great video! you could wet a microfiber towel with meguiars ultimate compound an pull cloth back and forth like when you are polishing shoes. follow up with a finishing sealant/wax after doing this process!
You can also etch out individual cracks with a Dremel and build the material back up this also prevents the crack from spreading because you're ending the fault line
I know this is an old video that you posted over a year ago. Thank you for taking the time to show us how to DIY our wood steering wheels. This is one of my pet peeves. I dislike the look of a lighter wheel than the rest of the wood in the car. The lightness can also be caused by people who use hand moisturizer as I learned this from my former Volvo that I purchased Certified and the woman must have had really soft hands. lol I had my leather "redone" on my steering wheel but was warned that it would not last, and it didn't. In your scenario Serge, I would have wanted to sand and then stain a little bit darker knowing that the gloss will darken it as well. As for the bumps you felt after first application, they probably were caused by air bubbles, similar to when I've refinished my wood floors. Excellent video. P.S. I lost sleep last night thinking about your LS 430 that might have been sold to a fellow Massachusetts resident! (sigh)
the lightness is wierd as 98% of the pics of ls430s i find online even old ones from 05/06 when they were new show the wheels lighter so i dunno if the wheels just came lighter on em than the other trim. I have redo an lx470 wheel where the woodgrain was chipped so i had to fill it and then stained it and cleared which gave it a nice rich color afterwards.
@@boostinserge I've noticed it on MB too. I still think it's a hand thing b/c your shifter is lighter than the surrounding wood. Maybe I might be crazy wanting my wood to match. (well, you know what I mean). Recently, I''ve seen people remove their steering wheel as a mod for the IS to replace it with the flat bottom racing style. If I ever attempted this, I'm sure the airbag would deploy and I'd be blown right out into the ocean. lol
@@boostinserge "its not too bad".....meaning me being thrown into the ocean? :o) I wished you lived closer b/c I'd want you as a mechanic as well as a person to assist me in buying another car when it's time. I'm sure I'd have to make an appointment, but I'm willing.
I just got a black on black 430 with the same wood like this one, only a couple months ago. I felt one hairline crack up top in the beginning. Now I'm noticing it periodically getting bigger. And more showing up. Such a shame it's mint otherwise. Why does this stuff always seem to start up right after I take ownership?? 😂 😂 Great video man.
@@boostinserge glad to hear it bro. Love the car. Maybe mine was garaged for ever and never really saw the sun.. Who knows. I live in CT not like it sees Florida sun or anything. Oh well.
@@boostinserge Thank you! Just bought a 2005 LS430 with only 45,000 miles. It was a Florida car and the steering wheel has all kind of cracks. Instead of buying a new steering wheel this is such an easy fix! Thanks again!
Is the previous finish on the steering wheel a polyurethane? Or is it a sort of lacquer finish? Just bought an RX350 that has the finish on the steering wheel flaking/chipping off and I’m looking at redoing it, but because the flakes go all the way to the wood, I want to make sure to match the yellowish tint that exists on the rest of the steering wheel and throughout the car and the type of finish is going to affect that. Any knowledge of the original finish would be much appreciated
I am not sure what the factory clear finish is but if the actual wood is chipped you can smooth it out and stain the wood to get the color you want then topcoat it
Thank you for the reply. What is sandpaper should you finish off with before applying the first coat of clear? Is 320 too aggressive or is it necessary for the clear to adhere properly? Thank you
I have a question, and I am having a really hard time finding an answer. does anyone know of a good aftermarket leather seat option? the upholstery shop in town said it would be about $800 in labor to fix the couple of tears I have in the seats, and that a new install would be only $600 in labor if I could find aftermarket seat covers. I saw L-seat, but the dude specifically said to avoid this company.
@@boostinserge it's all the seats. it's just minor stuff, but I am trying to get the vehicle looking like new. I am keeping an eye out on ebay though, just in case someone is parting something out like you said. enjoyed this video, as my wheel has those same cracks. seems to be the only real weak spot on the interior as the rest of the wood on my interior is flawless.
