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Recently I received a deluxe steering wheel refurbished by a restorer on the East Coast. Enclosed in the box was a recommendation by the restorer to use Pledge on the steering wheel. I post that sheet here in hopes it may help others.
A deluxe wheel is a slick wheel to begin with. To me, Pledge makes it no worse. Note: The restorer is referring to paint treated wheels so I would not try this on a sports wheel without checking with him first.
I'm not here to defend this guy other than to say that I have used his services, but he has been in the business of restoring steering wheels for 39-years. He probably knows a thing or two about them
Last edited by tnswt; December 6th, 2021 at 02:53 PM.
Very nice! I need to send the one in for my Jetfire someday.
I realize this is hindsight, but if you had not sold that 7040256 so cheaply you could have funds available for 3 or 4 steering wheels restorations today
I realize this is hindsight, but if you had not sold that 7040256 so cheaply you could have funds available for 3 or 4 steering wheels restorations today
"In the old days" I used Pledge for all the vinyl interior on my Oldsmobiles and motorcycle seats...especially the stitching. The old formulation contained Carnuba wax. I haven't found anything I really like as well in the new products. Armorall is a big No-no for my stuff.
I've heard some bad things about Armor All. Does it degrade plastics and vinyl? I use it on the dash of my 96, 71 and Ford truck and the only complaint I have is that they might be a bit slimy after treatment for a day or so but I've noticed no deterioration yet (and I've been using it on the dahs of my 71 for 10 years).
I've heard some bad things about Armor All. Does it degrade plastics and vinyl? I use it on the dash of my 96, 71 and Ford truck and the only complaint I have is that they might be a bit slimy after treatment for a day or so but I've noticed no deterioration yet (and I've been using it on the dahs of my 71 for 10 years).
I found that Pledge cleaned, shined and protected vinyl in my Oldsmobile's and the seats on my old British motorcycles. 1-2 years of using Armorall didn't seem to work on my convertible interior and also rotted the cotton stitching on every motorcycle seat I used it on.
I found that Pledge cleaned, shined and protected vinyl in my Oldsmobile's and the seats on my old British motorcycles. 1-2 years of using Armorall didn't seem to work on my convertible interior and also rotted the cotton stitching on every motorcycle seat I used it on.
That’s interesting OLDSter Ralph that the use of Pledge in automobiles goes back to the old days, as you say. This does not surprise me, as I can recall my parents used another product called Jubilee on just about everything imaginable. It was a wax like product—rub in on, wait for the haze, and buff if off. I can’t remember Pledge from those days, but I can recall Jubilee.
I’ve used the Pledge treatment on my restored wheel and I like the results. Now with your response, I have other uses for Pledge.
On another note, I can understand why your motorcycle upholstery didn’t hold up if it was stitched with cotton thread. A better choice of thread would have been polyester due to its tensile strength, ability to stretch, and resistance to UV breakdown. Cotton thread in general is reserved for more delicate stitching situations.
That’s interesting OLDSter Ralph that the use of Pledge in automobiles goes back to the old days, as you say. This does not surprise me, as I can recall my parents used another product called Jubilee on just about everything imaginable. It was a wax like product—rub in on, wait for the haze, and buff if off. I can’t remember Pledge from those days, but I can recall Jubilee.
I’ve used the Pledge treatment on my restored wheel and I like the results. Now with your response, I have other uses for Pledge.
On another note, I can understand why your motorcycle upholstery didn’t hold up if it was stitched with cotton thread. A better choice of thread would have been polyester due to its tensile strength, ability to stretch, and resistance to UV breakdown. Cotton thread in general is reserved for more delicate stitching situations.
The "original" Pledge was a foam and worked great as a cleaner/protectant. It has been "reformulated" and doesn't contain the Carnuba wax now. My 1965 442 convertible had a white interior, so you could see the difference.
On the motorcycle seats, they used larger cotton thread with wider stitches to keep from "cutting" the material. The stitching/thread was also for appearances in some cases. Every seat that the thread rotted has to be hand sewn using the old holes with thread that is comparable sized. Re-sewing with a machine could introduce more holes that could weaken the seam.
December 6th, 2021, 08:52 AM
