bakelite steering wheel

[Walter Prechsl privat]

hi friends, i have on my TC a gold pearl bakelite bluemel steering wheel. it is not in the best condition, but anyway looks nice. my problems are: the bakelite on the surface is splitting, just little splits like from wood and they already did cut my fingers during drive. so i tried to grind it to get a better surface again. but with the grinding it got dull. after that i gave it a finish with a clear lacquer. but wasn t a good idea, because now the wheel produces a sticky clear substance like glue on about 10 small areas like a thumbnail, after every some weeks. i can clean it and it comes again and again . . . anybody any idea - what is that? how to get rid of? has anybody similar problems? do you know a way to apply a good and stable finish? thanks walter

[Neil Nelson]

Walter What probably happened is the clear lacquer softened the plastic on the wheel where it soaked into those small cracks you mentioned. Lacquer is a very potent solvent. As the thinner continues to evaporate and come to the surface it softens the surrounding material. It may finally cure over time. All the thinners in the paint must completely evaporate before this can happen. I would not suggest painting anything else on the wheel until it is completely dry. If you attempt to repaint now it will trap the unevaporated thinners under the new paint and eventually the new paint will soften and flake off. You might try an epoxy based clear when it is dry. Always try it on a small spot first to see if there is going to be a reaction. Neil TC 0526 -----Original Message----- From: Walter Prechsl privat [mailto:walter@publi-consult.com] Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 1:57 PM To: tabc-list Subject: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel hi friends, i have on my TC a gold pearl bakelite bluemel steering wheel. it is not in the best condition, but anyway looks nice. my problems are: the bakelite on the surface is splitting, just little splits like from wood and they already did cut my fingers during drive. so i tried to grind it to get a better surface again. but with the grinding it got dull. after that i gave it a finish with a clear lacquer. but wasn t a good idea, because now the wheel produces a sticky clear substance like glue on about 10 small areas like a thumbnail, after every some weeks. i can clean it and it comes again and again . . . anybody any idea - what is that? how to get rid of? has anybody similar problems? do you know a way to apply a good and stable finish? thanks walter Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Peter Pleitner]

Hi Walter, Gee, I don't have a clue. It'll be interesting to read advise of others. Because it is driving season, you might consider this quick fix until a better repair can be applied. Race car steering wheels before the war were often finished for the driver using a good quality thin twisted rope (about 2 or 3 mm in diameter). This rope or string was wound very tight around and round the rim of the steering wheels, so that each wrap is very tight against the last wrap. It probably takes a few hours to do and you'll have to figure out how to jump across the spokes and tie-off the end(s), but the resulting feel and grip is marvelous. Cheers, Peter -----Original Message----- From: Walter Prechsl privat [mailto:walter@publi-consult.com] Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 1:57 PM To: tabc-list Subject: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel hi friends, i have on my TC a gold pearl bakelite bluemel steering wheel. it is not in the best condition, but anyway looks nice. my problems are: the bakelite on the surface is splitting, just little splits like from wood and they already did cut my fingers during drive. so i tried to grind it to get a better surface again. but with the grinding it got dull. after that i gave it a finish with a clear lacquer. but wasn t a good idea, because now the wheel produces a sticky clear substance like glue on about 10 small areas like a thumbnail, after every some weeks. i can clean it and it comes again and again . . . anybody any idea - what is that? how to get rid of? has anybody similar problems? do you know a way to apply a good and stable finish? thanks walter Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Ray McCrary]

Hi guys, Who can do the best reasonably priced rebuild on the Bishop steering? I have a substitute for now that works well on the TB, but at some point may want to go back. I had it done once by a moron who returned it with a shattered worm, brazed sector shaft and worn housing. He cashed his check before I checked out the work! So.......... Best, Ray McCrary "Speed is Life; of course Luck and Altitude are helpful, too."

----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Pleitner" pleitner@dundee.net> To: "Walter Prechsl privat" walter@publi-consult.com>; "tabc-list" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 2:35 PM Subject: RE: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel > Hi Walter, > > Gee, I don't have a clue. It'll be interesting to read advise of others. > > Because it is driving season, you might consider this quick fix until a > better repair can be applied. Race car steering wheels before the war were > often finished for the driver using a good quality thin twisted rope (about > 2 or 3 mm in diameter). This rope or string was wound very tight around and > round the rim of the steering wheels, so that each wrap is very tight > against the last wrap. It probably takes a few hours to do and you'll have > to figure out how to jump across the spokes and tie-off the end(s), but the > resulting feel and grip is marvelous. > > Cheers, Peter > > -----Original Message----- > From: Walter Prechsl privat [mailto:walter@publi-consult.com] > Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 1:57 PM > To: tabc-list > Subject: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel > > > hi friends, > > i have on my TC a gold pearl bakelite bluemel steering wheel. it is not in > the best condition, but anyway looks nice. > my problems are: the bakelite on the surface is splitting, just little > splits like from wood and they already did cut my fingers during drive. so i > tried to grind it to get a better surface again. but with the grinding it > got dull. after that i gave it a finish with a clear lacquer. but wasn t a > good idea, because now the wheel produces a sticky clear substance like glue > on about 10 small areas like a thumbnail, after every some weeks. > i can clean it and it comes again and again . . . > > anybody any idea - what is that? how to get rid of? > has anybody similar problems? do you know a way to apply a good and stable > finish? > > thanks > walter > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[Walter Prechsl privat]

