The 'E' Type Forum

Hi, the seller of this car left me with a task that's new to me. I have a steering wheel and the wood, but I'm no carpenter. But is it easy? Just glue together and give varnish?

If doable, what glue and what varnish, lacquer, ???

In the last picture I just lay it on the metal

Thanks

Here is how it should look like:
https://pbase.com/mdlempert/etype

Beware, if you plan to use Mike Lempert, his puncuality is the opposite to the quality of the work he does. :-)

BTW, the finger indexes and the wood thickness on your new wood is wrong, Same I think for the way it's cut...

Tadek

Hi Mikael.....is your steering wheel flat.....could just be the photo but the 3 main spokes look dished.....Steve

Hi,
I fitted a similar new wood rim to mine. If the new wood is a good quality item, it’s straightforward to fit.
I cleaned up the metal frame to get rid of any old glue etc, but left it ‘rough’ to get good adhesion of the new glue.
Check the two mating surfaces of the new rim for anything that will stop it from fitting without gaps around the edge.
I used a gorilla glue product, but any good wood glue will do. I used masking tape to hold the wood rims tightly in place, with clamps on the tape to protect the wood.
Once the glue had cured, I sanded off any excess glue that had seeped through the join. I then lightly sanded the whole rim, before applying 6 coats of teak oil. This was then lightly sanded before a similar amount of coats of high temperature varnish, wire wool sanded between each.

Steve, yes it is flat

Richard, thanks, I'll give it a try, your's look great. My Longchamp has a Nardi steering wheel, also really beautiful, I'll try to match that :-)

Decided to work on the steering wheel and the wood the seller supplied. I got it glued together good, I have sanded the wood with 180 and 400 paper, and given the first spray of the same clear coat/hardener you use on a car. Looks pretty good, will need another sanding and clear coat.

Any suggestion on what to use for final sanding? 400 paper? Or?

I only have a before-picture, no dust!