Steering Wheel material???? Molded plastic????

I am getting my steering wheel powder coated, but before that, I decided to have the cracks welded up to make it look like new. I heard back from the welder and they said it is molded plastic. MOLDED PLASTIC??!!?? It sure feels like cast aluminum to me.

Do any of know what kind of material the steering wheel is made from? Do I need to call the welder back and tell him he's stupid? If it's molded plastic, then it can't be powder coated. I don't think molded plastic would have lasted this long without snapping, especially without power steering. You really got to put some torque on that wheel and its awfully thin. Thanks for any answers.

- Charlie
1965 Chevy Panel van

I think it's molded plastic over a metal frame.


63

It is molded plastic. My 66 has the orig. wheel, no cracks and no power steering. I restore wheels using epoxy for the cracks, then smoothing with plastic filler and then painting.

Jerry

Jerry -

Do you have a type/brand of epoxy you use for the cracks? Any kind of plastic filler? Does the paint hold up fairly well to normal use without cracking again? I'm bummed that I can't get it powder coated, especially since it was going to be free.

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

I do restore and sell on ebay. It all depends on the wheel but average costs are $150+materials. Materials don't amount to much unless it's a color other than black, then the least amount of paint my jobber will mix is a pint and that can run up to $60.

Jerry