These are photos of the main 2 brand new cracks.

Cracks in the wood above the airbag

Crack in center console

 

Just an FYI for anyone contemplating using this guy. He ruined my center console plate. He fouled up my directions screwed it up and had to refinish it. Now its garbage.
He had my parts for 2 months and when I tried to get a status, he returned them. No I have to have it all redone. Use MAdera concepts. More money but at least they answer the phone. This outfit is the worst.!

 

Not to hijack this thread, but I am seeing/feeling finish starting to flake off the wood sections(top. exposed to sun) of my steering wheel. I am considering a light coating of marine spar varnish, first on the exposed parts then covering the entire section. Has anyone had similar experiences?

 

No similar experience with flaking but I figured I'd comment on spar varnish idea Sam.
I make canes out of select/interesting wood and give them folks who need them (LEOs, SEALS, Rangers, old folks). Spar varnish just might work as long as the current finish will accept it. I really think you better do a test somewhere some how.

I wonder if there's any super cheap small piece of wood molding you could buy used and test.

FWIW I use Helmsman Gloss Spar Varnish on these canes. Believe me they see more stress than your steering wheel ever will and still look good.

Trust me. If you do this: follow the directions. Especially the minimum wait time between coats . Rush it and you WILL lose the battle ( guess how I know :-)).

please tell us how you do.

John

 

JohnKen,

Making Canes for our Troops and old Folks is very admiral of you, John...Goes to show you that good things are happening all around you and you don't even know it! "Thank you"!

Billy Clyde in Houston

 

John,

What a great service you provide to those who deserve it most!

Regarding Spar varnish, I have tried Helmsman Gloss Spar Varnish to refinish the burled wood trim in a Jaguar and what I learned was that it doesn't seem to flow out into a mirror gloss, and it is too soft to be rubbed out to a mirror polish. The experts tell me they are using high-solids UV-curable polyesters or urethanes, but these require more equipment than the average do-it-yourselfer wants to invest in. I have had reasonably good success with the acrylic lacquer clearcoat from automotivetouchup.com, which is designed for metal substrates so it can expand and contract with temperature like a spar varnish, but it is hard enough to be wet sanded with 600, 1000, and 1500 grit then polished to a mirror gloss with Meguiar's ScratchX 2.0 or similar, just like traditional nitrocellulose lacquer.

AutomotiveTouchup now offers a 2K urethane clearcoat that I intend to try on my next project.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks for the kind words. I figured folks might like to see what the Helmsman spar varnish looks like. Here's a before and after view.

John

Raw wood

With Spar varnish

 

Many thx from me also for the work you do. Too many today work on the philosophy, "I got mine, now I can pull up the ladder and let everyone else fend for themselves." Sad comment on today's times.

I use Helmsman's spar also. Sometimes rush and do not dilute enough, and also have added 'japan dryer' to speed the process(patience not one of my virtues...). WIll try all the correct tricks for my steering when. Right now flaking seems the result of being in the S.W. sun too much, although I try to keep it covered as much as possible.