Need to Seal My Steering Wheel, OR ? ?

[ersatz]

My 1946 pickup steering wheel gets cruddy & tacky when it's humid outside. Little flakes, and/or balls come off in my hand and are annoying. Is there anything I can do to seal it other than replacing the actual wheel? I don't want to create a safety hazard by making it slippy either. Thank you for you help in advance!

 

[Marv]

I would try a couple of coats of clearcoat. It would not be any different than painting it, and thats what most of the steering wheels are colored by the owners with. If you did not want the original look you could paint it.

 

[felix37]

like Marv said, hit with some clear coat or paint. Or you can go a step further and spray the wheel with some epoxy primer, sand and paint.
Another thing is that the flakes and balls that keep coming off in your hands may be the result of some old paint or something that someone else applied at some time. I don't remember the old Bakelite material flaking or balling off. just a thought!