How to paint a leather steering wheel yourself. Interior restoration: painting the steering wheel at home How to restore an old steering wheel

The steering wheel is in the cabin. But this location does not save it from abrasion and mechanical wear of the surface. Solve the problem - painting the steering wheel of the car. The steering wheel also suffers from dirt and sweat transmitted from the hands of the driver. This fact should be taken into account when choosing the tactics of painting this important vehicle control element. The procedure should bring not only beauty and image, but also ease of management. If, after the renewal procedure, the skin of the hands sticks to the surface of the steering wheel, and this is quite real, this will negatively affect the driving itself.

Choice

How to paint the steering wheel? The most important thing is that before starting work, you must carefully study the composition of the materials that you are going to use. It is possible that they may not be compatible with each other. It's best to buy what comes with the kit. This approach will guarantee maximum success. This work is divided into two cycles. Doing it yourself at home is not difficult.

Skin restoration

The renewal process is not always accompanied by painting and the elimination of dilapidated, worn out coatings. A well-preserved leather covering can be restored with the help of specialized equipment and creams with suitable properties. They can be selected according to the characteristics and the presence of the term "reductant" in the instructions. The service life of such creams is not much different, the effect is similar to the effect of shoe polish. These substances do not stain the palms, do not flow in extreme heat, and are acceptable.

In order to prevent destruction, you can use cleaners and impregnations for leather products. They slow down the process of destruction of the skin of the steering wheel from sweating, dirt and other factors. It is not necessary to remove the leather steering wheel. This is a very difficult job for such purposes. The main thing is to take care of the security of the dashboard and seats in the cabin. Polyethylene, fixed with adhesive tape, will help. You will also need to protect the spokes and steering wheel buttons.

Restoration begins with the fact that the surface should be well sanded and the old coating removed. This work will increase the contact area of ​​the coloring matter and the steering wheel material. The most important thing is to remove the remnants of the paint, which is very weak and will fall off in the near future. Suitable abrasive standard numbers - P400 and P600. Before painting, use a softer abrasive - P1200 or P1000. After removing the original paint, it often turns out that due to the cracking of the leather coating, irregularities that cannot be removed by the abrasive remain.

To do this, you can apply a number of techniques:

1. accessible way. You will need shoe wax for very rough skin, women's manicure nail polish, cyanoacrylate, some substances used in folk practice.
2. Puttying. This is filling a scratch with "liquid skin" or a similar substance, followed by drying and matting.
3. Alignment. This is filling the damaged area with automotive leather conditioner and grouting soft material with a polish.

It is forbidden to ignore the degreasing of the surface of the steering wheel. But it is important to consider that the leather coating slightly absorbs such products. Therefore, it is not necessary to abundantly water the sanded surface with white spirit. Wiping is done with a slightly damp cloth or microfiber. A leather cleaner is best in the interim before coloring.

Steering wheel painting

The easiest way is to spray the coloring material from the balloon onto the surface. But then there will be a large consumption of aerosols. The loss cannot be called tangible, but more practical owners use a foam roller or an ordinary brush. Many dyes have been invented. The market is filled with impregnations for leather products. The main thing is to choose the right type of skin:

• If this is chromium crushing, then the absorption is small. A small amount of coloring agent with harsh and possibly aggressive formulations is needed.
• With combined and vegetable tanning, absorption is greater. You will need very soft substances and a very large volume.

Many manufacturers advise not to wet the skin, but to immerse the object to be painted completely. Impregnation takes from 5 to 20 seconds. But in our case, this is not feasible. Apply the coloring matter in several stages. There is an option with a combination of restoration paint and a matte finish for leather and vinyl.

There is no need to wait for intermediate drying. It can even hurt. You need to paint "wet". And the use of several layers will help control the absorption process. If the paint gets on the glass or other parts of the cabin, use solvent No. 646. But keep the steering wheel away from this substance. Keep in mind personal safety as well. Read the precautions on the packaging.

Steering wheel paint is sold in car dealerships. It can also be purchased via the internet. The price depends on the volume of the can, the prestige of the brand, the price policy of the seller. An alternative option is to re-wrap the steering wheel with new leather.

