Wood steering wheel repair

[AldeanFan]

How would you fix this steering wheel?

This wheel is going on a friend’s golf cart. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but I’d like to make it better. And there isn’t really a budget so I’m doing it on the cheap.

The wheel is riveted together so I can’t really take it apart.

I’m an ok woodworker but not sure how to approach something like this.

 

[cvairwerks]

Use some modeling clay to build up a form around the damaged area. Drill some small holes for some piano wire to act as support and fill with epoxy. After cure, sand to the contour.

 

[ALinCarolina]

The epoxy would work well. I doubt you would need any wire, epoxy will bond very well to the open wood. Epoxy putty wouldn't even need a dam.
If you want to stay with real wood then I would cut the void to straight lines. With a pull saw and a sharp wood chisel. Then glue a somewhat matching species of wood in there, smooth with chisel, plane, sandpaper, stain and finish. Epoxy would eventually degrade from UV light so if outside all the time I would coat it.

 

[The Cobbler]

for a paint grade repair, I would use bondo
for a semi matched repair, I would cut out the chipped section , chisel the bottom flat leaving as much base mat'l as you can . fit a pc of wood in to the cut out. glue it in place, clamp tightly. let it full cure. . Plane, carve , sand /whatever to match the profile . stain/finish as you wish. It looks like pine, so it would be easy to work with

 

[AldeanFan]

Thanks for the suggestions,
I’d like to keep it wood looking so I’ll probably try to cut is square and glue in a piece of whatever wood I have that somewhat matches.
If that doesn’t work I can always epoxy and paint.

 

[Monza Harry]

AldeanFan, I like the idea's above, if I'm reading them correctly. I wouldn't cut it square, just make the angled break flatter to make a match much easier without squaring it off. I would drill some "porcupined" small (1/16" dia. x ⅛" Dp.) holes in each piece for the glue to interlock into. Harry

 

[Skiff Builder]

Looks like a piece of half round stock would work well.

I'm all for epoxy mixed with fine saw dust as a gap filling glue. I like Harry's idea on the holes- with a counter sink you create an epoxy rivet.

 

[Fixr]

Looks like a piece of half round stock would work well.

I'm all for epoxy mixed with fine saw dust as a gap filling glue. I like Harry's idea on the holes- with a counter sink you create an epoxy rivet.

Bit of a broken broom handle might even supply appropriate patina.

 

[The Cobbler]

a pc of unfinished pine , a day at the track & the patina will be right on!

 

[budget76]

send it to me instead, I'll fix it

first thought was teh same as yours. square it up, glue on a piece of something, then rasp/sand it to shape. Shouldn't be too hard

 

[jjeffries]

You might enjoy this:

best of luck, John

 

[Fixr]

a pc of unfinished pine , a day at the track & the patina will be right on!

Leave a splinter, and the patina can include blood, sweat and tears! (Cue BS&T Spinning Wheel).

 

[budget76]

in all seriousness, if that's a bolt-on style and he decides to replace it, the patina on that would look good in my 68 IH pickup project. I'd be interested in it

post up the repair after either way

 

[AldeanFan]

Repair has started,
I’m working on a video for my YouTube channel as I go and I’ll post a link when it’s done.

 

[Fixr]

Repair has started,
I’m working on a video for my YouTube channel as I go and I’ll post a link when it’s done.

Nice!

The patch piece of wood looks considerably more interesting than the rest of the rim. You could make up a story about the provenance:

"This patch was taken from the last remaining fragment of the wooden pegleg that my great great great granduncle Long John Silver wore..."

 

[AldeanFan]

Nice!

The patch piece of wood looks considerably more interesting than the rest of the rim. You could make up a story about the provenance:

"This patch was taken from the last remaining fragment of the wooden pegleg that my great great great granduncle Long John Silver wore..."

I’m going to tell people it was an original piece of trim from my Country Squire woody!

It’s actually part of a broom handle from Dollarama. I cut the handle down to fit the broom in my trailer lol

 

[kerrynzl]

I’m going to tell people it was an original piece of trim from my Country Squire woody!

It’s actually part of a broom handle from Dollarama. I cut the handle down to fit the broom in my trailer lol

You can "Crack a Woody" when you have finished




Here's a Woody advert from our way

 

[AldeanFan]

Steering wheel is restored!

The patch is not obvious unless you are looking for it.
This golf cart thing is kind of a Trans-AM theme paint job.
I’m really happy with how it turned out.

 

[The Cobbler]

great on the repair, looks great !
I see it , but the average person will never clue in

 

[AldeanFan]

Restoration video part 1

 

[AldeanFan]

Part 2

 

[The Cobbler]

thanks for sharing!