Steering Wheel WIP

[Dave R]

Just thought I'd post a couple of pictures of the steering wheel I'm working on. I'm reusing the hub from the wheel I had--an inexpensive, Asian-made one of poor workmanship. That wheel was getting kind of floppy. I discovered the wooden parts were in close formation but mostly not in contact with each other. The inner felloes were cut too short to contact the spokes. If there was glue in that wheel it had failed some time ago.

The new one isn't perfect but I'm learning. Cherry and hard maple. Before anyone tells me those are poor choices for boat woods, the boat spends most of its life on a trailer under cover. It's not going to be subjected to a lot of weathering.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/DSC03822.jpg

And here's the new shaft for it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/DSC03814.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[paladin]

wanna build another one.....I just finished a wheel hub for a possible article...and I have teak staves already cut square ready for the turning machine......:D

[Dave R]

I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you.

A friend turned the spokes for me because I haven't got a lathe yet. He enjoyed turning them and wants to do another set. Another wheel is probably in the cards after I get this one and a few other projects out of the way.

I am in the process of redesigning the jig and router trammel to make construction faster and more straightforward.

I've been thinking of a hub design that would be easy for a home workshop hack such as myself to build from scratch without having to do any casting. I'd be interested in knowing what your hub is all about.

Maybe we can work something out.

Thanks again.

[Kim Whitmyre]

Very nice work!

[paladin]

I'm making a set of drawings for another forumite....will post them here when finished.....

[Jay Greer]

Far be for me to comment on your choice of woods. I would rather compliment you on the quality of your work. Nice!
Jay

[mamllc]

Hello Dave
Wheel looks very nice! I dont have any problem with maple/cherry at all, in fact I think the contrast will work well. I have been making teak and rosewood steering wheels for years, reproductions for 65/6 corvettes, and recently made one from a pre war Chris Craft three spoke wheel thats plastic was beyond repair. I have never had any trouble selling them, and suspect from looking at your pictures that you would not either. Sounds to me like a perfect excuse to do some tool shopping!
I would like to see some pictures of the finished wheel!

David M

[Lew Barrett]

I'm impressed!

[Dave R]

Thank you all for the nice words.

The hub is from a steering wheel I bought off fleabay. It's not the best casting I've ever seen but it is functional. I discovered the holes for the spokes aren't spaced equally around the edge. You don't notice until you are trying to fit parts into it. I wouldn't have reused it but I couldn't afford a new hub and hadn't come up with a good idea for a home made hub until it was too late. :D

[The Bigfella]

Excellent work. 24"?

[Dave R]

Excellent work. 24"?

Thank you. 18".

[katiedobe]

Lovely piece of woodworking!
Reminds me of the wooden wheel that came on my 63 cruisers inc.
I think I have that thing hanging on a wall somewhere. The wheel, not the boat.

[paladin]

aw, heck, Jimmy, saw the darn boat in half and hang it over your bar.....:D :D

[paladin]

get a bar of bronze, 2 3/8ths inches long and 2 1/2 inches in diameter, bore a 1 inch hole through the middle and a 1/4 inch keyway (or whatever fits your shaft).........and depending on the size of the wheel, you will need two bronze discs, 4-6 inches in diameter, with a 2 1/2 inch hole through the middle of each, and match drilled mounting holes, 6 or 8, around the perimeter. Weld one disc 1/2 inch from the end of the large rod, make your spokes to fit, with splines to fill the areas between spokes, and use the second disc through bolted to hold the spokes in compression, the discs should be 1/4 inch thick.....make decorative hub to cover wheel nut. This hub can be made for a wood wheel, or make a small diameter bronze or stainless/aluminum wheel with wood spoke handles or rim.

[Dave R]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/DSC03839.jpg
Varnish is still wet but here it is.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

That is one fine looking wheel. Congratulations on a job well done.

[Paul Girouard]

Nicely done :cool:

[mamllc]

Hey Dave
Very nice!! Your concerns about the maple and cherry were obviously unfounded. So.....an alternative hub, a good used lathe, and your in business!

[Bill R]

Beautiful work!

[The Bigfella]

Congratulations

[Dave R]

Thank you all for the nice words.

I still have a bucket of donkey brown paint ready in case it doesn't turn out. :D http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/rofl.gif

[Tom Robb]

Nice work.:cool: