Lots of updates today! First up is a 4 spoke and manual shift knob recovered in my new dark beechwood leather. This leather is darker than the old beechwood leather that I had been using, and is a much better match to the leather originally used on the steering wheel and upper dash/gauge pods.
[This message has been edited by Irrationable (edited 10-20-2016).]
This unique design required a bit of extra planning. In order to add the additional seams, two grooves had to be cut into the wheel core so that the leather would lie flat. The wheel was recovered in Mr. Mikes light tan and Dallas Customs red leather. In addition to the custom wheel design, an automatic shift knob from a Grand Prix was done to match.
Just as a preemptive measure, I want to make this post as an update to any members who might be considering getting their wheel recovered.
Starting the second week of August, I will be starting grad school as well as a teaching assistantship position. Coupled with my personal training job, this will result in me having much less free time to devote to other projects. I have not yet decided if I will continue recovering wheels and shift knobs once these responsibilities begin. This decision will likely have to be made once classes start and I am able to evaluate my new schedule.
However, even if I do continue to recover wheels once I begin classes and my assistantship, I will be working on a drastically different timetable. This means that I will be taking on fewer orders and will likely have a longer turn around time for those that I do. For anybody who needs multiple wheels done or requires a rapid turn around time for their wheel, I would recommend placing and order within the next month before my schedule changes.
-Alex
[This message has been edited by Irrationable (edited 06-24-2016).]
GT wheel done in dark beechwood leather with extra padding. If you look at the hub, you can see how the acid treatment etches the metal and gives it a blue-tinted hue.
NEW COLOR AVAILABLE! I now carry the dark brown leather used on the lower portion of this wheel and it's accompanying shift knob. This brown is a match for the brown used on the 86-87 cars.
This wheel was done up custom using my dark brown and Mr. Mikes purple leather, with extra padding and purple stitching. A matching automatic shift knob was also recovered to match.
I really like how this wheel came out. I used the last of my red leather (which was ordered by a customer from Dallas Customs) for the upper section of the wheel and did the lower section in black, with red stitching all around.
You've been at this for a while, and your work is, obviously, exemplary. Thought I'd throw this out there, again...
Might you be interested, yet, in recovering the vinyl 3 spoke wheel? It looks to be similar to the 84-85 three spoke - the one without the thumb notches. Obviously, the vinyl doesn't come as far up the spokes as the leather. I'd be fine with whatever you could make work. (I can get any measurements you may need, before you commit, if that will help.) My vinyl is starting to crack, and I would love to have it converted to leather. Are the "cores" different enough to make this unworkable?
You've been at this for a while, and your work is, obviously, exemplary. Thought I'd throw this out there, again...
Might you be interested, yet, in recovering the vinyl 3 spoke wheel? It looks to be similar to the 84-85 three spoke - the one without the thumb notches. Obviously, the vinyl doesn't come as far up the spokes as the leather. I'd be fine with whatever you could make work. (I can get any measurements you may need, before you commit, if that will help.) My vinyl is starting to crack, and I would love to have it converted to leather. Are the "cores" different enough to make this unworkable?
I hadn't given this style of wheel any thought recently, but I believe that I would be able to recover this style wheel in leather. The only thing to consider would be the fact that I would need to add two seams to the wheel in order to wrap it in leather. The seams could be on the spokes, or just above them like the GT and Indy style wheels. I'd have to cut two small grooves into the vinyl to ensure that the seams sit nice and flat.
Originally posted by Irrationable: I hadn't given this style of wheel any thought recently, but I believe that I would be able to recover this style wheel in leather. The only thing to consider would be the fact that I would need to add two seams to the wheel in order to wrap it in leather. The seams could be on the spokes, or just above them like the GT and Indy style wheels. I'd have to cut two small grooves into the vinyl to ensure that the seams sit nice and flat.
I'm game if you are. Just say the word. (I know you're getting ready to go back to school, and such.) Would the existing vinyl provide the backing instead of the felt? Not sure I understand the "grooves" comment. Either way... Any idea on price, since this is uncharted territory? How soon do you need it, in order to meet your schedule?
I'm game if you are. Just say the word. (I know you're getting ready to go back to school, and such.) Would the existing vinyl provide the backing instead of the felt? Not sure I understand the "grooves" comment. Either way... Any idea on price, since this is uncharted territory? How soon do you need it, in order to meet your schedule?
Sounds like a plan to me. I'll pm you shortly with details.
Regarding the "grooves" I mentioned in my last post: When you strip down a GT wheel, there are two grooves carved into the rubber core. These grooves are roughly 1/8 in deep and wide, and allow the leather to lie flat once stretched around the wheel. If you look at a GT wheel, you can see that it consists of an upper and lower section of leather with a seem located just above the spokes. Where these two pieces of leather are stitched together, there is a seam that runs along the back of the leather. This seam fits inside the groove, allowing it to sit flat rather than causing a bump in the leather.
Since I'll have to add a seam to the wheel in order to make a circle of leather to go around the wheel, I will also have to cut a groove for each seam to lie in. This is the same process that I have to use when I receive a 4 spoke wheel that was not previously leather wrapped.
It's going well! I got my template reworked for your vinyl wheel, and the leather fits it perfectly. The wheel is padded and the leather is ready to stitch, I'm just waiting on amazon to deliver your thread (its supposed to arrive tomorrow). My current timeline it to finish it and ship it out Monday or Tuesday.
That's cool. I'm anxious, but I'm really not in a hurry. (Does that make sense?) Already have a spare wheel in the car. Just do what ya' need to do. I'm good with... whenever.
Looking forward...
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-29-2016).]
.jpg)
