Paint advice wanted

garybryant66 · Mar 2, 2010

Ok so I got my very tired steering wheel off my series 3 rubbed it down and spray painted it with smooth black hammerite, it looks like new 24 hours later i pick it up and the soft paint gives, so i rub that bit down again and apply another coat, is it ever going to be durable enough for me to use or will it always be soft or does someone have a tip on how to make it durable?

Like i said it looks great I like the original wheel and was keen to restore it just not sure if what i have done is going to work

Any suggestions welcome, thanks in advance

Bump · Mar 2, 2010

I know absolutely nothing about paint - but - would some kind of clear laqurer top coat help protect it at all??

pobby · Mar 3, 2010

hammerite should be plenty hard enough
i would say its more of a case of what the wheel is made from
the coating the is on them from new isnt paint ( i think ) its more of a finish to the actual material ie plastic
i know hammerite is surposed to stick to anything but will it "bind" correctlly to the plastic
may need baking a bit before painting and after to dry it

jnw · Mar 5, 2010

I've just painted some steel wheels with cream hammerite and after 24hrs it had gone off pretty well, but on the tin it says something about full cure in 6 weeks. Maybe it's reacting with the plastic and either isn't curing properly, or just taking a lot longer.
Only guessing though.

pikefly · Mar 5, 2010

The advice I had from the forum was to buy a steering wheel glove. Stops the black stuff coming offand certainly less suspect than the paint route.

vilguy · Mar 5, 2010

you could plastic dip it, we used it on some small bits a few years back. Works a treat, everytime you dip it it puts on around 0.5MM thick of plastic, let that set for half an hour, then re dip.

After a couple of dips all the parts looked really great.

jnw · Mar 5, 2010

Powder coating? I wouldn't have thought that a series steering wheel would survive the curing heat (200 degree c isn't it?).
My series steering wheel has a leather glove / cover laced on like Pikefly was advised. It doesn't look unoriginal and is more comfortable in the cold as well! A quick google threw up a company that would make up custom fit ones, but I've no idea where my one came from.

Mudynaty · Mar 5, 2010

I would try heating it up a bit. Not too hot, some were like on top of a boiler or on a radiator (if the wife let's you) would do. Baking paint will help it go off. Give it a try but don't blame me for the paint smell in your house !!!!!!!

pobby · Mar 5, 2010

not sure if you can powder coat plastic
powder coating that i have seen is sprayed on like paint and it stickes to the part by means of electric static so is only anygood on metal parts but there may be other methods of coating

like i said the other day baking is the best way thats how its done in a body shop

garybryant66 · Mar 8, 2010

Well i took it indoors and let it enjoy the central heating for five days, put it on today and so far so good, must just have been soft the day after, but i had put a good few coats on it!

Thanks for all of the advice

jnw · Mar 10, 2010

Glad to hear you got it sorted. Funnily enough I Googled POR15 paint looking for a bit of info not relating to this thread, and I got a result from the POR15 website that was a steering wheel painting kit! Didn't get into looking at it in detail mind, but thought I might as well mention it.

Paint advice wanted

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