How to recondition a walnut steering wheel?

[StevenWilliams]

I need some advice.

I have a walnut and sandstone steering wheel that I purchased for £30 from a breakers. The problem is the leather is not in the best condition and it has a slight chip on the laquer.

I'm looking for advice on how to re-colour and finish the leather and what laquer to use to fill the chip.

Due to a recent redundancy I don't want to spend a load of money doing this. I've heard that you can re-paint the leather but I wouldn't know what products to buy.

all help is appreciated and I'll post pictures as the work progresses.

http://www.williams-knights.com/steven/Pics/WALNUT_SML_1.JPG


http://www.williams-knights.com/steven/Pics/WALNUT_SML_2.JPG


http://www.williams-knights.com/steven/Pics/WALNUT_SML_3.JPG

[Dave***t]

Not sure about the wood, but for the leather I've seen some good results on seats from using liquid leather scuff master. A quick google should yield the info.

Don't know how it'd work on a higher friction area like a steering wheel but when used right it's very effective stuff.

[Mel Dawson]

Hi Steve,
I used leather dye from [email protected] it cost me £18.30inc p&p he does all rover colours & it makes a very good job of it (i did mine about 3 months ago & its still like new).

Cheers Mel:lol:

[Bartonrover]

If no-one can suggest a decent lacquer, I would try enamel paint (- a mix of more than one colour but mainly black or better, mix up some "off black" and with some brown and light brown) and then coat with clear nail varnish. It may need two coats of the varnish. You can get black nail varnish (they tell me) but that would be too black and too solid looking)

I used a similar approach on my son''s chipped guitar and he was quite happy though that doesn't get the friction wear this wheel might. However, try a test run on say, a piece of old copper pipe and see how you do. Mask off the area with tape first - it is too easy to get carried away and end up extending the blemish that you are trying to hide.

[StevenWilliams]

Thanks for that. I'm going to give the stuff Mel Dawson used a go to see if that akes the leather look better.

I've looked more closely at the wood and I'm wondering if standard car laquer (clearcoat) would work.

[Rob75]

The chap you want to speak to is Bigruss, he did a simalar restoration job on the wood leather steeing wheel on his tourer.

Send him a PM just incase he misses this thread, i'm sure he wont mind.:)

[BigRuss]

Just spotted this thread.

The problem that you have is that the original laquer used is tinted finding a match could be difficult.

I repaired the a chip in my tourer's walnut by using water based acrylic paint.
Colours used were Black, Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna. they were applied thickly and at the same time without mixing too much to match the figuring in the walnut.

This was left to harden fully in a warm place then using very fine production paper smoothed to match the profile of the wheel. the whole walnut section was then lightly rubbed down and cleaned with thinners.

Normal clear acrylic automotive spray laquer was then used to restore the high gloss finish.

Hope this helps

Russ

[StevenWilliams]

Thanks. I've already started with some nail varnish topcoat from the misses and I have some pics. The stuff is essentially a laquer and sets like steel.

The first two are of the first coat.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a13b2802a8.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a13b2b7fd0.jpg

And the next two are after two coats

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a13b30601b.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a13c253b30.jpg

I think it will look OK when finished.

I'm intentionally adding a little to much and it will need filing back later onde it hardens.

[StevenWilliams]

While the lacquer dries I thought I'd start to clean the bare leather.

I started by using a little white spirit and isopropinol alcohol. I don’t want to use to much just in case it damages the leather but I think this should be enough ready for the re-colouring.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a243521da8.jpg
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a2435872ac.jpg
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a2435b2b48.jpg

[Jules]

Good thread Steve
BTW have you noticed the "Gap" between wood & leather.
Its very small on yours & other early Steering wheels.

If you check out later ones especially the Facelifted versions with Light Oak,
the Gap is enormous;)

[StevenWilliams]

I have now started to recondition the leather on the wheel. It's a multi step process so I will post pictures at each stage.


The following pictures are after a thorough clean with white spirit and single coat of leather colour.

The leather looks a little lighter than in the other pictures but trust me it's the same. In fact I have only put the leather re-colour on the affected areas and the main leather had not been touched.


http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649986fa8c8e2c.jpg


http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649986fa938eb8.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649986fa983c8b.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649986fc59f083.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649986fc5e1c0f.jpg


I was quite suprised how much a single coat has done.

