Treatment of Bakelite steering wheels

[grahamemmett]

A member in the US has enquired how he may restore the colour to his Bakelite steering wheel (1952 Hooper bodied DB18) as the sun has bleached it. It's not a standard DB18 wheel but has wire spokes.
Any ideas?

[Peter Grant]

Hi Graham,
there was a very recent recommendation of a paste used by the UK phone company to treat bakelite. I think it may have been in the Lanchester LD 10 thread.
If I can find it I'll copy and paste (no pun intended).
Cheers
Peter Grant

[Peter Grant]

Found the posting:

Re: 1951 LD10 KKV 222
Post by ranald » Thu Sep 17, 2020 4:13 am

If you don’t already know of it, I can recommend Paste Polishing No 5 by Greygate Chemicals as a treatment for Bakelite. I seem to remember reading that it was developed for use by the GPO for cleaning and polishing telephones. I use it on all the bakelite in my car. All the best, Ranald


Cheers
Peter Grant

[Stan Thomas]

If you cannot get the polishing paste Peter recommends, try this on a part of the steering wheel which does not show, but as a test first:

Flat the surface with 2000 grit paper using water and a just a splash of liquid soap. Then polish with a felt buff and white compound as you would aluminium.

Don't try any "cleaning" with thinners or the like as it may chemically attack the surface.

Stan.

P.S.
It may not be "Bakelite" (A trade name) but some other form of near identical formulation.

[grahamemmett]

Thanks Guys. I have copied your excellent responses to our friends across the pond.

[Db n j]

Interested in the comment saying it’s not a db18 cos it has spokes.

In most respects the db18 Empress has Consort like parts, including a spoked steering wheel, with a plain round horn centre etc.

That’s what i’d expect was standard. The Duke arrived with a 4 spike Blumells wheel, with a large horn assy (like a dh27/36), although it is standard now.

With regard to colouring, I remember reading about restoring black plastic of the era by careful cleaning, then applying ink (as fountain pen) then polishing.

Finally, I think there is someone restoring steering wheels with a painted coat application if that’s of interest.

[grahamemmett]

"Interested in the comment saying it’s not a db18 cos it has spokes."

I'm lernin'

[grahamemmett]

In the interests of keeping the record of responses, I have this additional response:

"I have been very successful with coach paint. The wheel needs to be thoroughly cleaned down and degreased, minor imperfections can be filled with body filler and flatted.

Several coats of black coach enamel, flatted in between, are then brushed on. To give a nice satin finish gently rub surface with 1500 grit wet and dry, the finish is pretty much like the original.

Alternatively there are specialists who will put some sort of coating on it, this will cost several hundred pounds.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards Kevin Bennett"