Horn pad restoration

[tarheeldoc]

Can anyone help with information on a 69 horn pad restoration? My question is what was the background color on the chrome/silver metal strip that has the OLDSMOBILE in raised letters? Any ideas on the best way to repaint this? The wheel and pad are black.

Thanks,
Ken

[tarheeldoc]

Noone? The background color looks like some kind of cream/brown, maybe was gold at one point, but it partially, mostly rubbed off and just looks grungy. I am thinking about painting it black, but was hoping to get some technique help from someone out there.

[Jamesbo]

Are you talking about the standard Steering wheel?

If so I've got one around here somewhere. Let me go and find it and I'll get back with ya

[tarheeldoc]

Yes. Well, I guess from the paperwork, it is the N30 Deluxe Steering Wheel, but it is the one with the single horizontal vinyl pad with what I call the "frowning" strip with "OLDSMOBILE" in raised letters.

Thanks,
Ken

[70Post]

The background is the same "burled wood/walnut" look as the vinyl "woodgrain" on your lower dash. The "burl" pattern is much smaller but that is the look it has. Same thing in 1970 also except they put the wheels with the horn pad facing up.

[Bluevista]

My '71 has a piece like that, was all faded to the background color and that was all yellowed. Those look like they're originally printed with a photo-finish, if you look closely you can see the dot matrix.
I used the faux woodgrain technique like painters do when they glaze on steel doors and railings and stuff like that. Backgound color, mid tone streaked on with a dry brush then a dark brown or black grain highlight with an almost totally dry brush, just use the tips of the bristles. Mine has grain stamped into the metal so those hold the darker highlights when you drybrush across them. I used Testor's model paint; military brown, dark tan and flat black. You have to do your own custom mixing and match the background to the dash and so on, so what you use depends on the color you're matching. It takes a lot of experimentation, I did mine at least seven or eight times before I was satisfied, just keep wiping it off with thinner and try again. You clean the paint off the lettering and edges very carefully before it dries or the edges may flake out.
The bright edges on mine are scratched from a ring or something. I procured another and will take pics when I do it and show the technique if anybody's interested.

box 014abc.jpg

[70Post]

Is there a technique for the "burled" wood look (I'm pretty sure there is)? The 69 and 70 burled look is more of a "swirly" pattern instead of the straight woodgrain look of the 71/72 cars.

I guess you could use real small pieces cut off of a sponge to try to get the burled look.

Nice looking work on that steering wheel.

NOTE: If you happen to know of anyone with a SUPER CLEAN used or NOS black wheel like that (no repaired or restored wheels) I am looking for one.

[Bluevista]

I've seen them used rolled up newspaper ends for burl, twist the brush. A sponge would probably work too, whatever works. You can use a little thinner on the brush to cut through the layers and blend too. It's small so it's no big deal to keep trying different techniques. They have special combs for pulling out the grain but a brush works just as well IMO and the thing is a little small for one anyway.:rolleyes They had to change the grain type every year it seems?
If I were brave I'd paint the woodgrain on my Vista Cruiser.