Painting steering wheel

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MorrisJohn
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Painting steering wheel

Post by MorrisJohn »

I’m going to be changing the steering wheel and horn push on my ‘68 Minor to the earlier banjo type with the chrome spokes.

I’ve sourced a wheel and it’s not cracked, but it does want repainting.

Can anyone tell me what type of paint to use and how it should be applied?
A bad day with my Volksie still beats a good day at work!

https://www.glasgowmoggies.com
ManyMinors
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Re: Painting steering wheel

Post by ManyMinors »

I repainted the wheel on one of my cars a few years ago. It has lasted well. All this was done with the wheel removed from the car of course! First, I rubbed the plastic coated rim down very thoroughly using 800grit wet/dry paper and soapy water. Next, I dried it off and masked everything I didn't want painted. Then I sprayed several light coats of a high build etch primer and, once that was dry, rubbed it down again and sprayed on a few coats of gloss black top coat. I left this to harden for a few days and then polished it with a rubbing compound which removed the rather over glossy appearance. The finish has remained very authentic ever since.

I carried out all the spray painting using a spray gun because I have one. However I imagine that the same could be achieved using spray cans.

Another tip: A steering wheel is not the easiest item to spray. I acquired an old spare steering column which I clamped to my workmate. I then attached the wheel to that. This made the job much easier :)
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Chief
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Re: Painting steering wheel

Post by Chief »

MorrisJohn wrote: Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:01 pm Can anyone tell me what type of paint to use and how it should be applied?
Think these are the people I got a quote from for restoring mine professionally:
https://www.steeringwheelrefurbishment. ... ing-wheels
If they are the people, the quote was £250.

There's also this DIY page which includes the painting process and basically is a picture version of ManyMinors information above that I had found while trying to work out how to restore my own one after thinking the quote was a little too much for my pockets:
https://www.tinshackrestoration.com/201 ... storation/

Small point, apparently the Banjo wheels are likely to be a composite containing asbestos, just as a word of caution if you sand it.

In my own instance I found a near-perfect wheel on eBay that was probably cheaper than buying the paint so bought it, my own cars original wheel is so pitted it's a greenish-grey now.
MorrisJohn
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Re: Painting steering wheel

Post by MorrisJohn »

Thanks very much for the advice gents, very helpful.
A bad day with my Volksie still beats a good day at work!

https://www.glasgowmoggies.com
jagnut66
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Re: Painting steering wheel

Post by jagnut66 »

One key point to pick up from above, is the advice to 'let it harden' before cutting back, polishing etc.
Personally I leave mine for a week, at least.
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
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