

Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:03 pm

Hey Folks, this is going to be worth a try, thanks for the help...

Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:11 am

Caqfatboy wrote: Hey Folks, this is going to be worth a try, thanks for the help...

Be sure and tell us how it turns out...and I'm interested in hearing how your luggage compartment repair went too.

:D

Kim

Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:26 pm

I used some stuff made by Testors (the model company) called "Red Putty" It can be thinned out for some of the smaller cracks and seems to have worked really good.

Here's how I did mine...
1) Sand entire wheel with 400 grit.
2) Coat with self-etching primer.
3) Scuffed cracked areas with skotchbrite pad.
4) Filled cracks with 'Red Putty'.
5) Sanded smooth with 400 grit.
6) Coated with self-etching primer.
7) Coated with high build primer.
8) Sanded with 600 grit.
9) 4 coats of color (I used white).
10) Sanded with 600 grit.
11) 4-6 coats of clear.

I don't have a pic available now to post, but if interested I will post.

Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:57 pm

Kim - I have the luggage shelf in, and it went fine once I got the welder settings right, but haven't welded the piece I asked you about yet...So far so good....

Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:59 pm

69VWFan - Testors, huh? Interesting, thanks for the step by step procedure...I'm getting ready to start the project...Well let ya know....

Thu Mar 24, 2005 2:23 pm

Yeah, Testors, it sands really good and once dry it has very similar properties as the steering wheel material.