Steering wheel grain restoration?

[402Bowtie]

I'm about to restore a couple steering wheels. I've already seen these two threads on restoring them:
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=233643
and
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=340417

I still have these questions:
1) Has anyone restored the grain that gets worn down over time? If so, how? I was thinking about using a small screwdriver-like point/pick and etching the squiglies into the wheel, but I have my doubts at how good that will look.

2) I have two 69-72 wheels. Both have the grain on the two extensions from the center of the wheel. However, one has the grain on the inside portion of the top half of the steering wheel (as shown in the picture) and one is completely smooth with no traces of the grain ever being there. Were the steering wheels all the same (besides color) from 69-72? Could the one without the grain be a repop?

3) Some of the cracks are very small and appear like they are not finished cracking. Would it probably be a good idea to drill out the end of the crack to ensure the crack does not continue?

Thanks for the help!

[landarts]

I am in the process of restoring interior door panels on my 72. The PO had cut large holes in the plastic portion of the door panel. I have repaired the holes and in the process of restoring the grain texture, before I shoot vinyl spray to recolor the panels. What I did was take some brushable latex that is used for making molds. I taped of a square area on the door panel where the grain was good and brushed on three coats to gets some build up of the latex. Once the latex was dry I removed it from the door panel. The next step was to make sure that the panel was clean , so I wiped it down with alcohol. Then I used a product called SEM Texture spray. After I shoot a couple of light coats I hit hit with 400 grit wet-n-dry paper. Cleaned off again, then shoot one more coat. While that coat was still drying I used the latex mat that had the impression of the grain and stamped the surface. This transfers the grain onto the texture spray. After all is dry shoot the panel with a few light coats of color bond spray.

The steps above would be applied after you have repaired and sanded the steering wheel.

Will this process work on a steering wheel, I dont know but I believe its worth a try if it does n0t work sand it off and try something else.

Jim

[sameyrasmea72]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

2) ... and one is completely smooth with no traces of the grain ever being there. Were the steering wheels all the same (besides color) from 69-72? Could the one without the grain be a repop?


Thanks for the help!

The one with no grain probably has a ton of miles on it. I have several like this and they come out of very high mileage trucks.