neil, thanks for your hints -- but the painting and advance solvent cleaning was 2 years ago! ? walter _______________________________________________ Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 00:59:32 -0400 From: "Neil Nelson" nwnel@mediaone.net> Subject: RE: bakelite steering wheel Walter What probably happened is the clear lacquer softened the plastic on the wheel where it soaked into those small cracks you mentioned. Lacquer is a very potent solvent. As the thinner continues to evaporate and come to the surface it softens the surrounding material. It may finally cure over time. All the thinners in the paint must completely evaporate before this can happen. I would not suggest painting anything else on the wheel until it is completely dry. If you attempt to repaint now it will trap the unevaporated thinners under the new paint and eventually the new paint will soften and flake off. You might try an epoxy based clear when it is dry. Always try it on a small spot first to see if there is going to be a reaction. Neil TC 0526

[Neil Nelson]

Walter, if the only thing you have put on the wheel is the lacquer paint then that is still my leading suspect. How long after the paint job did the condition appear? How long has it been going on now? Neil -----Original Message----- From: Walter Prechsl privat [mailto:walter@publi-consult.com] Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 8:24 AM To: tabc-list Subject: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel neil, thanks for your hints -- but the painting and advance solvent cleaning was 2 years ago! ? walter _______________________________________________ Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 00:59:32 -0400 From: "Neil Nelson" nwnel@mediaone.net> Subject: RE: bakelite steering wheel Walter What probably happened is the clear lacquer softened the plastic on the wheel where it soaked into those small cracks you mentioned. Lacquer is a very potent solvent. As the thinner continues to evaporate and come to the surface it softens the surrounding material. It may finally cure over time. All the thinners in the paint must completely evaporate before this can happen. I would not suggest painting anything else on the wheel until it is completely dry. If you attempt to repaint now it will trap the unevaporated thinners under the new paint and eventually the new paint will soften and flake off. You might try an epoxy based clear when it is dry. Always try it on a small spot first to see if there is going to be a reaction. Neil TC 0526 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Gates Family]

Dear Walter and All I also have a steering wheel that has deteriorated to "splinter stage". Have considered several options including covering it with a thin rope as suggested by Peter or an epoxy-based filler, but for the moment I am simply using a leatherette wheel cover purchased from an auto-shop which also has a good colour match. I corresponded with John Kimble about tips for restoration and he replied that "once they start to deteriate they usually go down hill. You can patch them or even leather cover them, which if you get a good guy to do it would be fine". So it seems that, in the absence of purchasing a new wheel or removing the bakelite and replacing it with a wooden surround, a robust covering of sorts (rope, leather or whatever) is the best solution. As for rope, I guess that it should first be soaked in water to give it "stretch" so that it tightens up when dry. Regards Joe Gates TC 8675 -----Original Message----- From: Walter Prechsl privat walter@publi-consult.com> To: tabc-list mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Date: 14 April 2001 10:29 Subject: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel hi friends, i have on my TC a gold pearl bakelite bluemel steering wheel. it is not in the best condition, but anyway looks nice. my problems are: the bakelite on the surface is splitting, just little splits like from wood and they already did cut my fingers during drive. so i tried to grind it to get a better surface again. but with the grinding it got dull. after that i gave it a finish with a clear lacquer. but wasn t a good idea, because now the wheel produces a sticky clear substance like glue on about 10 small areas like a thumbnail, after every some weeks. i can clean it and it comes again and again . . . anybody any idea - what is that? how to get rid of? has anybody similar problems? do you know a way to apply a good and stable finish? thanks walter Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Walter Prechsl privat]

neil, the paint job was done about 2 years ago and the coming out of "glue" out of little cracks or splits is still going on! it was very obvious at getting out the car for the first time now after hibernation. i cleaned it again (and again) with thinner - the only thing who is able to clean - maybe that s the problem of always getting in more thinner!? but now i will cure it with rope walter Message: 22 Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 00:59:30 -0400 From: "Neil Nelson" nwnel@mediaone.net> Subject: RE: bakelite steering wheel Walter, if the only thing you have put on the wheel is the lacquer paint then that is still my leading suspect. How long after the paint job did the condition appear? How long has it been going on now? Neil -----Original Message----- From: Walter Prechsl privat [mailto:walter@publi-consult.com] Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 8:24 AM To: tabc-list Subject: [mg-tabc] bakelite steering wheel neil, thanks for your hints -- but the painting and advance solvent cleaning was 2 years ago! ? walter

[The Vernon Family]

Hi I had a similar problem when I moved down to the coast. The goo stained the leather seat, this wasn't as the result of any treatment to the wheel. Another donor wheel was used when I created a wood rimmed wheel, a photo of which I have sent to Walter. Clem, back from 7 weeks in cold Emgland