Restoring Bakelite - Hard rubber

[zahnej]

I am restoring an MG TD that has bakelite knobs and other bakelite dodads. I was looking through an old TSO (the magazine of the New England MG T Register and found an article on restoring bakelite.

I ordered a bottle of the stuff from the company in the article. This stuff really works!! Made everything look like new - use as directed - I highly recommend.

Go to the below web site for info

https://www.pensburymanor.com/PMBHRPPNo9.html

 

[jlaird]

That looks like good stuff, cheep enough to try in any case.

 

[vping]

Yes cool. I bookmarked it fot future reference.

 

[Steve_S]

I have a bottle 3 feet from me. It works as advertised. It's a real savior for the older cars.

 

[ronzet]

Gentlemen,

This looks great for refinishing the bakelite...

Does anyone have a suggestion what to use for repairing the cracked and split bakelite.. as on the steering wheel???

Thanks

 

[John Loftus]

Once it's cracked and split about the best you can do is use a good epoxy to fill and repair and then paint it. I doubt the steering wheels were bakelite though. Usually they were a molded plastic that continues to shrink over time and with the solid metal core the plastic will crack. I have repaired them with West System Epoxy (avail at boat supply stores) using the systems fillers to thicken the epoxy where needed. Then just sand, prime and paint as required. I use a hard clear coat to keep the paint from getting scratched (POR 15 makes a very hard clear called Glisten).

Cheers,
John

 

[ronzet]

John,

Thanks for the note. I, too, suspect that the steering wheels are not bakelite. I have two wheels for my '57 A and both are in need of repair as they have the ubiquitous cracks at the spoke junction.

I have been on and around boats for most of my life and was considering the epoxy repair that you have suggested but, with all of the other things yet to do on the A, I opted out.

I may just put a laced leather wheel cover over the better of the two and buy a new wheel when the urge and spare funds find me... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

Thanks again /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

 

[Steve_S]

Eastwood sells steering wheel restoration kits.

 

[ronzet]

Steve,

Thanks, I'll take a look... Although I have been lustfully eyeing the Brooklands steering wheel from Moss....

I think that I will buy one-o-those when everything else is finished on the car...and a few extra dollars find their way into my ol' checkbook.. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

 

[Steve_S]

If you're talking about your TD, there is a guy who can restore the original wheel in Colorado.

 

[vping]

Who in Co.? I need to have my wheel restored?

 

[Steve_S]

PM Sent

 

[Keoke]

HiVping, don't know about Colorado but you can check the Internet there are several restoration sites there. OTOH, depending on what the damage is on the wheel it can usually be repaired using JB Weld by the owner. It will last about 3 years before you may have to repair it again.--Fwiw---Keoke

 

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha Ron,

I have used the Eastwood kit. It is basically a hard epoxy paste, PC-7 (I suspect you could also use PC-11). It will fill in those splits and caps in the steering wheel and stay in place. I have also tried regular body fill but it was not satisfactory for the steering wheel. A hard paint coating like an epoxy enamel or POR 15 will make it look like new. I used a leather steering wheel cover over my restored wheel because I prefer the feel of the leather.

I would recommend you fill in the cracks and splits so the leather cover will fit good.

 

[ronzet]

Dave,

Aloha and Mahalo.

Good suggestion. I will take your advice.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

 

[TCSYD]

I was browsing and I see that the link shown in this thread for the black hard rubber and bakelite dye shown is the formulation for black hard rubber fountain pens (PMBHRPPNo9). While that will work ok, the latest formulation for vintage cars is called GREAT KNOBS! and the correct link is https://www.pensburymanor.com/Pensbury_Garage.html.
Syd