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Old 04-08-2012, 06:29 PM   #1
Texas Tom
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Default Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

I'm restoring a 1930 town sedan that's never been restored before. Just 54k miles on the odometer.

The steering wheel is in excellent condition, with no cracks. But it's quite dull looking. Thus, I'd like to paint it so it looks like it did when it rolled out of the factory.

I don't plan to compete in fine-point judging, so I'm not worried about losing points because the wheel gets painted. I just want it to look like it did when it was new.

I welcome advice on which paint will work best.

Thanks.



, but its appearance
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Old 04-08-2012, 06:57 PM   #2
Aerocraft
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

I suggest that you try to polish it with a very fine steel wool before you resort to paint. Gar Williams
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Old 04-08-2012, 07:14 PM   #3
glenn in camino
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

Be sure to clean it really good with grease & wax remover. Rough it up with a scotch pad and then paint it with rustoleum satin black. I did mine that way and it's holding up well and looks great.
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Old 04-08-2012, 07:14 PM   #4
Bubby Sharp in KY
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

Texas Tom , I used Krylon fusion for plastics on my 30 tudor . They reccomend cleaning old plastic with an amonia based cleaner. It has been on for at least three years and no sign of chipping or peeling. Bubby Sharp in KY
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Old 04-08-2012, 08:20 PM   #5
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

They were not shiny when new; they were a kind of flat black. If you want it to look like it did when it was new, leave it as is.
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Old 04-08-2012, 08:32 PM   #6
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

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I agree with Gar and 700, especially for a nice unrestored car. I'd just use wax or if it needed it very fine steel wool and wax. I'd only use paint on wheels that had to have cracks filled. Dull is original.
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Old 04-08-2012, 08:56 PM   #7
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

Also, if you paint it, the paint will chip and wear off after a while and the wheel will look like dog doo. Voice of experience.
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Old 04-08-2012, 10:07 PM   #8
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
I agree with Gar and 700, especially for a nice unrestored car. I'd just use wax or if it needed it very fine steel wool and wax. I'd only use paint on wheels that had to have cracks filled. Dull is original.
Clean very well and then use Butchers wax. Paint is good if you had to fill in cracks or chips.
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Old 04-09-2012, 12:32 AM   #9
Marco Tahtaras
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

You were given good suggestions and options. PLEASE don't paint a good steering wheel except as a last resort as doing so it will never look original again!


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Old 04-09-2012, 01:54 AM   #10
Craig Lewis
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

I dunno if this is "proper"....but so far it's the best way I've found to make a steering wheel look like the real nice originals you occassionally see.
These are pics of a dirty old original wheel I experimented with. It seemed to resist all cleaning efforts and I really didn't want to paint it.
In the end, carefull dry sanding with fine paper removed the layer of dead crud & dirt...and I followed up with just cheap basic furniture oil from the grocery store.
You probably won't even need to sand yours (last resort) but the polish seems to bring it up real nice & satin smooth.
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Old 04-09-2012, 02:24 AM   #11
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

I use rubber bumper paint. I have several that have been done for over 10 years
and still look great.
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Old 04-09-2012, 03:17 AM   #12
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: Best paint for refinishing steering wheel?

I never heard of Magic eraser until my neighbor gave me a couple about 3 months ago. Someone gave me an old boat steering wheel to put on my 1960 Crestliner runabout, as the original had been removed. This white steering wheel was almost black from skin oil and sun baked dirt and years of setting outside in the weather. It seems the sun can bake the dirt right into the plastic. I used Ajax and liquid dish soap and a scrub brush, but mostly got only the top layer of dirt off after hours of cleaning. Then my neighbor told me I need to try Magic Eraser, and he gave me a couple. They disintegrate as you use them, but they sure did the trick to get the dirt out and make it white again. You can buy them at the local big box stores.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50pcs-NEW-ER...item256d5b9e10
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