Wood steering wheel

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georgeramos
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:11 am
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider 1608

Wood steering wheel

Post by georgeramos »

Ive been "working" on this project for well over a year now and finally have a physical prototype. Due to several small manufacturing (read operator errors) issues I doubt this particular wheel will hold up well to the elements but it really does look and feel amazing. Once have finish on it and paint the spokes black, attach the horn button etc I will attempt to use it in my car then maybe some day work on MK II.

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Last edited by georgeramos on Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
SoFlaFiat

Re: Wood steering wheel

Post by SoFlaFiat »

Looking good George!
Is it laminated?
georgeramos
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:11 am
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider 1608

Re: Wood steering wheel

Post by georgeramos »

It's solid wood glued into 2 pentagons, milled out to accept the wheel ring
then routed and sanded by hand for days. My router came out of the "center" position as i was routing the groove so the side wall of the piece that makes the back was paper thin and as i expected got sanded through so you can see epoxy. That means the joint isnt very strong there so i dont think it will last, the steering wheel o started with was quite out of round so that made it tricky too. As a prototype im happy with it though.
georgeramos
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:11 am
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider 1608

Re: Wood steering wheel now in car

Post by georgeramos »

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I now recall the wood is a piece of IPE that I found in my shop. Definitely not the best in terms of appearance but it feels amazing. i will definitely (eventually) make another in a nicer wood and will re-do the dash components to match!
georgeramos
Posts: 1359
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:11 am
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider 1608

Re: Wood steering wheel

Post by georgeramos »

Image


One coat of gloss finish...stuff needs 24 hrs between coats...
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RRoller123
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Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Wood steering wheel

Post by RRoller123 »

Nice!
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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