A few years ago, high-quality painting of the steering wheel of a car was considered quite problematic. However, today there are technologies that allow you to do this work quickly and efficiently thanks to special techniques and the latest paint and varnish materials.

The steering wheel can be painted without even removing it from the car. First you need to paste over all the elements that cannot be painted on the steering wheel itself, and be sure to cover the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe torpedo with a cloth, paper or film.

So, what is needed for high-quality painting of the steering wheel? Let's figure it out...

Preparing the steering wheel for painting

Before you paint the steering wheel, it must be carefully prepared. Its appearance will depend on this, and it must be impeccable. Preparatory operations are performed in the following order:

1. Shabby and worn places of the steering wheel with old paint must be cleaned with emery (P-400 or P-500);
2. The gloss is removed (so that the paint holds well) with gray scotch-brite or emery (R-1500);
3. Degreasing the steering wheel;
4. Applying a skin cleanser (sold in cans);
5. Degreasing and wiping with microfiber.

If the old coating becomes difficult to sand and strong irregularities remain, then you can putty the steering wheel with a special paste to eliminate cracks, scratches and scuffs, which is available in any car shop. Usually such a paste dries for 30 minutes and is cleaned with the same sandpaper or scotch brite. Paint can be selected from a special catalog in the store.

The actual process of painting the steering wheel

The restored steering wheel needs to be covered with paint so that the colors of soft and flexible materials are refreshed. To do this, you will need (atomizer) and a compressor. Then you need to cover the steering wheel with a matte finish for leather and vinyl. This can be done almost immediately (wet on wet). It remains to unpack the steering wheel and ventilate the interior.

On a note

If the paint gets on the glass, then it is easy to remove it with the 646th solvent. When doing this, be careful not to get the solvent on the steering wheel, as it will damage the fresh paint.

Of course, painting a car with your own hands, including the steering wheel, takes time and some knowledge regarding. However, from a financial point of view, it is much more profitable than services at a qualified service station, especially if you have a simple paint gun and a compressor.

Restoration of the plastic steering wheel

Not all cars are equipped with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. In the commercial segment, the steering wheels are most often covered with soft plastic. However, they wear out over time and lose their original appearance.

It is not difficult to paint the plastic of the working surface of the steering wheel, but such cosmetic repairs will not be enough for a long time. Any paint during active operation of the car will be wiped off. However, plastic handlebars are also painted, for example, during pre-sales.

Before painting it is very important to carefully degrease the contact surface of the steering wheel. There is always a lot of fat on it, since the wheel is held with palms. Degreasing plastic is best done with alcohol. Solvents on acetone can corrode plastic!

The steering wheel is treated with alcohol at least three times. First, dirt and large fat deposits are dissolved. All this is removed with a cotton swab until it stops getting dirty. Next, you need to take a clean swab, moisten it with alcohol and wipe the steering wheel again, then let the plastic dry and repeat the procedure.

Despite the fact that plastic dissolves with acetone, spray paint may be suitable for painting it. But you need to apply it from a long distance and very dosed. In one pass, so much paint is sprayed that its solvent evaporates within a few seconds, without having time to act on the polymer. So, applying layer after layer, you can paint over all the scuffs.

It is difficult to say how long such paint will last on the plastic steering wheel shell. Everything will depend on its quality, the number of layers, and also on the type of plastic. The highest quality painting is done with preliminary cleaning with fine emery. The rough surface of the plastic has better adhesion.

What to do with wood trim

On luxury cars, steering wheels decorated with natural wood elements can be installed. They wear out infrequently, as they are protected by a very high-quality varnish. But if the driver wears rings on his fingers, then the varnish can be scratched.

A small scratch on lacquered wood can be polished. To do this, it is first sanded with sandpaper, and then, gradually reducing the grain and polishing with paste, the surface is brought to the ideal. If the scratch is too deep and in a prominent place, then the steering wheel will need a thorough restoration.

Deep scratches on the lacquer must be completely sanded. On the steering wheel, this work can be done manually, but it is easier and faster to grind with a portable drill with a nozzle of a suitable diameter. For a good result, it is better to mat the entire element - then the new varnish will lie perfectly.

It is recommended to use a high quality polyurethane varnish for varnishing a wooden steering wheel. This is the most durable, wear-resistant material with sufficient elasticity. Cheap varnishes are quickly wiped off, and can also crack, peel off, and so on.

