MTFCA Forum

Anyone have experience refinishing or sealing the "Fordite" steering wheel rims, used in 1926/27?
I understand "Fordite" was molded of wood chips, probably some soy materials, some rubber, and some other fillers. I also understand they give you black hands if they are not sealed, due to the material rubbing off.
Anyone had success with refinishing one of these steering wheel rims?
How did you do it?
What things should be avoided?
Thanks!

Couple of old posts
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/200802.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1321499600
Next post suggested painting with automotive Trim & Bumper Paint - just make sure that the surface is not slippery or too tacky when finished.
Totaled Restore http://www.gwcmodela.com/pdfs/meetings/ ... 930-38.pdf
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9279
Warping Fix http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1292601172

This thread may apply to many other OT steering wheels that give ya the dirty hands treatment!
Good to bring this up again.

Not so much of having dirty hands after driving my 26 all day but the Smell gets to me!!!
Alan

They used Fordite a lot earlier than 26-7! I wax the rim often, but it still comes off on my hands. I wear gloves when driving, even in the summer.

I guess that you could spray the rim with something like Varathane or a liquid spray on plastic to seal, but after 50 years since my grandfather's 27 coupe was restored, I don't have any problem with residue or smell coming off on my hands. Of course, I've never taken a 8 hour long drive with it, either. I have two wood rim locking steering wheels that I can always swap out with the original.

I wipe mine down with alcohol- lasts for a few weeks and not slippery

Frank Brandi, Thanks for all the info. I will go through all those posts.
And thanks everyone else for their info. I didn't know they used "Fordite" earlier.
I also didn't know it smelled, although if "Fordite" was a vegetable-based mixture, I can see how it would deteriorate and give off a stench. I have 5 steering wheels, and none of them have an objectionable odor, although they do cover the hands with black, graphite like dust when handled. None of them are warped, either, so I guess I am very lucky. The particular wheel I am working on is for the Model T that my dentist owns, and it is in virtually perfect condition. I wanted to experiment with a couple of my own steering wheels before I mess with his wheel, as it is so nice.
So now I will dig into it, and do some experimenting, and hopefully things will work out.
What can go wrong? It's a Model T!

I sanded mine to remove loose material and primed it with grey acrylic primer surfacer. Then two heavy coats of black acrylic lacquer. It still looks good after 30 years.
On Henrietta, she sheds material especially in humid conditions. I live with it to avoid having to alter anything. It's slippery, so I keep a wheel spoke or two between my fingers for safety.

Alln from down under.

Don’t know if there is a best way to keep a nice finish on the wheels and keep them from getting your hands dirty but probably doing as Allan says is pretty close.
I have 3 T’s and sanded with fine paper for a ultra smooth finish and using a good coat of enamel works OK. I used what I had and didn’t have any Laquer but that may be better.
If your trying to be ‘original’ get ready to eventually get the ‘black’ on your hands as that is originally what happened!
I’ve also used a good coat of wax and that lasted a while.

Wet sand with 800 grit, then 1000 or 1200 grit if you want a smoother finish. Rinse with water and wipe dry with clean paper towels. Don’t treat, seal, or paint with anything. A T steering wheel should never be cleaned with anything but plain water. If it gets sticky or makes your hands black, then it needs to be wiped down with clean wet paper towels or clean wet rags until the black is no longer shedding (usually 2 wipe downs), and dried with clean paper/fabric towel. Washing your hands occasionally will help. Fried chicken or potato chip grease all over your hands will really screw up your steering wheel. Humidity makes them sticky too, but when wiped down with a clean wet rag and wiped dry, they are perfect after air drying just a couple minutes. The very fine 1000 or 1200 grit may make the rim too smooth and slippery for some people but it looks nice. Some of this info is in the Ford instruction manual.