To make driving comfortable, many drivers buy special steering wheel covers. This refinement creates convenience, hands get tired less. Plus, the interior of the cabin is changing for the better. There are many different offers on the market today. However, you can drag the steering wheel yourself. The most practical and convenient material for steering wheel tuning is genuine leather. The use of artificial substitutes is not recommended. Since they do not have proper elasticity and wear out quickly.
Tools and materials for hauling
Covering the steering wheel with leather with your own hands involves the use of the following materials and tools:
To make a template (pattern), it is best to use cling film and wide masking tape.
Thick paper or cardboard.
Stationery or other sharp knife, marker or pencil.
Strong and high-quality thread, preferably kapron.
For safe and comfortable sewing, you will need two thimbles for the middle finger.
Durable sewing needles made of hardened steel.
High quality soft genuine leather.
Screwdriver and wrench to remove and then install the steering wheel.
To cover the steering wheel with leather with your own hands, it is advisable to use two types of material, perforated and smooth leather. The combination of two different textures will not only create an original and pleasant aesthetic appearance, but also provide comfort for working with the steering wheel.
Perforated leather is highly elastic. It is soft and comfortable to work with. Smooth leather, in turn, is more resistant to wear. Therefore, if you combine them together, you get a durable, soft and fairly resistant to abrasion material. Experts believe that leather with a thickness of 1.2-1.4 mm is optimal for steering wheel covers. You can choose any skin color, it all depends on your taste. As a rule, the most popular are covers made of leather in dark shades. The most commonly used material is black.
Steering wheel leather template
In order for the hauling of the steering wheel with your own hands to be of high quality, you must first make a pattern. To do this, first we make a template from the film and adhesive tape. First of all, remove the steering wheel, having previously dismantled the signal cover. Then we unscrew the steering wheel mounting nut on the shaft and remove the steering wheel from the splines, swinging it in different directions.
After that, using cling film and masking tape, we make a steering wheel layout, a template for a pattern. We wrap the steering wheel with a film. Glue paper masking tape on top. The places where it is planned to make seams are marked with a marker or pencil. Then carefully cut the tape along these lines. The result should be four elements, one rectangular and three cruciform. We unfold and number all the details for the template. After that, we lay them on cardboard or thick paper and make patterns of a similar shape for a pattern.
skin pattern
To make an original case, you first need to look at various sketches and choose the most suitable one. Of course, out of four details, not so many solutions can be implemented. However, you can make each sector from two or more elements, arranging different textures or skin tones. Naturally, this will take more time and effort, but the end result is worth it. You can search the Internet for various options and choose the most convenient and practical. After you have decided on the design of the cover, we lay the pieces of leather on the table and make patterns with the help of a clerical knife.
When making patterns, it is very important not to miss the next essential point. Each sector of the template is transferred to the skin not strictly according to its shape, but with a small margin. That is, after you have laid the template on the skin, you need to cut it out, stepping back from the edge of the sector by 1.0-1.5 cm. Such a margin will be needed to ensure the necessary strength of the seams. Otherwise, after a short operation, the seams will disperse, you just have to throw the cover away. As a result, you will need another hauling of the steering wheel with leather with your own hands.
After the pieces of leather are cut, attach them to the steering wheel and check that all sectors are cut correctly and match in size, taking into account the margin for the seam. If necessary, all excess can be cut off, because all patterns are made with a sufficient margin. After you have made sure that all the elements are prepared and correspond to the design intent, you can start sewing.
Cooking leather case
First, we lay out all the details on the table in accordance with how they will be located in the case and begin to sew in the given order. The edges of the sectors must be overcast to avoid tightening the skin during operation. You need to sew the parts with strong nylon threads, retreating from the edge of at least 3 mm. All parts are sewn completely in the form of a ring, with the exception of those seams that you previously marked with a marker.
After the workpiece is completely sewn and all edges are swept over, carefully pull the cover on the steering wheel so that the joints of the seams are in the places of the cuts. We smooth the material and eliminate sagging. Some experts advise "planting" the skin on glue or epoxy. However, in any case, it is necessary to sew the edges.
