The Upholstery Forum

I had my 2001 Dodge diesel {54,000 miles) out this morning and it looks like a hand stitched steering wheel . It has 4 spokes and looks like 4 seams in the covering . Could this really be stitched ? If it was somebody was sure busy back then

@hapyrdr ,

I think it was hand stitched for sure.

Yeah you can hand stitch and cover just about anything with enough time and patience.

@hapyrdr ,

And wonder how much it cost to get done back then?

So a little confused from a steering wheel cover perspective. I just want to do a very basic cover in vinyl for a transport. From what I understand I cut my material about 03" shorter than the actual diameter of the wheel. I sit at my machine stitch it up and now stretch the son of a gun over my wheel to hand stitch. WONT my stitches rip my viny I sewed? That is a lot of stretch in that fabric.

@bigrig
youll have to play with the stretch. I havent done any wheels in vinyl. Make sure your seams are stitched with a small stitch length 3 or 4mm or just about as tight as your machine can go

@jdenison89 , well that is what my machine does best is stitch tight! I need to upgrade to get longer modern stitches so this should be a great practice for me.

I only have 1/2 foam on hand is that thickness workable or should I wait it out for 1/4? foam?

BigRig watch this video about doing a steering wheel with leather . He has several others that may help NOT sure about the similarity of vinyl and leather but I plan on doing a vinyl steering wheel as I have no choice to make it match the vinyl interior

@hapyrdr
I am doing the vinyl because if I pull one off and the price point is good maybe my guys will want one in their rigs. I am just planning a wrap and no spoke cut outs everybody wants a leather wrapped wheel but I am never going to get these guys to pay for it.

@hapyrdr,

That was a really nice outcome on that steering wheel. What choice of vinyl did you use for your interior?

@hapyrdr ,

I am not ready for that kind of project in his video. I wrapped a wheel in vinyl before and was stitching it so nicely with 92 thread and it snapped ruining my project. I am going to do the same again and hope for a better outcome with my Coats 135 I got to retry with.

@jdenison89 have you ever sculpted a steering wheel? I’ve seen people do it mainly Europeans. Some have molds and use a 2 part foam and basically make a new foam section and I’ve seen one that uses modeling clay. He sculpt that then wraps in fiberglass to harden is. Then wraps that with material. Wondering if you’ve done it any?

I am beginning to think we all need one central shop in the World we can all get together at and smash out some awesome stuff. I can even show you how to staple your own hand

@BigRig
Seeing how you're good at glueing things together that you weren't trying to glue and now stapling your hand we better meet at your house because it sounds like you might be stuck down permanently in that location before too long!

@Cody
Ive done some minor reshaping. Looking into doing some more of that and also more carbon fiber work

@bondo497,

You will love spraying glue it is a load of fun. I have a super glue and it is STICKs but lesson learned. I would love to meet at my house and actually could use you here starting on a Cabover Pete. The guy wants this cool orange Spradling vinyl for a steering wheel cover made.

@BigRig
That sounds cool, the large diameter of the wheel may make it easier to do than a smaller car wheel! Thanks for the invite just wish we didn't live on total opposite ends of the continent. Lol

@Bondo497 The things I cannot get out of my mind right now are your project, California, Nevada and your forest for deer.

@BigRig
I didn't post anymore pics of my project because I didn't want to bore with filler and beaten and bangin but it is now in the primer stage. My son's girlfriend got a doe yesterday evening , he's all about some sausage and since he was working he got her to go get the groceries so to speak. Lol.