@@jonathanmarquise422 yea rest of the woodgrain holds up great. if its all the seats $800 really isnt bad just make sure they use leather and not vinyl.
yeah, this did not work at all. Sorry to tell you. Bad advice that had no way to recover from. Ended up having to send it out for a complete restoration that cost a fortune. Doubt the people reading this would pay that much to fix the wheel. As an fyi, the cracked wheel varnish on a porsche is caused by the glue under the wood veneer cracking. The cracks come up through to the top and there is no fixing that. Guess how I know! Think twice before committing to this repair.
The video clearly says lexus ls430. Myself and countless other lexus owners have done it this way the fact that you decided to try it on something untested is not anyone elses fault…. Also if your wheel was already cracked… nothing in this process will hurt it more so nothing here would cause you to restore a wheel after if your wheel didnt need restoration before.
Big thank you for this. I'm purchasing a 430 tomorrow and I know the wheel does need some love.
Watched this video and just restored the wheel on my LS 430. Very helpful. Thanks.
great video! you could wet a microfiber towel with meguiars ultimate compound an pull cloth back and forth like when you are polishing shoes. follow up with a finishing sealant/wax after doing this process!
Great video. I'm shopping for an LS430 soon and I won't be turned off by a worn-out steering wheel.
Thanks.
Excellent video. Just picked up my first 430, looking forward to fixing little things like this on it.
Hope you enjoy it!
I was looking for a video like this for years! Great video!
hopefully it helps you!
Me too!
Looking great. Thanks brother
You can also etch out individual cracks with a Dremel and build the material back up this also prevents the crack from spreading because you're ending the fault line
Looks good!
Great video! I may need to undertake this soon on my 430. Liked and Subd
Yuuuuhhh, good shit bro!
I know this is an old video that you posted over a year ago. Thank you for taking the time to show us how to DIY our wood steering wheels. This is one of my pet peeves. I dislike the look of a lighter wheel than the rest of the wood in the car. The lightness can also be caused by people who use hand moisturizer as I learned this from my former Volvo that I purchased Certified and the woman must have had really soft hands. lol I had my leather "redone" on my steering wheel but was warned that it would not last, and it didn't. In your scenario Serge, I would have wanted to sand and then stain a little bit darker knowing that the gloss will darken it as well. As for the bumps you felt after first application, they probably were caused by air bubbles, similar to when I've refinished my wood floors. Excellent video.
P.S. I lost sleep last night thinking about your LS 430 that might have been sold to a fellow Massachusetts resident! (sigh)
the lightness is wierd as 98% of the pics of ls430s i find online even old ones from 05/06 when they were new show the wheels lighter so i dunno if the wheels just came lighter on em than the other trim. I have redo an lx470 wheel where the woodgrain was chipped so i had to fill it and then stained it and cleared which gave it a nice rich color afterwards.
@@boostinserge I've noticed it on MB too. I still think it's a hand thing b/c your shifter is lighter than the surrounding wood. Maybe I might be crazy wanting my wood to match. (well, you know what I mean). Recently, I''ve seen people remove their steering wheel as a mod for the IS to replace it with the flat bottom racing style. If I ever attempted this, I'm sure the airbag would deploy and I'd be blown right out into the ocean. lol
@@gwgrote5 lol its not too bad. I swap many wheels or take em off to do clocksprings etc never had one pop yet in my face haha
@@boostinserge "its not too bad".....meaning me being thrown into the ocean? :o) I wished you lived closer b/c I'd want you as a mechanic as well as a person to assist me in buying another car when it's time. I'm sure I'd have to make an appointment, but I'm willing.
@@gwgrote5 not a problem man . market is nuts but i can do my best to help when its time.
Great stuff, thanking you
I just got a black on black 430 with the same wood like this one, only a couple months ago. I felt one hairline crack up top in the beginning. Now I'm noticing it periodically getting bigger. And more showing up. Such a shame it's mint otherwise. Why does this stuff always seem to start up right after I take ownership?? 😂 😂 Great video man.
i just bought another that needs its done too... its honestly very easy!
@@boostinserge glad to hear it bro. Love the car. Maybe mine was garaged for ever and never really saw the sun.. Who knows. I live in CT not like it sees Florida sun or anything. Oh well.
