The Ford Barn

old31 · 06-20-2018, 10:59 AM

31 roadster steering wheels supposed to be painted or are they left natural?

GRutter · 06-20-2018, 11:32 AM

I'm not aware of any Model A steering wheel that was painted. They were natural, a 'satin' finish

Fred K-OR · 06-20-2018, 11:49 AM

I bought a new one for my 1929 huckster. They all said it should be painted. I did not pant it and it still looks great 10 years later.

Mike V. Florida · 06-20-2018, 12:22 PM

No A steering wheel left the factory painted.

old31 · 06-20-2018, 01:47 PM

OK, thanks guys.

Purdy Swoft · 06-20-2018, 01:54 PM

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I agree with Mike V. . I have patched cracked model A steering .wheels and painted them with black acrylic lacquer . They look good but the problem is when they re-crack you are back to the drawing board . The best thing to do is to bite the bullet and buy a new steering wheel . The new steering wheels look good to me and will last a long time . The one on my speedster still looks good after more than 20 years .

WHN · 06-20-2018, 04:14 PM

Have tried filling and painting. They never seem to last long.

Put a new one on our 29 thirty years ago, still looks great. I try to keep everything out of direct sun light. Enjoy.

1930 coupe · 06-20-2018, 07:01 PM

If you have a nice original steering wheel, but it does not look good because it is faded, or it has patches that the color of the patches does not match the wheel, and you do not like the painted look. You can use black INDIA INK on it instead of paint. Do not use any black ink that is not India Ink because most black inks will have a purple or dark blue look in bright sunlight. India Ink will look black in bright sunlight. You can apply it with a cotton ball or a Q-tip.

burner31 · 06-20-2018, 11:33 PM

I repaired the repairs that were already made and painted, it looks good and feels good.
But like stated above, the cracks will show again down the road. Looking at the wheel it seems great unless you get your face right down on the wheel.
So for now...painted works for me

06-20-2018, 10:59 AM	#1
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,097	31 steering wheels, painted or not? 31 roadster steering wheels supposed to be painted or are they left natural?

06-20-2018, 11:32 AM	#2
GRutter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Mint Hill, North Carolina Posts: 386	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? I'm not aware of any Model A steering wheel that was painted. They were natural, a 'satin' finish

06-20-2018, 11:49 AM	#3
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? I bought a new one for my 1929 huckster. They all said it should be painted. I did not pant it and it still looks great 10 years later. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

06-20-2018, 12:22 PM	#4
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? No A steering wheel left the factory painted. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

06-20-2018, 01:47 PM	#5
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,097	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? OK, thanks guys.

06-20-2018, 01:54 PM	#6
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I agree with Mike V. . I have patched cracked model A steering .wheels and painted them with black acrylic lacquer . They look good but the problem is when they re-crack you are back to the drawing board . The best thing to do is to bite the bullet and buy a new steering wheel . The new steering wheels look good to me and will last a long time . The one on my speedster still looks good after more than 20 years .

06-20-2018, 04:14 PM	#7
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,823	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? Have tried filling and painting. They never seem to last long. Put a new one on our 29 thirty years ago, still looks great. I try to keep everything out of direct sun light. Enjoy.

06-20-2018, 07:01 PM	#8
1930 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 226	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? If you have a nice original steering wheel, but it does not look good because it is faded, or it has patches that the color of the patches does not match the wheel, and you do not like the painted look. You can use black INDIA INK on it instead of paint. Do not use any black ink that is not India Ink because most black inks will have a purple or dark blue look in bright sunlight. India Ink will look black in bright sunlight. You can apply it with a cotton ball or a Q-tip.

06-20-2018, 11:33 PM	#9
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: 31 steering wheels, painted or not? I repaired the repairs that were already made and painted, it looks good and feels good. But like stated above, the cracks will show again down the road. Looking at the wheel it seems great unless you get your face right down on the wheel. So for now...painted works for me __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B