Well I finally started up on the steering wheel project again. I got my dark slate leather and my 1lb. spool of silver thread (I know that's an overkill, but it's the only way to get the exact thread as my seats).
Factory steering wheel (foam grip, no leather):
My first mock-up I did yesterday, with some scrap leather my boss let me use (it's black leather, not my dark slate):
Since then (today), I have made several other mock-ups to get the parts to fit perfectly. Just before I left work today, I cut out the final parts out of my leather hide. Here's a few pics...
My work space:
Everything for the steering wheel...dark slate leather and silver thread:
Parts to be made into hard templates:
And the project after the steering wheel...the shift boot!
Tomorrow I hope to get the holes for the thread marked, then I can take everything home and punch the holes out. More updates very soon!
If this turns out like I'm hoping it will, I will probably be able to do a few wheels at first, depending on the interest. I also have a website that has many colors of thread that you can pick from. I'm sure I can find something close for all the skittles colors and more. I know I already have a few people interested. Don't inquire price though, cuz I have no idea what I would charge for this just yet. I gotta see how much work I put into these things and how much it's worth in the end. I'll definately keep y'all updated!
Well I may be able to help you guys out...even if someone wanted to send me their stock stuff to have it done in a different color thread, I could do that as well.
Thanks dude! Very much appreciated! A lot more progress, with some bad news...
Well I got all of the holes marked and punched throughout the day between work projects and I was so psyched to get it all the parts sewn together so I could wrap it on the wheel and get it ready to be hand-stitched. Right after I got off work, I punched out, went to the sewing machine and sewed the parts together. Then (stupid me), I trimmed off the extra leather on the seams to prevent bulges in the wheel. Well, I trimmed a little TOO close to the leather, and it ripped out on me... I was fucking PISSED! Now I wasted that leather, and I gotta do all that work over! I plan to accomplish that tomorrow and get to the point I got to today, without the seam ripping. I gotta talk to my boss and see if he sees anyway that I can save the parts and just replace the two pieces, but I don't think that's gonna work.
Anyways, here's the progress pics...
The bottom piece, one side marked with a silver gel pen (by hand), and the other side punched (again, by hand):
The leather ring all sewn together and on the wheel:
And here's the broken seam...
Not sure how much I'm gonna get done tomorrow, but I'll post whatever progress I make. Thanks for lookin!
i really need to re-wrap my steering wheel. It's all scratched up but i hate the enormous size of it so ill probly get a aftermarket though... if only the stock one was a bit smaller i would re-wrap it in orange stitch to match my o.b.
Seems like you have everything together pretty well there Brodie. Looking good Can't wait to see the finished product!
Thanks darlin! I can't wait to get to the hand-sewing part! It'll be interesting, since the thread isn't made for hand-stitching, but it's the same size thread.
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Re-wrapping my SRT-4 steering wheel
keep us updated
I was fucking PISSED! Now I wasted that leather, and I gotta do all that work over! I plan to accomplish that tomorrow and get to the point I got to today, without the seam ripping. I gotta talk to my boss and see if he sees anyway that I can save the parts and just replace the two pieces, but I don't think that's gonna work.
Can't wait to see the finished product!
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