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I replaced the steering wheel a couple of years ago with a wood wheel and am pleased with it, but...
I'd put a clear polyurethane to help protect the wood & yet it still seems to "weather". The car is covered at all times & in the car port except when being driven.
Also the hex head screws as part of the wheel center corrode/rust. This is the second set as Grant acknowledged a problem with the first ones & sent replacements.
This is not so much a "Shay specific" question, as it is asking for suggestions on what to treat the wood with & stop the corroding of the screws.
I'm hoping not to have to do a huge project at this time, as time is my worst enemy. Not enough of it!
I have added wood to my car in a few places, running board, dash board, luggage rack and tack rail.
I used a satin finish clear poly. I have not had to refinish any of then YET !
On my boat I had to refinish most wood every year because of being out in the weather.
Try using a marine clear poly. I have found that where hands touch a wood finish a lot, the finish does not last as long.
Must be the moisture in our hands.
As far as the metal parts. My auggga horns were all rusty, so I used steel wool and polished them up. Then I sprayed the with a few coats of a high gloss clear poly. It is now 4 years and they still look good.
As to sealing wood that is or will see weather it is important to have it all sealed.
In the case of the steering wheel if the wood is mounted to steel it needed to be sealed before assembly.As to wood on cars it is very important that the end grain be sealed.I would stand the piece end grains down into a bucket of thinned paint ,varnish or poly urethene for about 15 minutes and then coat the entire piece.I would apply at least 3 more coats,
I was a painter for almost 50 years.A friend ask me what he needed to do for the deck he was building.i told him how and said it would taker time to do it proper.He replied thats OK as his wife had lots of time.In 25 years he has replaced one deck plank and a couple of pieces from the railing.That says how important proper sealing of wood is.
