Ok experts on wood, how do I fix this one?

[Holland]

Do you see the Bullshit?



Not yet? here





So My ACS wheel has this menacing crack in it. Is there any way to fix this? This is the only one of these wheels I have seen so it isn't like I can just get another one. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Damn Arizona weather.

[jlevie]

I think I'd try filling the crack with tinted liquid epoxy. You might have to use vacuum to suck the epoxy deeply into the crack.

[Holland]

No wood?

[netcsk]

Until you figure out how to fill the crack, I would drill a small hole at each end of the crack to keep it from propagating. If you drill a hole, it will create a larger surface area for the stress to spread and hopefully keep it from spreading anymore.

[Red88]

I think I'd try filling the crack with tinted liquid epoxy. You might have to use vacuum to suck the epoxy deeply into the crack.

That's really your only option for a quick fix. If you have the resources and patience, you can make several (40?) small tapered rectangular plugs out of that same wood, drill holes on either end of the crack like the guy said earlier, and smack the plugs into the crack with a little bit of glue, fill the drilled holes with plugs made out of the same wood. Sand the whole wheel real good, then re-finish it. Unless you're an expert wood worker, it probably won't turn out too well. Either way, it's kind of unrealistic.

[zedfez]

Not to sound like an asshole, but are you sure that is real wood? The location and consistency of the crack make it look a lot like a synthetic material. The crack looks to be exactly in the middle of the wheel and perfectly straight and smooth, I have never seen a split like that in wood unless it was laminated and based on the grain pattern, that is not a lamination.

[unicorn]

Cool steering wheel, dude. I want one. What's the make? where did you get it?

[Slangbox]

Cool steering wheel, dude. I want one. What's the make? where did you get it?

Read. AC Schnitzer.

[M-technik-3]

I don't remember but wood seering wheels built with two halves with the metal ring in the middle and glued together?

Google how wooden steering wheels are constructed.

[rodrigo]

It would make sense that it is two halves of a wheel sandwiched around a metal ring that would be part of the center portion. The wood is just for the grip.

Can you be sure it is real wood and not a veneer? Are those dtriations of the grain natural or are they printer or made with swabbing a stain on the wood?

I would try to remove everything. Try to continue the split and remove the wood completely. Sand it all down. Tape off the spokes and re-install the steering wheel with a marine (wood boat) based epoxy and use a long leather strap to wrap the grip tightly and evenly all they way around the metal ring to let the epoxy cure with the wood tight to itself.

With the taped spokes and center, apply finish and sand the areas that have the epoxy bubbling out on both the inside and outside.

Apply a finish (varnish) evenly and let dry completely. Wet sand with 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, 8000, 10,000 (not kidding here...go to Micro-Marc and get the plastic polishing kit of fabric wet-sand paper).

Keep applying the varnish evenly and keep wet sanding until you are satisfied with the smoothness.

That's my approach.

[M-technik-3]

I was close, here's a DIY to make a wooden wheel.

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/93.cfm

[Holland]

Not to sound like an asshole, but are you sure that is real wood? The location and consistency of the crack make it look a lot like a synthetic material. The crack looks to be exactly in the middle of the wheel and perfectly straight and smooth, I have never seen a split like that in wood unless it was laminated and based on the grain pattern, that is not a lamination.

I was wondering the same thing. The split is akward and the style of wood looks weird but it does feel like real wood. Maybe it is a synthetic material but either way I love the thing so I really want to fix it. I found the wheel on Ebay and haven't seen another one since.

[M-technik-3]

I think the wood is referred to as zebrano it's considered an exotic wood due to grain structure.

[zedfez]

If it is wood, you could try using an epoxy formulated for exotics (they tend to have a high oil content which interferes with normal glues) and something like a band clamp, or maybe even a ratchet tie down strap, that you could wrap around the crack and tighten to force the two sides back together. If you carefully mask off the surface of the wheel to keep any squeeze-out from sticking, you might be able to get away without having to re-finish it.

[87-325ic]

1, dont do much of anything else here posted.

2, get glue or epoxy, and a few clamps.

3, be neat, and use commone sense.

4, Done.

hopefully this helps.

(sorry, the post above mine is intelligent