So, this is my first post after being a lurk for some time.
I thought I would begin by sharing my experience doing a steering wheel wrap. I have no prior experience with sewing, especially not to the scale of this application. I recommend doing a cloth template first to assure yourself of proper fitment as I ended up having too little leather to wrap around at times.
My old wheel condition.
On to it then, I began by calling a local distributor who led me to a repairwoman who used to work for them. Accordingly, she had done hundreds of wraps and had all the equipment I would need. I chose to use a soft calf skin pebbled black leather and she came to the car and measured, threw in a bit of extra and I was good to go.
What I used:
1: Black Calf Skin
2. Hobby Knife
3: 22mm Socket and Drive
4: Two Darning Needles
5: Pick
6: Waxed Thread also Black
I began with removing the steering wheel. This is simple and explained in other parts of the Forum. **Just Make Sure to Mark the Splineshaft so the Wheel is Center When You Replace it.**
Secondly, I brought the wheel inside and began removing the old wrap. Careful here and go slow as you want to preserve the old leather for a template. Use the hobby knife to cut the threads slowly and peel the cover away, in this instance, it was one piece.
After removing the cover, I noticed that I would need to make mine from two pieces as my hide was not long enough to support one. Measure and cut the original cover into two equal pieces, or however you want the design, I personally like the seam in the center.
Next, lay the old pieces over your new hide and draw the outline, leave enough excess to properly adjust for the decayed shrunken old wrap. Be careful to not use the same piece twice as you will have two of the same side. If this happens anyway, then just cut the tabs off and save them for later.
Both Pieces
Now you will want to put your pieces together and sew the ends, creating a ring of leather. Begin just as you were tying a shoe, use two needles and go one over the other, as this keeps the pieces tight together. Use about twice the length you are swing in waxed thread. Tie your knot the end and repeat until you have a full ring of leather.
Next, take your ring of leather and place it on something soft (I used one of the fiance's bridal magazines.) and use your pick and a hammer to poke stitching holes in the leather about every 1/4 inch or so. Remember which sides will be seamed and make sure to dot each of them.
Now you will center this ring on the bare steering wheel, making sure that it is all nice and tight and has a good stretch around the wheel. Use zipties to hold the new wrap centered over the wheel.
I then began stitching it across, go one needle at a time, SLOWLY. If you pull too hard, then you will tear your leather. Tighten each stitch down as you make it and continue, making sure the leather stays tight and even all around, again knot the end. Here, I recommend using smaller needles with a smaller eye so they go through the leather quicker and the thread does not fall out of the eye after each stitch.
Basically that's the extent of it. My wrap, with no experience, took 4.5 hours and still is not as good as I would prefer, but I learned quite a bit from the experience and the next one will be much better.
I thought I would begin by sharing my experience doing a steering wheel wrap. I have no prior experience with sewing, especially not to the scale of this application. I recommend doing a cloth template first to assure yourself of proper fitment as I ended up having too little leather to wrap around at times.
My old wheel condition.
On to it then, I began by calling a local distributor who led me to a repairwoman who used to work for them. Accordingly, she had done hundreds of wraps and had all the equipment I would need. I chose to use a soft calf skin pebbled black leather and she came to the car and measured, threw in a bit of extra and I was good to go.
What I used:
1: Black Calf Skin
2. Hobby Knife
3: 22mm Socket and Drive
4: Two Darning Needles
5: Pick
6: Waxed Thread also Black
I began with removing the steering wheel. This is simple and explained in other parts of the Forum. **Just Make Sure to Mark the Splineshaft so the Wheel is Center When You Replace it.**
Secondly, I brought the wheel inside and began removing the old wrap. Careful here and go slow as you want to preserve the old leather for a template. Use the hobby knife to cut the threads slowly and peel the cover away, in this instance, it was one piece.
After removing the cover, I noticed that I would need to make mine from two pieces as my hide was not long enough to support one. Measure and cut the original cover into two equal pieces, or however you want the design, I personally like the seam in the center.
Next, lay the old pieces over your new hide and draw the outline, leave enough excess to properly adjust for the decayed shrunken old wrap. Be careful to not use the same piece twice as you will have two of the same side. If this happens anyway, then just cut the tabs off and save them for later.
Both Pieces
Now you will want to put your pieces together and sew the ends, creating a ring of leather. Begin just as you were tying a shoe, use two needles and go one over the other, as this keeps the pieces tight together. Use about twice the length you are swing in waxed thread. Tie your knot the end and repeat until you have a full ring of leather.
Next, take your ring of leather and place it on something soft (I used one of the fiance's bridal magazines.) and use your pick and a hammer to poke stitching holes in the leather about every 1/4 inch or so. Remember which sides will be seamed and make sure to dot each of them.
Now you will center this ring on the bare steering wheel, making sure that it is all nice and tight and has a good stretch around the wheel. Use zipties to hold the new wrap centered over the wheel.
I then began stitching it across, go one needle at a time, SLOWLY. If you pull too hard, then you will tear your leather. Tighten each stitch down as you make it and continue, making sure the leather stays tight and even all around, again knot the end. Here, I recommend using smaller needles with a smaller eye so they go through the leather quicker and the thread does not fall out of the eye after each stitch.
Basically that's the extent of it. My wrap, with no experience, took 4.5 hours and still is not as good as I would prefer, but I learned quite a bit from the experience and the next one will be much better.
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