Video - Leather steering wheel
So, now it remains to do the most important thing - to pull off the edges of the cover so that it is securely fixed on the steering wheel. This procedure is very troublesome, time-consuming and requires a lot of time. First of all, you should decide on the place where the beginning of the seam will be. Here, you first need to fasten the thread, and then you can carefully sew. When tightening the edges of the cover in the area of the signal cover, it is recommended to coat the edges of the skin with rubber glue.
There are many types of seams. However, the most popular are pigtail, sports and macrame. They look beautiful and form the most durable connection.
After the cover is completely ready, you can put the steering wheel on the car. There may be slight wrinkles on the cover. It's not worth worrying about this. If you used genuine leather, then due to the increased elasticity of the material, all these flaws will completely disappear over time.
The most heavily used elements in the cabin are the steering wheel and pedals. The state of the latter is not so noticeable to the driver and passengers, but the steering wheel should always cause pleasant tactile sensations. Do-it-yourself steering wheel wrapping with leather will help to give it an individuality and stylish appearance.
In addition to aesthetic perception, the "steering wheel" must be securely fixed in the hand so that the driver can respond in time to road surprises. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a high-quality, tight-fitting material that excludes slippage or other troubles.
As a material, it is desirable to use soft leather with perforation. It is better fixed by hand and has a good coefficient of friction. Before sheathing the steering wheel with leather with your own hands, you need to choose the color and texture of the material. The cost of the material and its compatibility with the rest of the decor in the car depends on this. It is unlikely that a black steering wheel would be appropriate in a chic beige interior.
Leather braid on the steering wheel
When purchasing an upholstery fabric, you need to choose it with the ability to buy another piece if necessary. When flashing, different situations can occur, as well as when cutting the canvas. It is advisable to stock up on the possibility of adjustment so that you can correctly restore the skin on the steering wheel or create a new pattern.
Necessary materials and tools
Ensuring a quality result can be achieved with the following components:
- High quality upholstery material;
- Spool of synthetic durable thread of the desired color;
- Hardened steel needles for leather, with material hardness up to 45-50 HRC;
- A pair of thimbles for pushing the needle;
- A roll of construction tape;
- A3 cardboard for making patterns;
- Roll of 10 m cling film;
- Marker with a thick core;
- Manicure scissors or a sharp knife;
- Two-component leather adhesive or epoxy;
- Hairdryer for drying powerful home or industrial.
Do-it-yourself leather-wrapped steering wheel
It is possible to determine the number and shape of blanks for the material only empirically. To do this, you need to create a pattern. Automotive enterprises producing mass-produced products receive a ready-made pattern from engineers and designers. We will use workarounds for self-repair.
Initially, you will need to make an impression from the surface of the "steering wheel", and then, dividing it into separate components, form patterns for the finished product.
Food film will serve as the basis for the frame. We wrap it around all surfaces where the steering wheel will be covered with leather. The next layer is formed with molar tape. It should very tightly envelop all the required areas. No swelling or sagging should be allowed. All indulgences will negatively affect the fixation of the upholstery.
Marker markup for separation the resulting workpiece. Connecting seams will run along the marked stripes. It is advisable to cut them so that they are not visible. Number each part in a certain order and draw up a diagram of the future assembly. Cut the pattern along the established lines with scissors or a knife.
Having removed all parts of the workpiece from the wheel, they need to be straightened using a low-heated iron (do not forget to save tape and film) or lay under something heavy (weights, a bucket of water, a cabinet). The straightened elements are transferred to the cardboard, not forgetting to add a 4-5 mm allowance for the seam, and also remove 2-3 mm at the joint around the rim, given that the measurement was carried out at a larger diameter.
Sewing upholstery on the steering wheel
Experienced specialists who do such an operation not for the first time can wrap the steering wheel with leather with their own hands without gluing the parts, but for beginners it is preferable use epoxy resin or glue. This eliminates measurement and manufacturing errors a little.
When trimming a car with an airbag, care must be taken to prevent unauthorized activation. For convenience, you can completely dismantle the wheel and do the firmware from any side in convenient conditions.
The new upholstery is practically laced up along the holes pre-stitched by the machine on the edge. You can pierce them with an awl yourself, but it is better to entrust this painstaking work to the sewing needle of the machine.
