Hey gang,

Wanna do a wheel like this, pretty sure it can be done as a DIY.

I've wrapped a couple of steering wheels and they came out really well, but I've never done a carbon fiber treatment...how hard is it and what materials would match the wheel in the pic?

Thanks for any help, and if anyone knows how much it costs to have this wheel done I'd appreciate it...the site where I saw it is strictly in japanese. Rather than spend a collection of piggy banks though I'd rather just build it myself.

Anyone have any insight on doing this?

Thanks sincerely,

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Go to https://www.facebook.com/carbonfiberelement. Tony makes them and they look awesome. You can at least get a quote if interested.

 

Thanks for link, but he charges about a grand for a steering wheel...he has both talent and skills, but I don't want to spend that much on a wheel when I'm pretty sure I can develop the skills needed.

Do you happen to know him? Would he be open to a few questions maybe for just a guy trying to make a one-off for his own car? (referring to me of course)

Thanks for the info...he's the best carbon fiber guy I've seen and the work is inspiring at the least. He's one of the few that also has a sense of taste in how he mixes textures, colors and design.

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It really depends on how you want to approach it.
You could easily go to ebay, pickup the sticker carbon fiber and wrap it in the same places that they did, and then go to redline goods and just install the steering wheel leather yourself (obviously wouldn't look nearly as good, but I guess you could try it to do a mock up)

Or if you actually want to use real carbon fiber then you'll need to buy the CF Sheets, the epoxy/hardener and you'd have to lay the CF on the pieces you want and layer it. There's some videos on youtube that can link you to do it yourself CF wrap companies and have kits.

THEN the final approach would be to put some kind of plastic shell or something over the pieces you want to be CF and then hydro dip them and install them over the wheel?

IDK I think one of those might work out. I actually think just buying a DIY CF kit and wrapping the pieces you want will be your best bet. I really like that wheel though. My wheel is on my list of things to do, if you find a way to do it make sure you put up a DIY!

 

I wouldnt use a steering wheel as your first CF project. Youll screw it up in no time no offense.

It is a round tube that is bent in a circle...dont know if it could get much more difficult. Youll also have to do it seamlessly. Cutting CF makes it fray. Getting the epoxy, gel coat to stick evenly on a non flat surface....better start vacuum bagging.

 

Hey no offense taken, appreciate the guidance.

I do know someone with a vacuum bag, an expert in veneering, maybe I can get some help from him, sounds like it's going to be multiple efforts to develop the skill...leather wrapping a steering wheel I took on blind and got it right the first try, and did a padding and wrap on a second wheel as well, but I realize CF is a different story.

The vinyl CF look or hydrodipping for this purpose isn't something I want to do, I really believe in doing it right the first time if you can afford to, or of course just choose to be content, which is always a good solution. I may just back away from the steering wheel project for awhile if a vacuum bag is needed to ensure the gel coats evenly...I thought it would just be hand applied, sanded down to even, then buffed to a high polish.

If anyone else has input I'm very open to learning this, and would still have a go at it if I can overcome the learning curve, mixed feelings is probably the most accurate right now, but would love to pull this off someday.

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