Help "Restoring Clear Steering Wheel"

[wingnutz]

I just picked up a "Snazzy" old "Clear" Pontiac steering wheel (free) that's cracked and has a couple of pieces missing! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I've heard that there are Companies out there that will restore them for a hefty price..., I was wondering if someone here knows of a "KIT"; or a "do-it-yourself" way of restoring the clear parts???? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Mark

[NealinCA]

Good question.

I have a 46 Lincoln wheel that is transparent red. I need to repair some cracks in it and would prefer to not paint it.

Neal

[Hellfish]

how about "repairing" the wheel with some sort of putty? Once it's perfect, make a cast of it, remove all the old nasty pieces, and re cast it in resin, plastic or some other kind of clear substance.

[stealthcruiser]

talk to your dentist,ask for a little bit of the resin to try out.the stuff they make dentures and appliances out of.
they tint and color it to match the rest of your choppers.

[Deuce Rails]

If you fill the crack with clear resin, the cracks will still show in the clear wheel. I believe that the only way to really make it look right is to fill the cracks and then re-cast the whole thing using a hobby kit for resins.

[Zeke]

Duece Rails is right The fixes will show on a clear wheel. The only way it to repair, mold and cast the steering wheel.

[Unkl Ian]

These guys have the stuff for making molds and parts. http://www.smooth-on.com/
It would require a 2 piece mold to do the front a back in one shot.
You would have to polish out the parting line,sprues and vents.
And air bubbles will be a Bitch if your working in clear.


I imagine the originals were injection molded.

[Shiva69]

here are a couple ideas on how to take care of the bubbles.

first. after first pour tap your mold w/ the pour hole located up so your bubbles would try to rise.

second. Set it up so that the parts you are repairing can be affected if you put a vacume pump to help suck the oxygen outta the casting

Garth

[flt-blk]

I bet you coule repair the crack and not have a visible
split line. I was doing some resin shift knobs, after
everything had cured and I was cleaning it up I noticed
some surface voids, I filled them and it didn't leave any
visible mark.

If the surface is clean and you get a good wet coat, you
really have nothing to loose. The key is careful mixing to
prevent bubbles in the mix before you pour.

Look at the craft store for casting resin.
TZ