Experienced craftsmen pre-moisten the skin in warm water. So it becomes more elastic. After drying, the material adheres more closely to the surface due to the reduction in size.
After completing the firmware from all sides, and after drying the surface with a hairdryer, you need to let the glue dry, and only then return the steering wheel to its place. After that, you can put buttons, decor, pillow in place. Fans of self-tuning often mount a steering wheel heating with such an operation.
June 3, 2019
Without exaggeration, we can say that the steering wheel is not only one of the most important elements of car control, but also the “face” of the vehicle interior. Therefore, the most common way to give the interior attractiveness and personality is the steering wheel trim. A beginner can also do it, the main thing here is patience and attention to every little thing.
Materials and tools
Since the steering wheel is constantly in contact with the driver's hands, when choosing a material for sheathing, you should pay attention to quality, strength and durability. There are many options - you can choose fur, artificial or natural leather, silicone, foam rubber or wire.
The most popular and practical is a braid made of genuine leather. Such a braid retains its appearance for a long time, is pleasant to the touch, has good performance, looks expensive and solid. You can simply wipe it with a damp alcohol wipe to remove dust. It is better to give preference to perforated leather. It is softer and thanks to the pores it breathes better.
Important! You should choose automotive leather, and not furniture, otherwise after a short time the work will go down the drain.
Before you start hauling the steering wheel, you should prepare all the necessary materials and tools. These include:
- leather;
- a large needle for sewing (you can take a red-hot one);
- strong kapron thread;
- thimble;
- stationery knife;
- masking tape;
- cling film (you can take packaging);
- marker or pencil;
- medium density cardboard;
- glue or epoxy.
Tightening procedure
Removing the steering wheel and the old braid
Before starting work, it is necessary to remove the steering wheel, using the manual for the repair and operation of the car. Disconnect the battery before dismantling! If there is an airbag in the hull, wait at least five minutes.
Remove the old braid. You can just cut along the seam.
Creating a Pattern and Cutting a New Braid
Next, you need to make a pattern. To do this, first the steering wheel is neatly, evenly, without differences in height, wrapped with a film, and then tightly with masking tape. With a marker, the future pattern is divided into four parts and a mark is made for the inner seam along the inside of the steering wheel.
Before cutting, it is necessary to number all the details. Cut strictly along the lines!
According to the marked marks, you need to cut the masking tape and remove it from the steering wheel. It turns out four parts of the pattern. To level them, you can put a load on top for several hours. Or make a denser cardboard template by applying masking tape elements to it.
Then, according to the sample of the obtained pattern, elements of the future leather braid are cut out, an allowance of 1.5-2 ml is made along the length. Each element must be marked. Do not forget that the final result depends on the accuracy of the work at the stage of making the pattern.
Pattern details are sewn together using a sewing machine or a needle and thread. It is necessary to retreat from the edge by 2-3 mm, otherwise the material will tear when pulled. All parts are connected to form a ring. The finished ring is applied to the steering wheel. Everything has to be exactly the right size. If the braid walks along the steering wheel, it is necessary to take it in at the seam. For additional fixation, the steering wheel can be lubricated with glue or epoxy.
Fasteners for manual braid stitching
After that, you need to make fasteners, which will hold the seam connecting the edges of the braid.
There are two types of fastening:
- holes;
- stitching along the edges.
Holes along the edges of the braid can be made manually using an awl, or using a sewing machine with a needle without thread with a rounded tip.
The number of holes should be the same on both sides, the distance from the edge is approximately 4 mm, between the holes 4-5 mm. The work is quite laborious, it should turn out about 600 holes.
The second method is much simpler - it is enough to make a line on the edge of the braid with a stitch of 5-6 mm on a sewing machine. The distance from the edge of the product is 4 mm.
All knots are made from the inside and are fixed with no more than two stitches.
Stitching the braid on the steering wheel
There are many braid lacing options. The choice depends on the type of fastening and personal imagination. The easiest is to lace up like sneakers, threading a strong thread into the prepared bindings. You should start from the bottom and move counterclockwise, carefully straightening the folds and pulling the material well.
Reference! If in some place it was not possible to perfectly straighten the skin, you can use a hairdryer. When heated, the skin becomes more elastic and small wrinkles are smoothed out.
