Phunkie '32 steering wheel

[phunkie hiboy]

OK, so how do you go about making a steering wheel? Well this one was made to match a column drop I had machined up for a project, that has long gone, (it’s still out there somewhere!). Kind of Art Deco in style.
The only bought parts for this wheel were, a Grant billet boss kit and billet horn push.
I drew out exactly what was needed, the centre part to be a mirror image of the base of the boss with three sets of five holes to take the spokes and threaded holes underneath for grub screws to secure the spokes. And three finials to support the outer ends of the spokes and be secured to the rim.
These parts were made from HE30 (T6) alli and the spokes from 316 stainless. I haven’t got any detailed photos of the individual parts, but I think you’ll get the idea.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

The finials were made from a full size piece of alli because there are two radii involved, one for the rim and one round the rim. These were made on a full size radius piece of alli (about 6.5” radius) and they were £100 each!!

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

That just about is the stainless/alli centre piece.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Now onto the rim. I took an age to choose the wood I wanted to use. In the end I chose Thuya burr, an exotic wood from Africa. This was cut into strips about 10” long by 3.5” by 1”. It was then dried ( read, put into the airing cupboard for a couple of months). I had a cutting “vice” made up, to get the pieces cut at the right angles. This also had a tongue and grove arrangement in its construction.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

16 pieces were cut and also, because of the inherent weakness of burr woods, an inner mandrill was made from HE15 alli into a circle and the ends tig’ed together.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

So now we’re ready to assemble the wood parts. The ends are glued and assemble onto a previously manufactured jig.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

And the same again, so now we have two hexagons.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Now from the centre of the jig we can route out a semi circular grove in each half.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Now we’re ready to assemble together.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Glue both halves and clamp together.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

The rim is now routed inside and outside with a parallel cutter to get the right size before using a curved section blade.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

This is the final shape before cutting the finger grips to the rear.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

Using the router across the wheel now, carefully cutting the finger grips across the rim in three sections to be between the spokes.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

And now the finished rim ready to be trial assembled to the centre section.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

And a final assembly before varnishing/lacquering the rim. We used a two pack floor varnish from Rustins, sprayed on.

Phunkie '32 steering wheel

So there we have it, another little project completed!!

[Manky Monkey]

Unbelievable Chris! Fantastic workmanship, as always.

[phunkie hiboy]

Fank you

[The North]

Thats brilliant.

[panthershaun]

superb sir 

[Olds]

Beautiful detailing on the finials and well engineered. well done.

[nabsim]

That's just incredible, looking at the pic in the other thread I would have never guessed it was 'home' made.

You sir, are a god

[hunter]

Very impressive

[phunkie hiboy]

Thanks for the comments, but a god, no I'm not one of them. All you need to start with, is a little bit of vision of what you want, and persue it to the final result. Sometimes, however, things do change as you go along.

[TwistedPatience]

Beautiful work has helped me make a wheel for the daughters tot rod using T6 ali and beech.

Thank you, I wouldn't have had a clue if you'd not posted this.

Doc

[Manky Monkey]

There ya go. When Chris posted his previous thread on restoring a Portafold caravan, he wasn't sure anyone here would be interested. As you've just proved though, we like seeing something a bit different here & even if the vehicle as a whole ain't your thing, there's always something we can learn or an idea we can pinch, from other people's projects.