The Ford Barn

Ian1932 · 11-22-2019, 07:09 PM

So i have 7 steering wheels for a 32'. They all have little cracks in the front except one. They are have little cracks in their backs. I took one that is the best. Not sure what this material is...??? How can i "re-furbish" this wheel? It almost seems like you could sand it with 2500 and water and then maybe clear coat in or paint it? Maybe i could fill the cracks with epoxy or bondo? Anyone have any experience doing something like this? Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

35fordtn · 11-22-2019, 07:12 PM

Ian,
If the cranks aren't bad I use polyester filler.. If they are bad I use PC7.. Also note 32 wheels the outer reveal ribs are always worn off.. Are yours? Out of seven I would imagine you could salvage hopefully at least one, and use a rougher one to practice on.
A new perfect reproduction of the 1932 Ford steering wheel will be on the market soon. I have to let DavidG check out the sample of it first

Ian1932 · 11-22-2019, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

Ian,
If the cranks aren't bad I use polyester filler.. If they are bad I use PC7.. Also note 32 wheels the outer reveal ribs are always worn off.. Are yours?
A new perfect reproduction of the 1932 Ford steering wheel will be on the market soon. I have to let DavidG check out the sample of it first

It didnt look that bad...However i dont have a new one to compare it to..

35fordtn · 11-22-2019, 07:16 PM

I don't want to post a photo of the new one on here yet, but If I remember tonight I can photo one of the wheels in one of my 32's at home.

35fordtn · 11-22-2019, 07:22 PM

Here is a photo of a steering wheel in a 1932 restored by DavidG on here (hope David doesn't mind). I won’t be home to photo mine till late tonight and I happened to have this photo on my phone. I was a wee bit obsessed with the wheel on this car, as it's the most beautiful 1932 Wheel I have ever seen!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DavidG · 11-22-2019, 08:01 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Mike (Kube),

Please note the alignment of the screw slots.

qmdv · 11-22-2019, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidG

Mike (Kube),

Please note the alignment of the screw slots.

You can count on them being that way from the factory. Ha

DavidG · 11-22-2019, 10:09 PM

It depends on the factory.

deuce lover · 11-23-2019, 05:30 AM

Simply over the top ! How did you keep from chipping the paint around the screw when tightening?

32Bee · 11-23-2019, 06:15 AM

Use the recommended PC-7. I restored my 32 wheel twenty plus years ago and tried using
bondo the first time around. It ended up cracking on me so ground out the bondo and used PC-7. It still looks as good as the day I refinished it. At the time I used Black Centari urethane and added a flattening agent to dull it down. I ground all the cracks sealed the
wheel with PPG epoxy primer and proceeded with the PC-7. It will come out as perfect as David's wheel if you're willing to take the time.

Peter

ct1932ford · 11-23-2019, 10:29 AM

I used PC-7 same as above but after several years the cracks are starting to show.

Ian1932 · 11-23-2019, 01:26 PM

So this wheel has a chip in its center. Im going to drill a few 1/16" holes on it like 1/16" deep. I think i will fill and re-shape the chip with icing glaze. There are no cracks on the front side. The cracks on the back were real small hair line. Last night i filled those cracks with thick CA glue. Today i sanded it smooth with 500, the went away basically.

Maybe then i will just paint it flat black an cover it with a coat of urethane clear and some flattening paste?

DavidG · 11-23-2019, 05:33 PM

Sheldon,

There are soft plastic countersunk washers available for that purpose, but I don't use them. I just proceed very carefully, especially with '32 standard moldings where the paint on them is lacquer. With modern clear over new woodgraining, less caution is required.

Clem Clement · 11-23-2019, 08:21 PM

Keith Lee at [email protected]. He redoes the wheel like new.

11-22-2019, 07:09 PM	#1
Ian1932 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 317	Revive 32' Steering Wheel So i have 7 steering wheels for a 32'. They all have little cracks in the front except one. They are have little cracks in their backs. I took one that is the best. Not sure what this material is...??? How can i "re-furbish" this wheel? It almost seems like you could sand it with 2500 and water and then maybe clear coat in or paint it? Maybe i could fill the cracks with epoxy or bondo? Anyone have any experience doing something like this? Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

11-22-2019, 07:12 PM	#2
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Ian, If the cranks aren't bad I use polyester filler.. If they are bad I use PC7.. Also note 32 wheels the outer reveal ribs are always worn off.. Are yours? Out of seven I would imagine you could salvage hopefully at least one, and use a rougher one to practice on. A new perfect reproduction of the 1932 Ford steering wheel will be on the market soon. I have to let DavidG check out the sample of it first Last edited by 35fordtn; 11-22-2019 at 07:28 PM.

11-22-2019, 07:16 PM	#4
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel I don't want to post a photo of the new one on here yet, but If I remember tonight I can photo one of the wheels in one of my 32's at home.

11-22-2019, 07:22 PM	#5
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Here is a photo of a steering wheel in a 1932 restored by DavidG on here (hope David doesn't mind). I won’t be home to photo mine till late tonight and I happened to have this photo on my phone. I was a wee bit obsessed with the wheel on this car, as it's the most beautiful 1932 Wheel I have ever seen! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11-22-2019, 08:01 PM	#6
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,094	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Mike (Kube), Please note the alignment of the screw slots.

11-22-2019, 10:09 PM	#8
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,094	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel It depends on the factory.

11-23-2019, 05:30 AM	#9
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,301	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Simply over the top ! How did you keep from chipping the paint around the screw when tightening?

11-23-2019, 06:15 AM	#10
32Bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stratham, NH Posts: 233	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Use the recommended PC-7. I restored my 32 wheel twenty plus years ago and tried using bondo the first time around. It ended up cracking on me so ground out the bondo and used PC-7. It still looks as good as the day I refinished it. At the time I used Black Centari urethane and added a flattening agent to dull it down. I ground all the cracks sealed the wheel with PPG epoxy primer and proceeded with the PC-7. It will come out as perfect as David's wheel if you're willing to take the time. Peter

11-23-2019, 01:26 PM	#12
Ian1932 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 317	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel So this wheel has a chip in its center. Im going to drill a few 1/16" holes on it like 1/16" deep. I think i will fill and re-shape the chip with icing glaze. There are no cracks on the front side. The cracks on the back were real small hair line. Last night i filled those cracks with thick CA glue. Today i sanded it smooth with 500, the went away basically. Maybe then i will just paint it flat black an cover it with a coat of urethane clear and some flattening paste?

11-23-2019, 05:33 PM	#13
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,094	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Sheldon, There are soft plastic countersunk washers available for that purpose, but I don't use them. I just proceed very carefully, especially with '32 standard moldings where the paint on them is lacquer. With modern clear over new woodgraining, less caution is required.

11-23-2019, 08:21 PM	#14
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Revive 32' Steering Wheel Keith Lee at [email protected]. He redoes the wheel like new.