At the end of the sheathing, all the threads should be hidden under the skin, glue the knots with glue and walk with a hair dryer along the entire length of the steering wheel so that the skin fits better to the steering wheel. All seams can be smeared with special glue for the skin. This will prevent them from tearing apart.
Leather braid care
If the steering wheel is sheathed in leather, then it requires special attention, because dust and dirt easily accumulate in the pores of the leather. This is reflected not only in the appearance of the steering wheel, but also in the health of the driver. For cleaning, you can use special products for the skin or make your own product, for example, mixing warm water with shampoo for washing the car body.
To extend the life of such a braid, you should use special products that clean and moisturize it. Such products always contain special filters that protect the skin from fading.
Of course, making a leather braid with your own hands is much more difficult than buying a finished one. But on the other hand, you will be rightfully proud of your work, enjoying its result.
Sooner or later, you may have a question - how to tighten the steering wheel with leather yourself? This can occur for various reasons, for example, you have a plastic steering wheel and you want it to look presentable. Or you already have an old leather steering wheel, but from time to time it has worn out, and it just needs to be updated! In general, there are a lot of reasons, including the general tuning of the car, today I want to tell you and show you a photo of such a wrap with comments, of course ...
It should be noted right away that now there are three technologies for waisting - wrapping. I'll list it point by point:
1) The easiest and cheapest way is to buy a Chinese universal cover, it can be made from both genuine leather and ECO-LEATHER.
2) We turn to a special atelier where you can fit anything! Easy, but costly.
3) When you buy leather with your own hands, make a stencil and then drag it. Difficult, especially if there are no skills - but cheap, you will learn the technology (then you can drag it to others for money).
We will analyze each option in order, be sure to photo and video.
Chinese universal case
It is now gaining popularity in our country, it is very easy to buy on the same ALI, after which it will be sent to your home, and you will already pull the steering wheel. By the way, the kit comes with instructions on how to do everything yourself.
The difficulty lies in the fact that if you have never done it yourself, and you do not have sewing skills, even minimal ones, then again it will be difficult! You can also damage the cover. So the option is really cheap, such a cover costs a maximum of 500 - 800 rubles, but even after the correct constriction it does not look very, let's say presentable, because only the steering wheel is fitted, and the elements adjacent to the center remain old. So for an amateur! Watch the detailed video.
Special Atelier
Needless to say, my friend had a BMW 3 series, her braid was worn out from time to time (the car was 8 years old). Of course, you could not change it, but the steering wheel was black, and the scuffs were very conspicuous! A Chinese cover for a BMW would look just awful, so it was decided to remove the “steering wheel” - to make everything from high-quality leather, in general, to restore the external “former” look. The owner himself has never been a "seamstress", and therefore simply turned to a special organization.
The principle of operation was as follows:
1) Carefully removed the steering wheel - turned off the pillow - dismantled it.
3) The cover was removed, a new one was made from it.
4) After that, they simply pulled it onto the steering wheel - they fixed it with a new stitching.
It turned out very impressive, it’s a pity that I don’t have a photo now (and a friend sold the car) - you can distinguish “FIG” from the real one!
Do-it-yourself hauling
Well, of course, the most interesting thing is the hauling yourself. Now there are many different technologies, and everyone says that he has the best. Personally, I didn’t overtighten it myself, but I consulted with the guys who “ate the dog” on this. And they showed me the best technology for beginners.
Now there will be a photo instruction, for constriction:
1) Disassemble the steering wheel
2) We glue it with masking tape, in the right places, that is, we also glue the connecting elements that go to the center.
3) Then we draw places for separation.
4) We cut and remove the adhesive tape, we get a stencil. We number it.
5) After we transfer everything to the skin, cut out the stencils - sew them together. It should be noted that you still need to flash around the edges, we retreat 4 - 5 mm. It is advisable to use a reinforced thread, it is also "reinforced". It is this seam that we will connect.
6) Now we pull the cover on the steering wheel, it will be difficult to enter, this is normal!
7) After we begin to connect our seam, then whoever wants, you can use any seam - “sports”, “herringbone”, asterisk, etc.
8) The banner is ready.
