[FirebirdHank]

I have a Grant Classic series steering wheel in my '69 'bird. I'm sure it is as least 7 or 8 years old. It was looking funky so I stripped it down to bare wood and re-stained it and it looks very good. My question now is what clear finish is the best to apply that won't be affected by sweat, moisture and sun.
Is oil based poly better than the water based stuff?
Would an exterior polyurethane be best for the sun exposure?
Is there something better than polyurethane?

[1978 T/A]

I've recently used a Spray Max 2k clear with excellent results. I was very impressed with how nice is laid out and flowed together. Was completely different than anything else I've ever shot out of a rattle can.

[FirebirdHank]

Well the project is completed. I decided to use a polyurethane spar varnish. I checked with Sherwin Williams and that is what they recommended. While I had it on the workbench I decided to plug the rivet holes (never was happy with those).
Here is the finished product.

I probably have 8 hours or more invested in it but what else does a guy do in the middle of winter

[tempest1964]

That looks awesome!!!

[irgoatmike]

Very Nice! I have a Grant on my 67 GTO and would love to know what you used to cover the rivet holes. irgoatmike

[FirebirdHank]

I cleaned the wheel down to bare wood and then cleaned out the holes with a 5/16" flat bottomed wood boring bit. Then I just used flat topped 5/16" wood hole plugs glued in place. I used tapered plugs that I found on the shelf at Menards. They were forced into the wheel holes with a clamp and had to be trimmed down before block sanding them to the rounded shape of the wheel. I decided not to do the holes an the back side of the wheel since they are not seen for the most part.
After that it was oil based stain, I chose Zar "teak natural" followed by three coats of polyurathane, sanded between coats.
I'm happy eith the finished results.

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by FirebirdHank

Well the project is completed. I decided to use a polyurethane spar varnish. I checked with Sherwin Williams and that is what they recommended. While I had it on the workbench I decided to plug the rivet holes (never was happy with those).
Here is the finished product.

I probably have 8 hours or more invested in it but what else does a guy do in the middle of winter

Now that is the way the wheel should look. I never liked the rivet holes. If it would have looked like yours I would have bought one. I bet you could sell a few like that.

I like what you did with the horn button. Is that just a stock horn button with fender emblem glued on?

On a side note. I see that one of the steering wheel restorers added woodgrain detail with a black sharpie. Just a thought if a person wanted to resemble more of the factory wood wheel.

Awesome work!

[FirebirdHank]

Originally Posted by rohrt

I like what you did with the horn button. Is that just a stock horn button with fender emblem glued on?

It is a '69 deluxe interior door panel bird bonded to a blank Grant horn button