Steering wheel care

The steering wheel is often used to judge the condition of the entire car. A worn steering wheel with a low mileage of a car is suspicious. However, there are several ways to keep your steering wheel looking good.

If the driver wears rings on his fingers, it is better to protect the steering wheel with a leather cover. The constant contact of the steering wheel with the metal will definitely have consequences. The cover can always be replaced, while the contact surface of the steering wheel will remain intact.

For a comfortable and safe ride in a car, it is important for the driver to have a comfortable seat, a spacious interior and a reliable steering wheel. Leather interior gives prestige and respectability to the vehicle, and emphasizes the high status of the owner. A special role is played by the leather-covered steering wheel. It is convenient and pleasant to feel the natural material in your hands while driving. This provides additional enjoyment and security. But no matter how thrifty the owner is, no matter how carefully he treats his own transport, over time, the steering wheel braid loses its original appearance.

Ways to eliminate defects on the steering wheel

The wear of the coating, the loss of the original type of braid requires the elimination of the shortcomings that have appeared. These include: the appearance of spots, small cracks, scuffs, scratches. If large holes or torn pieces are visible on the surface, the restoration of the skin on the steering wheel becomes problematic. In this case, it is better to use the services of a specialized studio to make a new constriction. In case of minor defects, the steering wheel cover can be restored in the following ways:

1. Use the services of an auto repair shop. This option will require considerable financial costs. You will need to pay for the material and services provided.
2. Put a cover on the old coating, which will create certain inconveniences for the driver. A thicker steering wheel will increase the amount of coverage, making it more difficult to control the car.
3. The most reliable and budgetary way to eliminate shortcomings is to restore the leather steering wheel with your own hands, which will require several hours of work and small financial investments for the purchase of materials.

Even a beginner who does not have the appropriate skills can cope with this task. A simple procedure can be performed in your garage, carefully preparing for it.

Materials for restoration work

To restore attractiveness, protect the coating from the negative effects of the external environment, extend the functionality, you need to purchase everything you need. A wide range of car dealerships does not limit customers in the choice of products used to care for leather products. Sold in kits with instructions. You can select each component separately:

1. Putty or “Liquid Skin”, which fills in small errors, making them invisible.
2. The polish restoring a surface.
3. Cleaning agent.
4. Degreaser.
5. Fine and coarse sandpaper.
6. Special adhesive tape for painting works.
7. Water based coloring agent.
8. Airbrush, brush or airbrush.
9. Foam tampon.

Having collected all the necessary funds, you can begin the first stage of work, which consists in preparing for the main process.

Work area preparation

To carry out restoration work, it is not necessary to dismantle the steering wheel. This process is time-consuming, it is fraught with the risk of damage to the steering mechanisms if the driver is incompetent. You can get by with protecting the interior by gluing the front panel with a plastic film fixed with tape. This will protect the surrounding parts from contamination with paint.

In order to qualitatively restore the leather on the steering wheel without endangering paint on other surfaces, you need to remove the steering wheel without harming the mechanisms. To do this, you need to dismantle, being careful and adhering to the following sequence:

1. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. This will prevent shorting.
2. Align the wheels and put the steering wheel in the "straight" position.
3. Unscrew the bolts and remove the plugs.
4. Loosen the steering wheel pad bolts and lift it up.
5. Disconnect the connectors where the airbag wires are attached using a screwdriver, without touching the airbag capsule.
6. Mark the location of the rudder by marking it and the main shaft.
7. Loosen the nut and remove the steering wheel.
8. Using a screwdriver, remove the facing plastic and lining from the steering wheel.
9. Close non-removable parts carefully with adhesive tape.

Leather restoration on steering wheel

The second stage begins with a thorough inspection and analysis of all damage on the surface of the steering wheel. To do this, it must be washed well with a soft foam rubber sponge so that all the flaws are visible. Having identified the shortcomings and determined the amount of work, you can proceed with the restoration:

1. Take sandpaper P400 or P600 and process the surface.
2. Go over a second time with fine-grained sandpaper to a matte effect to get rid of the old paint and increase the adhesion of the new to the skin.
3. Degrease the surface.
4. Putty "liquid skin" found flaws.
5. Apply the reducing agent to the surface, rubbing into the skin. Allow to dry and repeat the procedure (the number of layers depends on the condition of the skin).
6. Sand the restored surface.

