Banjo steering wheel repair question

O

Ohc Joe

Senior Member
Hello guys once again what are you guys using to repair small cracks in these vintage steering wheels on this 36 I'm working on the banjo steering wheels in really good condition with small cracks all the way around it what are you guys using that won't crack to fill in the cracks send it down and paint it any tips or suggestions thank you
 
PC-7 epoxy.

PC-7 epoxy is easy to work with and so far has held up for me. I chased all the cracks in mine, undercutting as you can see to help lock the epoxy in place.

As bought

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PC 7 had been the "go to" for steering wheel repair a few decades ago. Lord knows I used enough of it for just that purpose. Now? Use filler deigned for plastic bumper covers. "V" out the crack, fill, dry, sand, done.
 
I recently repaired my banjo, sanded the bakelite, kept the dust and used super glue and the dust as a filler, this was for cracks no bigger than 3/32" wide, it went really well with a build up would probably fill a an 1/8"
 
I've used pc-7 to fill cracks. one wheel was rather porous so I coated entire wheel with fiberglass resin. sealed great. covered with body filler and sanded
 
well I just googled fiberglass resin. fiberglass resin is sold and also epoxy resin. I used fiberglass resin
 
fordor41 said:
well I just googled fiberglass resin. fiberglass resin is sold and also epoxy resin. I used fiberglass resin
Click to expand...

I see the confusion now. I also googled it just now, and found that there are indeed products that say "Fiberglass Resin" on the labels, but please, let me assure you, those labels are a misnomer, as they are resins to be used WITH fiberglass or other products as reinforcements or fillers. Those resins would be either Epoxy or Polyester, of which there are a number of different formulations and catalysts. PC-7, for instance, is epoxy that contains a filler that makes the product into a paste. Devcon is another epoxy based product that coincidentally conforms to Govt Spec and is used in the aerospace industry. Fillers are chosen for their particular characteristics, such as glass beads as fine and light as dust, or chopped fiber, and more. An Epoxy alone can be brushed on as a sealer as for your steering wheel porosity, or reinforced with woven glass cloth or mat, kevlar, or carbon fiber. Porosity in the cured resin, by the way, can be included or excluded as easily as adjusting the amount and type of catalyst used.
 
Fiberglass Resin vs Epoxy

When comparing fiberglass resin to epoxy resin, several key differences and similarities emerge:

Fiberglass Resin: This type of resin is typically used with fiberglass mat and is compatible with chopped strand mat. It uses styrene as a diluent, which helps dissolve the binder that holds the mat together. However, it is not suitable for use with epoxy resin. Fiberglass resin is commonly used in boat building and repair, surfboard manufacturing, and other applications where strength and durability are required. It is generally less expensive than epoxy resin.

Epoxy Resin: Epoxy resin is highly durable and water-resistant, making it ideal for high-performance and lightweight parts. It does not use styrene as a diluent, which makes it incompatible with chopped strand mat but suitable for use with fiberglass cloth, carbon fiber, and Kevlar. Epoxy resin is known for its superior bonding capabilities and fast wet-out properties. It is more expensive than fiberglass resin but offers better strength, toughness, and dimensional stability.

Both resins are used in composite fabrication and can be applied in various methods, such as casting, coating, and laminating. However, the choice between fiberglass resin and epoxy resin depends on the specific requirements of the project, including cost, desired performance characteristics, and compatibility with reinforcement materials.
 
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