Model A steering wheel resto.
- Thread starter Tony G
- Start date
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
Using a small Dremel rotary grinder with various shaped stones.
ctlikon0712
Well-known member
Or maybe small jewelers files? Let us know how it turns out 
Brentwood Bob
Well-known member
I had some success using small files. I use my finger as a guide. I do this on wheels that have faint lines. Freehand is iffy. I have done 5. Not show quality, but 10 footers. Bob
ctlikon0712
Well-known member
If you were really crafty, you could set up an arced guide or fence type jig and with a well clamped wheel, use a piloted router. That would enable you to set the depth and keep a nice constant arc to follow the existing lines...... just a thought.
Cape Codder
Well-known member
I have never repaired a steering wheel but why couldn't you chuck it up in a lathe?
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Marco Tahtaras
Well-known member
The rim isn't perfectly concentric (or even close). I don't think it's even near a perfect circle whether concentric or not.
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
Marco's right about that and someone in our club made a jig that uses a thin cutter to cut the groove while it follows the profile of the rim. I don't have a picture of the tool or I'd post it.
just plain bill
Senior Member
There are curved files called Riffler files that might follow the old grooves,the curved shape should give better control. Not sure what sizes are available.
Craig Lewis
Well-known member
Here's the first thing that comes to my mind.
I grabbed an old wheel off the shelf this morning and did a quick pictural because I'm not so good at explaining.
#1) No doubt the idea could be improved upon....like by substituting the duct tape for a blob of epoxy or bondo which might hold the wire spacing more secure?
#2) It's likely that filing the correct wire shape to create "flat bottomed grooves" is your most critical step. The jagged edge left by your side cutters, easily carves through the black material.
I grabbed an old wheel off the shelf this morning and did a quick pictural because I'm not so good at explaining.
#1) No doubt the idea could be improved upon....like by substituting the duct tape for a blob of epoxy or bondo which might hold the wire spacing more secure?
#2) It's likely that filing the correct wire shape to create "flat bottomed grooves" is your most critical step. The jagged edge left by your side cutters, easily carves through the black material.
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Tony G
Member
Thankyou everyone for your ideas and suggestions. Craig I think your idea is great and I'm going to try it out.I might possibly be able to make the coat hanger tool into a sort of plane by attaching the hanger sections together solidly. Maybe use a metal backing strip and solder.
Thanks Again,
Tony G.
Thanks Again,
Tony G.
Tony G
Member
Follow up
I filed a coat hanger into a square shape and stuck 2 pieces off of the hanger into an old bill fold and soldered the hanger part to the bill fold.They protrude out of the holder about 1.5 inches and then filed the tips to an angle like a chisel.The beauty is that with extra hanger exposed you can re-sharpen the tips with a file.I used only 2 cutters instead of all 4 because its allows more accurate cutting control.The cutting edges are spaced to sit into the original grooves. The results are great if you dont rush it.When I had to plow through the epoxy I just took it slower as its much harder than the original wheel material.
I filed a coat hanger into a square shape and stuck 2 pieces off of the hanger into an old bill fold and soldered the hanger part to the bill fold.They protrude out of the holder about 1.5 inches and then filed the tips to an angle like a chisel.The beauty is that with extra hanger exposed you can re-sharpen the tips with a file.I used only 2 cutters instead of all 4 because its allows more accurate cutting control.The cutting edges are spaced to sit into the original grooves. The results are great if you dont rush it.When I had to plow through the epoxy I just took it slower as its much harder than the original wheel material.
BILL WILLIAMSON
Well-known member
Tony,
My "Bill-Fold" is LEATHER, does it require a "special" flux??
Maybe I'm troubled by "stuff" like this 'cause the wrinkles in my brow are NOT concentric???
Could un-concentric grooves in the steering wheel contribute to front wheel shakin'?? (HELP ME!) Bill W.