Last week at the englishtown swap, i bought a 50 merc steering wheel with horn ring for 10 bucks. It was pretty decent, but did have a lot of cracks and i found out after looking at it for a while, that it was bent too. ha...so i made a decision to try my hand at this steering wheel resto. I have spent the afternoon, sanding down the cracks using a dremel and cleaning it up. Now there is an epoxy i am supposed to use, what is the name and where can i get it? I am figuring that the bent part of the wheel can't be replaced, so this is my trial wheel. Let me know, also, after i use the epoxy i sand it down using progressive levels of sand paper, till really smooth, prime it and paint it, clear it..am i missing anything? let me know.
PC-7 is the stuff you're looking for. Should be able to find it at a good hardware store or home depot might even carry it. You got the concept down - dremel, fill, sand, prime, paint, clear... Good luck!
I second the pc-7.I got mine at the hardware store.I haven't gone too far with it yet.It's roughed in and flat black.Kinda like everything else on the car.
another question...do you have ot go down to the metal for every deep crack? or just until it stops cracking? thanks for the help, i will stop by the store on my way home from work tomorrow. tok
Just remove the cracked area ,apply the resin and let dry then sand away .I did one that was bent.Put it into a vice and yanked it back into place .It was just too easy .Bought that wheel for 5 bucks and had one weekend into it and about 20$ total .Sold it for alot more ,i too just wanted some resto practice .have fun n good luck .
I like to take a hack saw blade to clean and widen the cracks. I try to undercut the crack so its wider down near the metal hoop. When it hardens it's sort of wedged in and less likely to come out. I've done several with PC-7 with excellent results. This was pretty rough when I got it.
I have used ACRAGLAS for steering wheel restorations. Its an epoxy gel that was made for bedding rifle barrels to the gun stocks for accuracy. It sands easy and can be tinted. You can get it at gun shops or Brownnels.
Tokyo, I used the POR 15 kit for the Plymo and have had good success with this kit also. Just as Tommy mentioned undercut the cut at the metal hoop so that the putty has something to "lodge" itself in. To do this I used fine jewelry saw blades.. Is your new wheel rubber or bakelite? Either way wear a respirator these things can put out some nasty dust. After you finish your restoration remember never to use your restored wheel as a handle to get in and out of your car. it will crack. Not trying to sound like I know it all this is what I have been told when I started my wheel. Good Luck! How is married life treating you? Justin
FIrst off thanks everyone for your help. i have gotten all the cracks "chewed" out. I will get the epoxy tonight. The wheel is bent but it seems pretty easy to do. What do i need for sand paper? start at 80 grit, the 180, then 320? This is just a practice run for me before i start doing other ones. Justin... my wheel is rubber, and yes it does get everywhere. I have really nothing into it yet. so that's good. I will try to get some pics of it if i can. Married life, has been great! Sarah makes me dinner almost everynight...she is getting involved in the merc project...(short-story..we went to carlisle this weekend and found a 49 merc dash minus everything...for 275..sarah says..we should just buy that whole dash we found last year...i say really! she says yeah just get..yippy..so i am making a call today for a complete 49 dash!) that's why i married her..
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