[StevenWilliams]

I left the first coat dry and then applied a second coat. I'm getting more impressed with each use.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726499870e09b071.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726499870e0e05c3.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726499870e166c58.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/37264998712820279.jpg


http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726499871284e363.jpg


I have a little spillage as I was not steady enogh with the brush I used but still. It's starting to look quite good.

[StevenWilliams]

If you look at what I started with compared to now I think you'll agree it is quite suprising how good this stuff I'm using is.

Before
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726498a243521da8.jpg

After
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/3726499870e09b071.jpg

[Phil]

That is looking very good!

[StevenWilliams]

That is looking very good!


Thanks.

I want to try and re-smooth the leather where it has been rubbed a lot. At the moment it's a little frayed and does not quite feel the same on the large area. Any ideas?

[Phil]

Thanks.

I want to try and re-smooth the leather where it has been rubbed a lot. At the moment it's a little frayed and does not quite feel the same on the large area. Any ideas?

Could you shave it??

[Mel Dawson]

Hi Steve,
Glad its working o.k, when i used it after 4 or 5 coats it looked like new. I dried mine with a hair dryer between coats to make it quicker.

Cheers Mel:lol:

[StevenWilliams]

Hi Steve,
Glad its working o.k, when i used it after 4 or 5 coats it looked like new. I dried mine with a hair dryer between coats to make it quicker.

Cheers Mel:lol:


HI, Yes it's working great thanks.. The colour is a perfect match. I'm in no hurry but I did also use a hair dryer to dry the first coat.

I think it will look excellent when finished but i don't think it will feel perfect. I'm tempted to shave it and then use a fine wet and dry to just clean the worst of the 'frayed' edges.

[Mel Dawson]

Id be very careful Steve as you may make it worse perhaps try it on the back of it.

Mel:)

[StevenWilliams]

Id be very careful Steve as you may make it worse perhaps try it on the back of it.

Mel:)


I will probably try the wheel out for a few weeks after I've finished this attempt. If I don;t like the feel only then will I get a little more drastic.

The other option is to transplant some leather from a non wood wheel as they are cheap enough.

[StevenWilliams]

Just thought I'd put up some pictures of the finished product


http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649b2e019eb5d1.jpg

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/imagehosting/372649b7c8903954f.jpg

[trebor]

considering what you started with that looks superb and a job well done, how is the feel of it now ?

[StevenWilliams]

considering what you started with that looks superb and a job well done, how is the feel of it now ?

Apart from one part it's perfect. The bit where I had to fill the leather is not perfect and never will be but it's not where I place my hands so I don't notice it.

I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

[trebor]

and you have also helped other members who cannot get hold of wheels due to the price but could pick one up that needs repair for a reasonable amount, i was going down the reconditioning route at one point but then dropped on a new sandstone & walnut for £100 so couldnt refuse !

[Jules]

It's a long job isn't it Stephen, but well done?;)
I've got some before & after pics of a couple of Steering wheels I've done in the past and noticed there are 2 types.

The early wheels have a much finer "gap" between the wood & leather (on vehicles approx before 2002) than on later versions.
Also the wood looks more "real" on the earlier types too!:shrug:
I'll try & dig out a comparison pic between the 2

[StevenWilliams]

It's a long job isn't it Stephen, but well done?;)
I've got some before & after pics of a couple of Steering wheels I've done in the past and noticed there are 2 types.

The early wheels have a much finer "gap" between the wood & leather (on vehicles approx before 2002) than on later versions.
Also the wood looks more "real" on the earlier types too!:shrug:
I'll try & dig out a comparison pic between the 2

I've noticed this.

I think I was lucky with mine as there is no real gap and the wood is very good looking.

For the people with the gap. I'd be tempted to fill it with a resin of some sort and colour the filler using the leather dye.

[StevenWilliams]

One thing I would say is that after a proper treatment and if a good deal of time and care is taken you really wouldn't know that they have been refurbished.

Mine is an slight exception as the leather itself was gone in paces but even so it's a very good recon even if I do say so myself.


I'm keeping an eye on eBay and mu local scrappy. If I can get some more wheels I'll be refurbing them and offering them to members.