Practically Classics Forum

The steering wheel on my 1960 Hillman Husky is in need of a 'makeover'. Paintwork is chipped in places and there is general wear and tear.
No cracks etc., in the wheel itself.

What would be a recommendation for type of paint to use to refurb?
All comments appreciated.
Thanks

Assuming that the wheel has a Bakelite rim, formed on a steel wire substrate then the only paint that sticks well to any urea or phenolic resin of that type is enamel, on an epoxy primer. There's a great site which gives details of how to go about this and I'll keep searching and post the link if I find it again, or you may stumble across it yourself.

I've used the techniques found there in painting dial rebates for a couple of radio projects, both of these worked out well but it's a slow way as you can really only do one face of each quarter at a time or the enamel runs.

It's car-related, maybe someone else can remember the address of that site?

Thanks for the lead.
Will investigate further myself.

Hi you might find this link useful, I used it for an old Beetle wheel and it covers most pitfalls and techniques.
Chris

http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqstrg.htm

rustynuts wrote:Hi you might find this link useful, I used it for an old Beetle wheel and it covers most pitfalls and techniques.
Chris

http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqstrg.htm

Thanks for the link.
Very informative indeed.
Tom

I think there was an article in practical classics a few years back. Will have a look. as a point of interest can you more computer literate types than me search online for past articles?

Steering wheel refurbishing was in the September 2011 issue. They were dealing with a much worse wheel but it covers rebuilding and painting in depth to what appears a good finish.

Here are some pics (in reverse order) of my wheel that I started as a bit of a challenge
This was a very badly damaged wheel that I am doing using epoxy resin from Frost. It takes a LOT of time to get anything like respectable but I am just about ready for a top coat to be applied.

Mine is certainly not as bad as that one.
Am slowly rubbing it down, amongst other things on the go at the moment.