Refinishing a steering wheel, how to question?

I have a 1963 Chevy steering wheel I have collected for the Fleetline project. I have some cracks I plan on fixing with the epoxy putty stuff. What I wonder is what is the wheel made out of? Is it plastic? Do I need to use an adhesion promoter before I paint it?

I will be spraying PPG DBC over it.

Thanks

Root

 

It wouldn't hurt, but I've painted several with PPG single stage/no flex or adhesion promoter with good results.

 

Yup. They are made of plastic that doesn't need an adhesion promotor.

DO make sure it is very clean before priming and painting. If there is any Armor-All or similar silicone based interior dressings on it you can have fish-eyes and adhesion problems.

overspray

 

if you find you don't want to do it yourself I had the wheel for my '57 beetle done at koch's www.kochssteeringwheels.com it came out better than new,,, acctually puts the rest of the car to shame.

 

I used PC-7 epoxy available at True Value and ACE Hardware on some Bakelite window trim in the Anglia. I found out about it in several threads I found on fixing steering wheels. I can't attest to how it would work on a steering wheel but it worked good on the Bakelite. Sticks good, easily sandable, supposed to be able to paint it (haven't tried yet). The only down side (if it qualifies as a down side) is that it's really thick. Thicker than peanut ****er, so it doesn't fit into really small cracks. I was sticking stuff back together with it so I didn't have a problem (V'ed the edges like I was gonna weld steel plate). If you V out the cracks you have it should work.

I got the small cans and put 2 window surrounds back together (broke into 3 pieces each) and have some left (just under half a can). Paid $8 for it, so I figure it can't be all bad.