If the finish is not badly worn, it may not be necessary to paint the steering wheel after restoration. After removal of cracks, dents and scratches, and careful treatment with “liquid skin”, the steering wheel will take on an aesthetic appearance. If this does not happen, proceed to the staining procedure.

Dyeing leather braid

The choice of paint depends on the quality of the material from which the steering wheel braid is made. If the steering wheel of the car is covered with vegetable-tanned leather, it is better to use soft coloring materials. Chrome tanning requires a harder dye.

Water-based paint - ideal for all types of skin. It is easy to paint a leather steering wheel with any application method. The simplest is painting from an aerosol can. After surface preparation, the dye is sprayed over the entire surface. In order for the layer to lay down evenly, the can must be kept at a distance.

After the composition has dried, the surface should be polished. The procedure is repeated until the perfect result.

There is an easier way. Well, if it is possible to use an airbrush, it will help save material, put an even layer.

You can carry out the procedure with a brush, swab or sponge. Each subsequent layer is evenly applied to the cleaned and sanded surface, without waiting for the final drying. This method is called "wet paint".

After complete drying, the surface is treated with a matte or glossy fixative. A freshly painted steering wheel can be used after 12-14 hours.

Such a do-it-yourself painting of the steering wheel of a car will provide it with an attractive appearance, good condition and a long service life.

Caring for a restored steering wheel

Proper care of the car interior, careful attitude to the steering wheel braid will prevent the appearance of unwanted defects on the surface of the steering wheel. But if the steering wheel has lost its ideal original appearance, has ceased to give pleasure when in contact with it, you need to save it from scuffs, cracks and scratches in time. Carry out restoration.

To extend the service life of the restored braid, you need to constantly monitor its condition, clean it from dirt, treat it with special soft, delicate products: car shampoos, lotions or wet wipes.

With a soft sponge dipped in a solution with shampoo, you need to clean the surface of dirt. In hard-to-reach places, you can use a toothbrush. If the contamination is severe, you need to leave the solution for a few minutes. Then rinse and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Wet wipes will get rid of small impurities and moisturize the skin. This method is convenient because it does not require preparation. Children's cleaning wipes are especially popular with drivers. They are always at hand. At any time, you can get and wipe the surface.

Regular maintenance will not require a lot of time and money, will avoid greasy, sticky and other signs of pollution, and will significantly extend the pleasure of driving in comfort, holding on to a well-groomed leather steering wheel of excellent quality.

To restore the surface of the leather steering wheel, it is not necessary to contact the service. Today, the choice of auto chemicals is quite wide, which makes it easy to prepare, paint and properly care for the steering wheel with your own hands. In addition, the process will not take much time, and the result and minimal costs will only please the owner of the car.

The choice of paint and compositions for skin restoration

Every motorist sooner or later faces the need to restore the surface of the steering wheel, especially if the material is leather. It would be quite reasonable to contact the service to solve the problem, but a more rational way out of the situation is to do the recovery yourself.

The range of car dealerships today allows you to choose all kinds of products not only for skin care, but also for skin restoration. The service life of the coating directly depends on the quality of the components that make up such products.

For a leather steering wheel, there are cosmetics of a higher quality, which are special creams and impregnations for protection. Such tools are endowed with advanced functionality, which allows you to remove sweat and fat pollution and prevent the emergence of new ones.

By the way, to update the surface it is not always necessary to resort to painting and removing the old coating. With the help of special creams, you can restore a well-preserved coating. They should be selected according to the characteristics and the presence of the word in the instructions "reductor". The effect of such funds is similar to the use of shoe polish. They do not leave traces on the palms, and the cost is affordable.

Of the materials and tools for work on the restoration of the leather covering, you will need:

• "liquid skin" or skin putty;
• polish-restorer;
• leather cleaner - gasoline-galosh or white spirit;
• masking tape;
• paint, preferably water-based;
• sandpaper with grit 400, 600, 1000 and 1200 units;
• airbrush or spray gun;
• foam swab.