This is the way it's done. Easy Peasy!
Nice vid! Did u attempt or think about taking the wheel off and working on it outside the car?
Thanx bro
Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome! any good egg roll recipes? lol
Boostinserge, do you think it's possible to sand it down all the way to change the color? I prefer a dary gray color, but those are hard to find.
Awesome work! This is a great DIY video! What type of alcohol did you use to clean the surface?
I used denatured alcohol but any wax/grease remover will work
@@boostinserge Thank you! Just bought a 2005 LS430 with only 45,000 miles. It was a Florida car and the steering wheel has all kind of cracks. Instead of buying a new steering wheel this is such an easy fix! Thanks again!
Living in Tx, ima have to spend a whole day sanding. That heat doesn’t play lol
how bad is the wheel?
boostinserge it’s pretty bad, idk if doing a regular sanding is going to do the trick..
Is the previous finish on the steering wheel a polyurethane? Or is it a sort of lacquer finish? Just bought an RX350 that has the finish on the steering wheel flaking/chipping off and I’m looking at redoing it, but because the flakes go all the way to the wood, I want to make sure to match the yellowish tint that exists on the rest of the steering wheel and throughout the car and the type of finish is going to affect that. Any knowledge of the original finish would be much appreciated
I am not sure what the factory clear finish is but if the actual wood is chipped you can smooth it out and stain the wood to get the color you want then topcoat it
Need to start with 180 grit sandpaper after you go to 800
Could I just throw that wipe on poly to protect my steering wheel or recondition.
Sure just sand minor for proper adhesion
Will this work on cracks on console and door wood trim that has clear coat on it?
i havent tried it on that. but i dont see why not. i would probably try automotive clear on those though being that they are flat
Stupid question but do I need to sand it? All I want to do i fill up the cracks for the feel. I don't care about the look.
Yes need to sand it to promote adhesion and to get rid of the oils etc that are in there
Would this work on mercedes wood grain steering wheel? Is it for any epoxy coated wood?
Ryan Dolce yea as long as its clear epoxy coated. Can test by sanding a small no visible spot to make sure it sands clear dust off.
Thank you for the reply. What is sandpaper should you finish off with before applying the first coat of clear? Is 320 too aggressive or is it necessary for the clear to adhere properly? Thank you
@@ryanjade2836 600 is a good grit. Its smooth enough where imperfections are gone but still has some bite for clear to adhere too.
Did you end up doing it? I have a mercedes also with the dark wood, I dont really want to mess it up
I have a question, and I am having a really hard time finding an answer. does anyone know of a good aftermarket leather seat option? the upholstery shop in town said it would be about $800 in labor to fix the couple of tears I have in the seats, and that a new install would be only $600 in labor if I could find aftermarket seat covers. I saw L-seat, but the dude specifically said to avoid this company.
If its just one seat. May be easier to find someone parting a car out and swap a seat
@@boostinserge it's all the seats. it's just minor stuff, but I am trying to get the vehicle looking like new. I am keeping an eye out on ebay though, just in case someone is parting something out like you said. enjoyed this video, as my wheel has those same cracks. seems to be the only real weak spot on the interior as the rest of the wood on my interior is flawless.
@@jonathanmarquise422 yea rest of the woodgrain holds up great. if its all the seats $800 really isnt bad just make sure
they use leather and not vinyl.
Katzkin is good.
Maybe linseed oil would work
yeah, this did not work at all. Sorry to tell you. Bad advice that had no way to recover from. Ended up having to send it out for a complete restoration that cost a fortune. Doubt the people reading this would pay that much to fix the wheel. As an fyi, the cracked wheel varnish on a porsche is caused by the glue under the wood veneer cracking. The cracks come up through to the top and there is no fixing that. Guess how I know! Think twice before committing to this repair.
The video clearly says lexus ls430. Myself and countless other lexus owners have done it this way the fact that you decided to try it on something untested is not anyone elses fault…. Also if your wheel was already cracked… nothing in this process will hurt it more so nothing here would cause you to restore a wheel after if your wheel didnt need restoration before.