Stripping steering wheel

[lt403]

Hi everyone,
I’m thinking of refinishing the wood on the steering wheel.
I’m planning on stripping it and putting a 50/50 mix of varnish and mineral spirits for ease of application.

Has anyone refinished their steering wheel? What was your procedure?

Thanks

 

[LJE]

Hi everyone,
I’m thinking of refinishing the wood on the steering wheel.
I’m planning on stripping it and putting a 50/50 mix of varnish and mineral spirits for ease of application.

Has anyone refinished their steering wheel? What was your procedure?

Thanks

Following! My wood is in great condition (giggle), but the clearcoat is flaking.

 

[kuelblaz]

I have one I am working on. I've been using aircraft stripper on the wood, but the finish is quite thick and not coming off as I had imagined it would. Looks to be a catalyzed finish (epoxy, or urethane?). Hit the pause to evaluate finish options and method. Need UV protection in finish, as wood has been faded and cracked under old finish. With newer tech, there should be something out there designed for this type evnironment ... Leather part is pretty straight forward

 

[lt403]

Im almost finished putting my LX450 back together from being painted.
Then I’ll start on the LX470 steering wheel.
From what Kuelblaz said now I wonder if regular stripper will work.

Happy new year

 

[kuelblaz]

To clarify, the finish is coming off slowly and in very small (1/8" ish) chunks. I am to the wood in some places. It's time consuming and I've had other things to do, so not giving it my full attention. However, in hindsight, I should have made a silicone mould for the wood areas BEFORE removing the finish. I think this is the only way to restore with a catalyzed product while maintaining the proper shape and thickness of factory finish.

... of course, I could just buy refurbished one off ebay for 500 and call it good ...

 

[LJE]

To clarify, the finish is coming off slowly and in very small (1/8" ish) chunks. I am to the wood in some places. It's time consuming and I've had other things to do, so not giving it my full attention. However, in hindsight, I should have made a silicone mould for the wood areas BEFORE removing the finish. I think this is the only way to restore with a catalyzed product while maintaining the proper shape and thickness of factory finish.

... of course, I could just buy refurbished one off ebay for 500 and call it good ...

Mine is flaking off, so I'm curious if it would be easier to strip... Then again, I've seen a guy that retrofits 200 series steering wheels into our rigs, and a heated steering wheel would be so nice in the indiana winters... Haha.