Re: Had my steering wheel restored, review
[Re: stwheels]
#1669147
09/11/14 04:22 PM
09/11/14 04:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848 Memphis
HemiRick
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
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How do you keep the original plastic of the wheel from continuing to shrink......I repaired a wheel and 3/4 years later the cracks had reappeared as wheel kept shrinking.....
Take care, Rick 68 Coronet R/T 440 & 68 Charger 528 Hemi,and 5 Challengers! 6 cyl, 318, 360, 383, 451
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Re: Had my steering wheel restored, review
[Re: HemiRick]
#1669149
09/11/14 06:03 PM
09/11/14 06:03 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,947 Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
stwheels
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,947
Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
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Quote:
How do you keep the original plastic of the wheel from continuing to shrink......I repaired a wheel and 3/4 years later the cracks had reappeared as wheel kept shrinking.....
Great question Rick!
Because the resin I use flows under the material the wheel is molded from, it fills in any gaps along the steel core under the plastic so there's nowhere for the plastic to shrink to anymore. Next the wheel is wrapped in random weave carbon fibre cloth and more resin, forming a carbon fibre shell around the outside of the wheel eliminating any expansion and stabilizing the plastic.
I'm guessing you filled the cracks with an epoxy putty that expands and contracts at a different rate than the plastic, bakelte or hard rubber the wheel is molded from... all the epoxy does is fill a gap... I'm actually filling the crack and then building a complete shell around the wheel.
About 25% of the wheels I repair are wheels that have been previously repaired by other shops or the customer using epoxy putty.
Lots of work but the results speak for themselves
Here's a 58 Desoto wheel as it came in from a customer in Florida... he started to repair it himself .... YIKES!
Doug Lepak The Steering Wheel Guy stwheels@shaw.ca www.stwheelz.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Steering-Wheel-Guy/200617011737
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Re: Had my steering wheel restored, review
[Re: stwheels]
#1669150
09/11/14 06:07 PM
09/11/14 06:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,947 Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
stwheels
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,947
Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
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Same wheel after removing the epoxy, bondo, cake mix and whatever else he used to get it to the state of the previous picture, then using resin to fill in and repair the damaged and missing sections of plastic. Next it was wrapped with carbon fibre cloth and several coats of resin,then sanded smooth in preparation for paint... Doug Lepak The Steering Wheel Guy stwheels@shaw.cawww.stwheelz.comhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Steering-Wheel-Guy/200617011737
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Re: Had my steering wheel restored, review
[Re: Quikshft]
#1669152
09/11/14 06:35 PM
09/11/14 06:35 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,947 Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
stwheels
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,947
Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
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Quote:
I think a good restoration involves actually replacing the original plastic.
Ha Ha Ha ... There are lots of ways to do a good job ... recasting is only one way and requires tons of room to store molds that you may only use once in a lifetime, but that's the only way to restore wheels with the clear plastic sections in them...
I work on lots of that style wheel but the clear sections get painted an opaque secondary or contrasting colour.
Here's what was a wood grain wheel finished in gloss Black with the stainless spokes...
Doug Lepak The Steering Wheel Guy stwheels@shaw.ca www.stwheelz.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Steering-Wheel-Guy/200617011737
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Re: Had my steering wheel restored, review
[Re: stwheels]
#1669153
09/24/14 02:29 AM
09/24/14 02:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 187 Las Vegas
LVSRT10
Not the new guy anymore!
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Not the new guy anymore!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 187
Las Vegas
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Re: Had my steering wheel restored, review
[Re: LVSRT10]
#1669154
09/24/14 10:49 AM
09/24/14 10:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,704 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,704
North Dakota
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I know, I know, if you have to ask you probably can't afford it but I will anyway. What is the 'typical' cost to refurbish a Mopar woodgrain wheel without rimblow.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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