Hey guys. What can I do to the steering wheel of my 49 Chevy? Any time it's damp out it turns sticky and leaves black on your hands. When it dry it's not a problem.
Thanks guys. I have washed it but I'll try that again and do a better job. Paint may be the cure. I just hated to have new paint on the wheel and old paint every where else.
sounds like the original paint has gone and you're down to the black bakelite. Paint it and you'll be good 'till the paint wears off. Use normal prep so the paint sticks.
....for those who can stand having a sports grip on their steering wheel. I prefer getting dirty hands when I drive.
The pro's said wash it and you did. But did you wash it with the correct soap ? They mentioned some names and I'll mention one that worked for me. It also is used before painting stuff. That should tell you sometime. It means it removes grime and grease. Isn't that your goal ?
In the old says when my daily driver was a 1950 Chevy that would happen to me ... still happens to my O/T daily driver pickup. I think it is dirt picked up from my hands. I clean the wheel with 'Windex'.
Soak/scrub it in a HOT water/Simple Green mix. Rinse well, and wipe down with a clean white cloth. Repeat until the cloth shows no dirt...
From experience the older AD truck wheels just do that due to the material they are made of . I'd agree with the scrub it and probably scrub or clean as often as needed. It doesn't help that some of that dirt that comes off on your hands was probably ground in over years of driving with dirty and sweaty hands.
Just had this on a wheel in wife's 55--had been in storage for 6 yrs. Very sticky and black coming off. Cleaned with acetone then with TSP and painted it--have done this before with good results--lasts a few yrs. Just did a spare to day and it was really nasty and sticky from being in the hot attic 15 yrs--turned out great.
i battled with this on my daily, '39 gmc. the black, i think, is the old rubber, drying out and rubbing off in your hand. best way is to paint it. clean and scotch bright it. use black epoxy primer, then paint. if you want it to look old use flat paint.
Some of the old 'wheels stink as well, consider yourself lucky. I took the one on my '59 off (whole car was apart...) and fixed all the cracks, thanks to HRP for the method. Shot it with fresh paint, looks and feels great.
I wrapped my old wheel with cord. Its not perfect, but I'll probably get another shot at it in a couple of years, based on the way the cord is wearing. Much nicer driving. Gene
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