The Ford Barn

The Geezer · 10-23-2022, 02:32 PM

What would be the best paint to refinish a 31 A steering wheel?

BillCNC · 10-23-2022, 03:17 PM

I'm not sure what others have done, but the previous owner of my car painted it with the same polyurethane paint they painted the the black on my car with. It's holding up very well after 14+ years with only a few tiny cracks were the spokes are cracking with no fading, peeling or rubbing off.

Regards
Bill

eagle · 10-23-2022, 04:30 PM

I've painted antique tractor steering wheels, stays on well and looks good for many years. I used rustoleum and painted them with a brush. Put it on thick so it flows nicely. I don't know why it wouldn't work just as well on an A? Might work better to spray it I suppose although not sure how well rattle can paint would hold up.

TravisDM · 10-23-2022, 09:21 PM

Polyurethane paint works like a charm here, too!

lrf · 10-23-2022, 11:35 PM

I used the black bumper/trim paint and it remained sticky for at least two months, I even left it outside to be baked by the 90 Degree sun, still sticky. It's dull black like original but won't set! Just letting everyone know. LRF

The Geezer · 10-24-2022, 10:06 AM

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Thanks all for your valuable input that gives me a direction to think about.

BillCNC · 10-24-2022, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrf

I used the black bumper/trim paint and it remained sticky for at least two months, I even left it outside to be baked by the 90 Degree sun, still sticky. It's dull black like original but won't set! Just letting everyone know. LRF

Was the wheel previously painted?

If so, there's probably an incompatibility issue going on like Polyurethane over lacquer. When something has been previously painted with an unknown product, it's best to first paint it with a sealer, then the intended paint to avoid unwanted surprises.

Regards
Bill

5lugnuts · 10-25-2022, 11:38 AM

I have read on this board that brake caliper paint was a good choice. I haven't tried it though.

Tinbasher · 10-26-2022, 08:14 AM

Duplicolour has a satin black "Fleet" colour in a spray bomb that's as close as you can get it.

lrf · 10-26-2022, 08:15 PM

Bill CNC: The steering wheel was a worn, original with many of the usual cracks. It was not previously painted, I lightly sanded it and used JB weld for the filling of the cracks. This was more of a project to see if I could save it. I will probably resand it and use poly paint. Just letting everyone know what didn't work for me. LRF

aermotor · 10-26-2022, 08:38 PM

I am considering POR 15 for filling the cracks. On other things I used it on it flowed out real nice and filled the cracks, then it can be top coated.

chrs1961815 · 10-26-2022, 10:01 PM

Anything other than urethane or enamel 2k paint is a waste of time.

Model "A" Fords · 10-29-2022, 06:01 AM

since original wheels were not being painted would there be much of a point deduction for judging?

LeonardS · 10-29-2022, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Model "A" Fords

since original wheels were not being painted would there be much of a point deduction for judging?

Just rub a little graphite powder on it prior to judging. When the judges touch it and their hands are black, they will think it’s original

Model "A" Fords · 10-29-2022, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonardS

Just rub a little graphite powder on it prior to judging. When the judges touch it and their hands are black, they will think it’s original

graphite powder, sounds good. thankyou.

Joe K · 10-31-2022, 05:11 PM

I've done a couple of wheels using flat black shell lacquer. (not shellac) Comes in a spray can. Makes a very hard (lac) very thin coat. Doesn't rub off or peel and the thin of the lacquer takes a good bond with the porous wheel.

Best to build up many layers. I think for me minimum of 5. Sand with like 600 grit between.

I see from Wikipedia that "original lacquer" is a cellulose product in modern conception. Not ground up "beetle shells" as the original. Since the wheel is a cellulose product the adhesion part makes sense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer

Joe K

10-23-2022, 02:32 PM	#1
The Geezer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: The Villages FL Posts: 135	Steering wheel paint What would be the best paint to refinish a 31 A steering wheel? __________________ “Finally driving a car older than me!”

10-23-2022, 03:17 PM	#2
BillCNC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: SoCal Desert Posts: 826	Re: Steering wheel paint I'm not sure what others have done, but the previous owner of my car painted it with the same polyurethane paint they painted the the black on my car with. It's holding up very well after 14+ years with only a few tiny cracks were the spokes are cracking with no fading, peeling or rubbing off. Regards Bill

10-23-2022, 04:30 PM	#3
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Steering wheel paint I've painted antique tractor steering wheels, stays on well and looks good for many years. I used rustoleum and painted them with a brush. Put it on thick so it flows nicely. I don't know why it wouldn't work just as well on an A? Might work better to spray it I suppose although not sure how well rattle can paint would hold up. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

10-23-2022, 09:21 PM	#4
TravisDM Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 52	Re: Steering wheel paint Polyurethane paint works like a charm here, too!

10-23-2022, 11:35 PM	#5
lrf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: long beach ca Posts: 171	Re: Steering wheel paint I used the black bumper/trim paint and it remained sticky for at least two months, I even left it outside to be baked by the 90 Degree sun, still sticky. It's dull black like original but won't set! Just letting everyone know. LRF

10-24-2022, 10:06 AM	#6
The Geezer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: The Villages FL Posts: 135	Re: Steering wheel paint Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks all for your valuable input that gives me a direction to think about. __________________ “Finally driving a car older than me!”

10-25-2022, 11:38 AM	#8
5lugnuts Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Clermont in Central Florida Posts: 111	Re: Steering wheel paint I have read on this board that brake caliper paint was a good choice. I haven't tried it though.

10-26-2022, 08:14 AM	#9
Tinbasher Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Innisfil, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,174	Re: Steering wheel paint Duplicolour has a satin black "Fleet" colour in a spray bomb that's as close as you can get it.

10-26-2022, 08:15 PM	#10
lrf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: long beach ca Posts: 171	Re: Steering wheel paint Bill CNC: The steering wheel was a worn, original with many of the usual cracks. It was not previously painted, I lightly sanded it and used JB weld for the filling of the cracks. This was more of a project to see if I could save it. I will probably resand it and use poly paint. Just letting everyone know what didn't work for me. LRF

10-26-2022, 08:38 PM	#11
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: Steering wheel paint I am considering POR 15 for filling the cracks. On other things I used it on it flowed out real nice and filled the cracks, then it can be top coated.

10-26-2022, 10:01 PM	#12
chrs1961815 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Spring Grove, Illinois Posts: 1,371	Re: Steering wheel paint Anything other than urethane or enamel 2k paint is a waste of time. __________________ "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

10-29-2022, 06:01 AM	#13
Model "A" Fords Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 260	Re: Steering wheel paint since original wheels were not being painted would there be much of a point deduction for judging?

10-31-2022, 05:11 PM	#16
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Steering wheel paint I've done a couple of wheels using flat black shell lacquer. (not shellac) Comes in a spray can. Makes a very hard (lac) very thin coat. Doesn't rub off or peel and the thin of the lacquer takes a good bond with the porous wheel. Best to build up many layers. I think for me minimum of 5. Sand with like 600 grit between. I see from Wikipedia that "original lacquer" is a cellulose product in modern conception. Not ground up "beetle shells" as the original. Since the wheel is a cellulose product the adhesion part makes sense. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.