The Ford Barn

Neil Mylar LakewoodCA · 03-30-2015, 09:44 PM

What do you use to clean an original red steering wheel and whats the best way to clean it?

Who sells a quality 20 amp ammeter? The last repo i bought a number of years ago was loose fitting and poor quality.

Thanks, Neil
[email protected]

Tom Wesenberg · 03-30-2015, 10:35 PM

You need to find an original ammeter if you want a good quality one.

I clean my red steering wheel with a damp cloth, but it will still leave a mess on your clothes after it sets overnight and get damp. I keep an old towel handy to wipe it down before I climb in the car if it's damp. I've wondered if car wax, ssuch as Turtle Wax would be any help?

Mike V. Florida · 03-30-2015, 10:39 PM

The original steering wheels are deteriorating. Once cleaned you need to seal it. Try using butchers wax.

While we wait for the good ammeters to be build (do a search for details) you need to find an original sorry to say.

Neil Mylar LakewoodCA · 03-30-2015, 11:27 PM

Thank you for the original ammeter suggestions. It reminded me of a drawer of small original parts that I have. In it I found what look like two original ammeters. I will take some pictures and post them tomorrow. One ammeter has an indented area on the back. The other does not.

The steering wheel is dirty. Is there a safe product that I can clean it with?

Tom Wesenberg · 03-31-2015, 12:43 AM

Liquid dish soap in warm water and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush should work fine.

Dollar Bill · 03-31-2015, 04:15 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"I've wondered if car wax, such as Turtle Wax would be any help?"

Tom, I think Turtle Wax would just make it slick without really sealing it. I've used liquid floor wax with good results on Bakelite. May take a couple of coats to look even. Strips off fairly easy if you don't like it.

marc hildebrant · 03-31-2015, 09:28 AM

I have restored old Bakelite material by heating the material up with a heat gun (warm to the touch) and wiping Vaseline on the Bakelite. The Vaseline helps to restore the material and it looks "new".

After wiping on the Vaseline, let it sit a bit and then wipe off the excess. Repeat if needed.

Marc

Joe K · 03-31-2015, 09:57 AM

I've used black lacquer on black steering wheels. It forms a hard shellac coating (lac of course is/was the dried excretion of lac beetles.)

Lacquer is available in clear, of course a synthetic shellac coating.

Be careful choosing a lacquer. A lot of what is out there is urethane in a high volatile propellant. And Eastwood has (expensive) two part/mix nozzle clear-coat system which is NOT lacquer.

Dupli-color seems to have a true clear lacquer in rattle can.

Joe K

GordonJ · 03-31-2015, 11:11 AM

On black wheels, I have had decent success with hand lotion (good quality stuff). I put it on thickly and then wipe until it doesn't feel greasy. It prevents the black from coming off and is easy to redo if the wheel begins drying out.

modelAsteve · 03-31-2015, 06:45 PM

On my black steering wheels I use alcohol. Takes about 3 wipe downs and you're ready to go for about a year. Never thought about wax- will try that after next cleaning.

03-30-2015, 09:44 PM	#1
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakewood, CA Posts: 1,346	How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? What do you use to clean an original red steering wheel and whats the best way to clean it? Who sells a quality 20 amp ammeter? The last repo i bought a number of years ago was loose fitting and poor quality. Thanks, Neil [email protected]

03-30-2015, 10:35 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? You need to find an original ammeter if you want a good quality one. I clean my red steering wheel with a damp cloth, but it will still leave a mess on your clothes after it sets overnight and get damp. I keep an old towel handy to wipe it down before I climb in the car if it's damp. I've wondered if car wax, ssuch as Turtle Wax would be any help?

03-30-2015, 10:39 PM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? The original steering wheels are deteriorating. Once cleaned you need to seal it. Try using butchers wax. While we wait for the good ammeters to be build (do a search for details) you need to find an original sorry to say. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

03-30-2015, 11:27 PM	#4
Neil Mylar LakewoodCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakewood, CA Posts: 1,346	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? Thank you for the original ammeter suggestions. It reminded me of a drawer of small original parts that I have. In it I found what look like two original ammeters. I will take some pictures and post them tomorrow. One ammeter has an indented area on the back. The other does not. The steering wheel is dirty. Is there a safe product that I can clean it with?

03-31-2015, 12:43 AM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? Liquid dish soap in warm water and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush should work fine.

03-31-2015, 04:15 AM	#6
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) *"I've wondered if car wax, such as Turtle Wax would be any help?"* Tom, I think Turtle Wax would just make it slick without really sealing it. I've used liquid floor wax with good results on Bakelite. May take a couple of coats to look even. Strips off fairly easy if you don't like it. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise Last edited by Dollar Bill; 03-31-2015 at 04:16 AM. Reason: Clarity

03-31-2015, 09:28 AM	#7
marc hildebrant Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 1,128	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? I have restored old Bakelite material by heating the material up with a heat gun (warm to the touch) and wiping Vaseline on the Bakelite. The Vaseline helps to restore the material and it looks "new". After wiping on the Vaseline, let it sit a bit and then wipe off the excess. Repeat if needed. Marc

03-31-2015, 09:57 AM	#8
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? I've used black lacquer on black steering wheels. It forms a hard shellac coating (lac of course is/was the dried excretion of lac beetles.) Lacquer is available in clear, of course a synthetic shellac coating. Be careful choosing a lacquer. A lot of what is out there is urethane in a high volatile propellant. And Eastwood has (expensive) two part/mix nozzle clear-coat system which is NOT lacquer. Dupli-color seems to have a true clear lacquer in rattle can. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

03-31-2015, 11:11 AM	#9
GordonJ Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 54	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? On black wheels, I have had decent success with hand lotion (good quality stuff). I put it on thickly and then wipe until it doesn't feel greasy. It prevents the black from coming off and is easy to redo if the wheel begins drying out.

03-31-2015, 06:45 PM	#10
modelAsteve Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Penn Valley (Nor-Cal) Ca Posts: 128	Re: How do you clean a red steering wheel and where can you buy a quality ammeter? On my black steering wheels I use alcohol. Takes about 3 wipe downs and you're ready to go for about a year. Never thought about wax- will try that after next cleaning.