I could not figure out how the guys who did the great wraps on steering wheels held the twine in place around the spokes of the wheel. I came up with this cheater method. I took some 1/8" stainless welding rod and fabricated an oblong ring around where the spokes met the wheel. Of course I left it loose enough to wrap the twine around it. I TIG'ed the ring to close it. Once the SS ring was in place, I wrapped the spokes where they met the wheel. I used something like Gorilla Glue to secure the twine to the wheel. Once all that was done, all that remained was the tedious task of wrapping the entire wheel over the spoke ends that are already covered. (Make sure you have some good tunes going on the garage stereo for this last part. I find The Mavericks as the best background for this sort of work.)
My wife's stepfather just hooked me up with a Mavericks CD this past weekend! I've already listened to it at least three times! Nice wrap!
Rusty, they're gonna be down the road from me performing mid-April. I'll try to ask Raul about his "(w)rapping". Brett, the latest CD, post-break up, is great, but I really enjoy their pre-break up stuff a little more.
I think there is a navy or marine method of doing this, I remember about a thousand years ago seeing a roadster with a wrapped wheel and it was painted over very "boat" like. Find a marlin spike sailor and he will show you how it's done. Bob
Frisco, there is a long thread on here with example of the nautical knots on wheels. Even though I was once in the Navy, I could not figure out how to do all those neat knots. I guess that is why they sent me to fly planes. HHRs, apparently the old racers did this on their wheels for a better grip. And, my roadster will have a folding top. But, with the Duvall and the chop, it will be an emergency event if I have to drive with it up. Went and found the old thread I was referring to, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=576060
Here is my first try at wrapping a wheel. I watched a lot of YouTube videos and practiced on PVC pipe before I tackled the wheel. It took me about 3 weeks to learn, practice and do the wheel. I got about 250 feet of paracord and about 12 hours of wrapping time. This wheel is 18" diameter You'll think I'm nuts, the first picture is what I started with, unfortunately the fancy wood was cracking due to humidity changes.
String wrapping a steering wheel - THE H.A.M.B. - The Jalopy Journal This thread goes in to it thoroghly.
Steve, that is a beautiful wheel. There is too much glare on the hub to read the logo, what did it come from originally? If I would have had the spacing between my banjo spokes like you do, I would not have had to make my rings. Your use of the different colored lines is really neat. Nice job. I am building my car as if it went to the lakes back in the '40's and early '50's. I purposely did not want as fine a finish and that is why I chose the co**** twine as if a young hot rodder was going for more grip back in that time frame.
The Jalopy Journal
