Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Now that I'm driving my '31 pickup more often, I'm concerned about exposing the original steering wheel to UV light. The wheel has a dull finish now, which does not bother me at all, but I'm worried about further degradation and eventual disintegration.

I don't want to apply something to the wheel that remains slippery or makes it feel odd. Has someone had luck with preserving (not restoring) bakelite?

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

I don't think it's bakelite. Henry used soy beans somehow to make the stuff, and it's pretty tough, but of course ones exposed to weather 24-7 for 85 years finally do give up. If the truck lives in a garage I doubt normal sun exposure will hurt anything. See what other folks think.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

That's sounds reasonable to me. A friend told me goats ate parts of his steering wheel.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Hmm, I'm not sure how to maintain a soy bean steering wheel, other than to refrigerate it and to keep the goats away. :D

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

If you really have a concern, one thing you can do that will help any steering wheel that is exposed to the elements, etc., is to rub on a light coat of Linseed oil, leave on for an hour - then wipe off thoroughly so that there is no sticky residue. It should be good for 5 to 10 years or more, depending on heat and weathering - which is the real killer. If you have no weather issues, once the linseed oil has been rubbed on and wiped off, and it remains free of heat and weather, it should last a very long time - decades - without any adverse effects.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Linseed oil works best when thinned about 25-50 percent with turpentine. Don't use raw linseed oil, look to see it is boiled.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

I try to preserve my A as well. I am constantly thinking while I use it "what can I do to make it last forever" or at least the rest of my life and then when I hand it down to my son and daughter it will be in their hands..not much I can do then. Honestly I think if you take care of it and don't abuse or misuse it or the complete car for that matter that is all you need to do. Enjoy it. It is living history. I know I am very proud to display my 1928 coupe whenever I can. The response from people young and old is heartwarming. Be happy it has made it this many years. I like to think Henry is smiling down on each one of us that loves this little car as much as he did.

Just my thought.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

I bought my 28 in 1999 and have notice the original red steering wheel has degraded a fair amount since then. I have a nice Drake red wheel to put on, and probably should have installed it right away. The original wheel always left a mess on my hands and clothing after setting through a damp night.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Boiled Linseed Oil is a very good product but recently I’ve been using Tru-Oil and find it more durable. Used it on several shovel handles and it holds up much better than BLO. It does have somewhat of a sheen. More coats = more gloss. If you prefer a matte finish, simply buff with 0000 steel wool.

Tru-Oil

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

A reflective windscreen sun shade, window tinting and even sun shades on the side wndows when parked can help save the whole interior.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Greasy hands work pretty well.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

:eek:

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Have you used it on a Model A steering wheel?

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

The steering wheel is original and it gets more sun exposure, so I put more emphasis on preserving it than the replacement seat covers or door panels. The gas tank and instrument panel don't get much sun.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

It isn't bakelite. I don't know what it is, but I know it isn't that. Also, the wheel was origianally matte or dull, not shiny, when it was new. That is the correct finish.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

STEERING WHEEL
All steering wheels had 4 grooves on the face
of the rim. The 1928 steering wheel was made of
phenolic resin known as Fordite which was dark,
reddish brown in color. Some steering wheels had
small black specs embedded in the resin. These were
used through February 1929. The steel hub of this
wheel was unfinished, black or painted similar in
color to the wheel. In January 1929, a new steering
wheel was introduced which was made of black
composition material resembling hard rubber. The
steel part of the hub was painted with semi gloss
black lacquer.

The1930-31 steering wheels were made of a black
resin coated soybean composition or a solid black
resin with a satin finish . Soybean wheels can be
identified by their different hub design, and the
mold number is located under the hub portion that
is hidden by the lever quadrant. The hubs on the
1930-31 steering wheels were the same material as
the wheel and spokes. Non soybean wheels have
a raised mold number(s) on the underside of one
wheel spoke. These steering wheels also had a
different finger grip design.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

Are the gear stick knobs made out of the same stuff?

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

All gear shift lever balls were
black and were made of
"Fordite”, a hard Bakelite type of
material. A round ball with a
1/4" wide raised horizontal
band around the center was
designed for the Model A, but
was replaced by a mushroom
shaped ball (to save weight) by
November 1927. The mushroom
shaped ball was used from
the beginning of production
through April 1928. The round
ball was reinstated in April 1928 and was used
until the end of production.

Re: Preservation of Original Bakelite Steering Wheel.
 

OK. The mysterious two piece Canadian knob we got here seems to be made of the same stuff, judging by the way it weathers like the steering wheel. Seems to imply it was Ford made if it is Fordite.