P38A Steering wheel decals

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Flossie

Well-Known Member
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Shropshire
Anybody done them? Mode- set-resume etc. I got the decals,£5 iirc ages ago off some guy on Facebook who refurbishs wood steering wheels. He's done a youtube video of how to apply them which involves dropping them in a bowl of water for a minute then teasing off the backing paper using tweezers and carefully placing them on the relevant button then gently pressing excess water out which I can't imagine is much at all. However, he does it with the wheel off the car and strips lots of stuff off to release the buttons too but I suspect its part of the restoration to the leather and wood rather than the whole thing has to come apart to fit a few decals. Somebody has asked the same question as I'm thinking, to do the decals on the car, but he never responded as to if the buttons would be OK if they got damp or rather if there is a real danger of shagging the little switches underneath.
 
There was a thread somewhere many moons ago, where someone removed the airbag, and then various bits to replace the switch flexi-pcb. Not sure what forum, or if the thread still exists though.
 
You should be fine back in the day I did the sames with the decals on my airfix models as a kid. The decals won't be dripping wet when you lift them out the water with your tweezers
Did you hang them from your bedroom ceiling with thread?
I did...
Yeah, I don't recall flooding stuff but it was 50 yrs ago.....jeez...where did that go!
 
There was a thread somewhere many moons ago, where someone removed the airbag, and then various bits to replace the switch flexi-pcb. Not sure what forum, or if the thread still exists though.
I've seen a vid of stripping the wheel down once it's off, bit of a faff which I'd like to avoid. Getting the wheel off is easy enough, observing the safety issues of course.
 
I'll be doing mine soon. One of the things he says in the video is to lacquer the plastic after putting the decals on.
How you would deal with the overspray I have no idea if it's in the car.
Without lacquer they will surely just peel off from use and friction.

What I don't understand is how rough they need to be in order for the lacquer to stick? Do you sand them with a 1000 grit maybe and then blast them with lacquer?
I think he said in the video that the colour came off the buttons and he had to paint them with a sharpie before applying the decal. Assume this was form a light sand but not 100% sure.
 
I'll be doing mine soon. One of the things he says in the video is to lacquer the plastic after putting the decals on.
How you would deal with the overspray I have no idea if it's in the car.
Without lacquer they will surely just peel off from use and friction.

What I don't understand is how rough they need to be in order for the lacquer to stick? Do you sand them with a 1000 grit maybe and then blast them with lacquer?
I think he said in the video that the colour came off the buttons and he had to paint them with a sharpie before applying the decal. Assume this was form a light sand but not 100% sure.
Nail varnish maybe? Probably melt the plastic.
 
I'll be doing mine soon. One of the things he says in the video is to lacquer the plastic after putting the decals on.
How you would deal with the overspray I have no idea if it's in the car.
Without lacquer they will surely just peel off from use and friction.

What I don't understand is how rough they need to be in order for the lacquer to stick? Do you sand them with a 1000 grit maybe and then blast them with lacquer?
I think he said in the video that the colour came off the buttons and he had to paint them with a sharpie before applying the decal. Assume this was form a light sand but not 100% sure.
Spoke to an ex body shop painter last night and he says use a green scotch brite pad. That's all that's needed to prep for varnish.
Are you going to strip it all down or do it on the car?
 
Anybody done them? Mode- set-resume etc. I got the decals,£5 iirc ages ago off some guy on Facebook who refurbishs wood steering wheels. He's done a youtube video of how to apply them which involves dropping them in a bowl of water for a minute then teasing off the backing paper using tweezers and carefully placing them on the relevant button then gently pressing excess water out which I can't imagine is much at all. However, he does it with the wheel off the car and strips lots of stuff off to release the buttons too but I suspect its part of the restoration to the leather and wood rather than the whole thing has to come apart to fit a few decals. Somebody has asked the same question as I'm thinking, to do the decals on the car, but he never responded as to if the buttons would be OK if they got damp or rather if there is a real danger of shagging the little switches underneath.
Send me a picture of what you want exactly Flossie!
Titch
 
Anybody done them? Mode- set-resume etc. I got the decals,£5 iirc ages ago off some guy on Facebook who refurbishs wood steering wheels. He's done a youtube video of how to apply them which involves dropping them in a bowl of water for a minute then teasing off the backing paper using tweezers and carefully placing them on the relevant button then gently pressing excess water out which I can't imagine is much at all. However, he does it with the wheel off the car and strips lots of stuff off to release the buttons too but I suspect its part of the restoration to the leather and wood rather than the whole thing has to come apart to fit a few decals. Somebody has asked the same question as I'm thinking, to do the decals on the car, but he never responded as to if the buttons would be OK if they got damp or rather if there is a real danger of shagging the little switches underneath.
That would be Paul Bennet that did the decals
 
Spoke to an ex body shop painter last night and he says use a green scotch brite pad. That's all that's needed to prep for varnish.
Are you going to strip it all down or do it on the car?
I bought a second hand wheel as I wanted an upgrade so all being done off the car. Already stripped the buttons down. Just waiting for a warm before before shooting 2k clear on it.
 
4 Torq bolts to release the airbag, battery disconnected for around an hour while I had lunch before I removed the airbag.
Strip out the switches in situ, easy enough.
20240506_140526.jpg
20240506_143247.jpg

A good wash and a light key with some fine wet and dry
20240506_163956.jpg

And done, will put a few light coats of lacquer on tomorrow.
20240506_171034.jpg
 
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