It is worth noting that it is not necessary to dismantle the steering wheel: painting can be done directly inside the car, having previously protected the part of the cabin near the control. When choosing paint, you must also proceed from the quality of the material. When equipping a car with a vegetable-tanned leather steering wheel, soft paints should be chosen, since the product is characterized by high absorption. If the steering wheel is made of chrome-tanned leather, then the composition of the paint should be more rigid due to less absorption.

If the leather of the steering wheel is black, it is enough to purchase a standard leather paint. If the steering wheel is of a different color (brown, beige), then several base colors will be required to mix and obtain the desired shade.

Painting such a steering wheel will require not only the presence of suitable paint in two colors, but also special care

Preparatory stage

Before starting work, it is necessary to cover the dashboard and other elements (spokes and steering wheel keys) to protect against paint with polyethylene and masking tape. If the steering wheel is planned to be removed for painting outside the cabin, then you need to weigh the pros and cons, since there is a possibility of damage to the steering mechanisms with insufficient experience. With the steering wheel dismantled, painting is more convenient, but most car owners get by with interior protection.

Removing the steering wheel from the car

In the event that the steering wheel will still be dismantled independently, then this must be done in the following sequence:

1. We de-energize the steering wheel by disconnecting the terminals from the battery.

   Before starting work, it is necessary to de-energize the steering wheel, for which we remove the terminals from the battery

2. The steering wheel is turned to the "straight" position.
3. Using a socket wrench, unscrew the bolts under the plugs.
4. Loosen the steering wheel bolts.
5. To remove the part, pull it up and disconnect the connectors from the airbags, while the capsule itself does not need to be touched.
6. Before unscrewing the nut, it is advisable to put marks on the shaft and steering wheel.
7. Loosen the nut and remove the steering wheel.

Restoration of the painted surface

At the next stage of preparation, it is necessary to remove all damage: cracks, dents and scratches on the steering wheel that formed during operation. Then you can evaluate whether a complete steering wheel update is required or not.

To identify all damage to the skin, it must be carefully sanded. In this case, it is better to use P400-P600 sandpaper. This treatment will not only remove the old paint, but also provide a better adhesion of the new coating to the skin. When rough processing is finished, i.e. the paintwork is removed, you can use sandpaper P1000 - P1200.

Then the leather steering wheel is well degreased for uniform coloring and improving its quality. It is best to use a special leather cleaner for this. In extreme cases, white spirit is suitable. Since the skin after grinding has the property of easily absorbing such substances, the rag should be moistened slightly. If the steering wheel is abundantly soaked with "white spirit", then the material will simply be wrinkled and overdried.

Before painting, the steering wheel must be prepared: the surface is treated with sandpaper to remove the paintwork

Often a situation arises when the initial layer of paint is removed, but the bumps on the steering wheel after abrasive treatment still remain. In this case, there are several ways to solve the problem:

• the surface is leveled using a leather conditioner, after which grouting is carried out with a polish;
• scratches are filled with “liquid skin” (putty), after which the surface is dried and matted;
• shoe wax for rough leather, cyanoacrylate, and varnish for women's manicure are used.

Car leather steering wheel painting

To cover the bagels, it is best to use water-based paints, especially since they are great for any type of skin, and they are easier to work with. On average, about 20–30 grams of paint is spent on painting the steering wheel, if the color is selected independently.

If possible, it is better to use an airbrush, since the tool will not only save paint, but also apply a uniform layer. One of the most affordable coloring options is the use of canned leather paint, which is applied in several layers with interlayer drying.

In extreme cases, you can use a foam swab. It is best to apply the paint in several layers (2-3). As a rule, the subsequent coat is applied immediately, which will control the absorption of paint into the material.

After staining, you need to apply a protective layer of varnish (matte or glossy). Such a coating will keep the surface in good condition for a longer time. In terms of time costs, the recovery process takes about 5-6 hours. In fact, the work is not time-consuming, but it requires accuracy and attention, you should not rush. If paint gets on the glass, it can be carefully removed with solvent No. 646.

Care of painted surfaces

With prolonged use of the car, scuffs inevitably remain on the steering wheel. However, they can be avoided by using a leather case as protection, which is especially important for drivers with rings on their fingers. Moreover, replacing the braid will cost less than hauling or restoring the steering wheel.

