Stevo Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Hi all, Just thought I'd put up some pics of the latest project I've been working on. Tried to take some at each different phase but typically kept forgetting Anyway, I had a spare 3 spoke wheel lying about so thought I'd have a go at creating my own carbon wheel given how expensive they are! So first I cut off the leather from the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and masked off the rest of the wheel prior to putting on the base resin. Next up was to wrap the carbon on as carefully as possible, trying to protect the weave: At this point I forgot to take pics but basically the next stages consisted of putting the first layer of epoxy on, letting it harden off and then trimming it. Once trimmed I just kept building up the coats of resin until I'd reached a good depth. Next I needed to flatten it back until I was happy with the shape and feel of it - i.e. no lumps, bumps, runs etc. The whole thing was rubbed back with 320 grit paper and then a few more coats of resin applied before a final flat back with 600 grit (shown in pics below) Once I was happy with the look and feel, it went off to have the final top coat of UV resistant lacquer applied and this is how it stands now: There are a few pinholes in the lacquer that need filling by hand tomorrow, then it'll be sent off to have the other parts of the wheel (3 & 9 o'clock positions) retrimmed in a nice nappa leather with contrasting stitching. I'll update this thread with more progress pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgyRog Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 That looks really good, could be some serious money to be made there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Steve do you fancy re-doing my carbon boot lip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobUK Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Where do I send mine?? Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 That is very impressive, and I have an actual carbon wheel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Where do I send mine?? Lol I've got a TRD wheel that I wouldn't mind the entire leather bit carbonised!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 I've got a TRD wheel that I wouldn't mind the entire leather bit carbonised!! Not sure I'd want to mess with an expensive TRD wheel mate - would rather start with a bog standard one and coat that entirely in carbon. Plus I'm not actually sure whether I'd be able to match up the weaves in the different carbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Steve do you fancy re-doing my carbon boot lip? What's up with the boot lip like Jake? PM me some pics if you like but I do have a few things that need finishing off and new stuff still to start before I take on anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Not sure I'd want to mess with an expensive TRD wheel mate - would rather start with a bog standard one and coat that entirely in carbon. Plus I'm not actually sure whether I'd be able to match up the weaves in the different carbon. Worst case mate I can get it retrimmed in leather for £100 which needs doing as it is. Might be worth a dabble! It's not a TRD wheel that instantly springs to mind, it's like a 330mm Nardi wheel with TRD stamped on it. Not sure on a value anyway as it came with my last Supra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 bravo sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver.bullet Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 How much (roughly) would you charge for doing this to a facelift 3 spoke steering wheel? In the same style as the oem carbon facelift wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mull1986 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Love it! Got a pre-facelift three spoke. How much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonR24 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Wow take my money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safcdixon Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Looks mint Steve! best get some holidays booked at work to keep up with the demand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 Cheers for all the positive comments lads. It was a bit of a ball-ache to do to be honest due to the carbon weave needing to be wrapped in more than one direction! I'll need to finish this one before I can accurately give a price as to how much it would be, as the price would have to include having the leather on either side retrimmed too. There is no way I could take a wheel, skin just the top and bottom parts and be left with a decent finish between the carbon and the old leather - the process is just too messy and it would look crap. On the plus side, this gives you the option to have the rest trimmed in either a good leather, perforated leather or even Alcantara, along with choosing the thread colour. I had my current stock wheel retrimmed to match other interior bits like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 That's how I'd want mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Out of interest mate how much does the retrim of the wheel cost? Also i will get some detailed pictures of the lip in the week and forward on to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3833331982_c8bdefe35a_b.jpg That's how I'd want mine That's do-able so long as the leather is being replaced at the same time. Its just a plain weave carbon compared to the 2x2 twill that I use. Out of interest mate how much does the retrim of the wheel cost? Also i will get some detailed pictures of the lip in the week and forward on to you. From what I remember Jake, that wheel was £100 but I'm not certain as other bits were done at the same time and my receipt didn't break down the individual parts. That was using genuine Alcantara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I prefer the carbon you've used, and I would want the leather retrimming too black perforated leather with either black, red or mid grey stitching. I would probably want a gearknob doing to match too. Probably an oem manual one with a carbon top section and black leather lower part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 You do realise I don't do the retrimming don't you? I just send it off to a vehicle trimmer so that would need to be incorporated into the final cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Yeah But at least if you got it done, I would be 100% happy that It was returned to me finished with no issues, and it would all match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonR24 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Plus it looks really really good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mull1986 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Yeah But at least if you got it done, I would be 100% happy that It was returned to me finished with no issues, and it would all match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mclarenross Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Great skills Steve ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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