If the cover option is not suitable, you can use inexpensive silicone polishes. By such means, an invisible film is created, on which all loads are placed. The main condition is the periodic processing of the bagel.

In order for the leather surface of the steering wheel to last as long as possible, the material must be treated in a timely manner with special cleaning and leather care products.

In order to prevent serious damage and extend the life of the leather steering wheel, the material must be taken care of in a timely manner and, most importantly, properly looked after. First of all, the skin needs cleaning, for which special cleaners are used to remove dirt from the steering wheel. The sequence of actions in this case is as follows:

1. The product is sprayed onto the surface, after which we wait a few minutes.
2. We wipe the material with a soft cloth and apply the cleaner again.
3. To clean hard-to-reach places, use a toothbrush.
4. At the end of the procedure, the surface is wiped with a dry cloth.

After cleaning, the steering wheel is treated with leather conditioner. As for the operation of a freshly painted steering wheel, you need to wait 12-14 hours, and it is better to leave it alone for a day. In addition, during the week the leather surface should not be wiped with wet wipes. When done correctly, the new coating will last for quite a long time.

Video: do-it-yourself leather steering wheel painting technique

To restore the leather steering wheel with your own hands, it is enough to purchase the necessary materials and familiarize yourself with the sequence of actions. The work is not laborious, but requires care and accuracy. If the surface of the steering wheel cannot be restored, you can put on a leather braid or drag the wheel with new leather.

Service Center "Avtoscratch" offers a range of services for the restoration of interior elements of cars. We carry out full and local restoration of the car interior, as well as the application of protective coatings. You can order repair and painting of leather car interior from us. The use of original consumables and professional equipment allows us to guarantee the high quality and efficiency of restoration work.

Artist: Prokopenko Anton Evgenievich

Restoration of the leather of the car interior and steering wheel is required due to operational wear and tear, as well as to eliminate the consequences of various damages. Skin defects can be of a different nature:

• abrasions;
• cracks and creases;
• skin cuts;
• dents;
• thermal damage;
• dirt embedded in the structure;
• chemical damage.

The specialists of our center will carry out a set of necessary operations to restore the appearance of the interior elements. Painting a leather interior takes much less time than hauling, and the cost is also lower. As a result of a professional interior repair, defects will be completely hidden, and a beautiful appearance of the surfaces will be ensured.

Leather repair in a car interior is a rather complicated process that requires the use of special materials and tools. Masters of Avtoscratch services in Moscow and St. Petersburg always use advanced technological developments and modern equipment. This completely eliminates damage to the skin of leather seats and other elements inside the car during repairs.

Restoration of leather seats

Restoration of leather car seats

Leather car seat restoration

Depending on the complexity of the defects, a set of measures for local repair of the car interior may include painting, eliminating cracks with a polymer composition, reinforcing and gluing scratches, filling deep cuts with a special agent, degreasing and tinting. For each surface, a color and design is selected, due to which traces of repair of the leather of the car interior are completely eliminated. Even in the presence of serious damage, we guarantee the restoration of the original appearance of the car interior.

Advantages of repairing leather car seats in the Autoscratch service

As a rule, the consequences of unprofessional cladding restoration cannot be eliminated. Even the usual local painting of a leather interior must be carried out in compliance with the necessary technological requirements. When working, you must take into account the recommendations of manufacturers of cleaning products and materials. Minor burns from the iron or errors in working with the spray gun are very noticeable and almost unrecoverable.

Clients of the company "Autoscratch" are insured against such problems - we always guarantee the high quality of work. Our specialists perform:

• car interior leather painting;
• repair of leather upholstery with minor scuffs and creases;
• elimination of cuts and punctures of any depth;
• elimination of defects in plastic elements;
• restoration of the steering wheel and panel after the deployment of airbags;
• surface restoration;
• repair of textiles and leather substitutes.

We also provide professional advice on the maintenance of various upholstery materials. You will learn how to extend the life of the upholstery and independently eliminate various types of dirt from the leather interior of the car. Our craftsmen have already restored hundreds of leather passenger and driver seats of various cars, so they know how to fix problems correctly. The accumulated experience and constant improvement of the qualification level guarantee high results of work.