The steering wheel is the part of the car that is most susceptible to abrasion. Usually the braid "nourishes" up to two hundred thousand. However, this does not happen with all car models. After 3-5 years, the steering wheel becomes flabby and scratched. Naturally, when selling a car, the buyer’s eyes rush to the steering wheel braid. Therefore, it is important to preserve its factory condition as much as possible.
Today's article will be useful not only to car owners, but also to those who sell cars in the secondary market. So, how to sheathe the steering wheel with leather with your own hands? Consider below.
Material
The first problem the owner faces is the choice of material. There are many finishing options. In our case, it is required to sheathe the steering wheel with leather. Moreover, its quality should be at a high level. Steering wheel restoration work is quite difficult. Our goal is to restore the former state of the material for the longest possible time.
What is better to sheathe the steering wheel - leather or eco-leather? It all depends on the preferences of the owner. Of course, genuine leather will cost much more than a substitute (that is, material with the prefix "eco"). Note that eco-leather of good quality is not inferior to the characteristics of natural. It is elastic and fits the steering wheel well. The material has a homogeneous structure. This steering wheel looks very organic and presentable. The main thing is to make a sketch correctly.
Important point! The most convenient skin in use - only perforated. This is the softest, most elastic, pleasant to the touch material. It is very easy to work with him. The coating takes any shape (especially for those who want to sheathe the steering wheel of a complex configuration with notches in leather).
What thickness to choose the material? The optimal value is from one to one and a half millimeters. The main requirements for leather are resistance to temperature extremes, mechanical damage and, of course, to abrasion.
There is also smooth skin. According to the characteristics, it is no different from the previous one. Here, as they say, a matter of taste.
Tools
Before you skin the steering wheel yourself, you need to prepare a small set of tools and materials. We will need:
- rubber glue.
- Construction tape.
- Pattern.
- Stationery knife.
- Marker.
- Pencil.
- Awl.
- Pliers.
- Nylon thread (at least one meter is required for work).
- Two (it is recommended that they be semicircular).
Work should be done in a well-lit room.
Getting Started - The First Step
First you need to dismantle without removing it is almost impossible. This is a very labor intensive process. Dismantling will significantly reduce the time of work performed. To remove the steering wheel from the column, use a special puller. It looks like this:
Without it, dismantling will be quite difficult, especially if the steering wheel is removed for the first time. The fastening nut itself is also unscrewed (use the “27” key). Do not try to pull the steering wheel by force, and even more so use extraneous tools. So you only damage the interior elements.
Note! Before removing the steering wheel, make a small mark with a pencil on it and on the column shaft. So when installing the element will not stand crooked.
Step two - sketching
Having removed the steering wheel from the car, we proceed to the manufacture of a sketch, according to which material will be cut out for further application. As a layout, you can use construction tape. We glue it around the perimeter of the steering wheel and cut out the pattern strictly along the lines with a knife. For a sketch to be of high quality, apply adhesive tape in several layers (three to five are enough).
Now we remove the layout from the steering wheel and transfer each marked sector to the material (leather).
Note! Cut the skin is required with a small margin. Leave 1-1.5 centimeters from the edges of the sketch for a seam allowance. The excess can then be cut off, but it will be impossible to restore the missing piece.
Step three - fitting
Now we apply the cut material to the steering wheel.
After making sure that all the lines correspond to the actual size, cut off the excess edges. Next, soak the material in warm water for 20 minutes. With the help of an awl, we make small holes every seven to eight millimeters.
Step Four - Overlay
Now carefully fold all the details in the order in which the overcasting will be done. It is recommended to use for stitching leather (since they are the most durable). Try not to make too much effort so as not to tear the material. Leather, especially perforated, is not only easily stretched, but also torn. Try not to leave wrinkles.
Next, we tighten the edges of our material. It is necessary to fix the wheel so that it is securely held on the surface when stitching. Leather upholstery isn't that easy. The part tends to slip out of hand. Take care in advance that the steering wheel does not move from side to side.
An important point: before the final tightening, check the condition of the material. It should be evenly stretched. Sagging and creases are excluded. They greatly spoil the look of the steering wheel, even with new skin.
What seam to tighten
There are three types of seams:
- Sports.
- Macrame.
- Pigtail.
It is impossible to say that only a specific of these types should be used for steering wheel trim.
Everyone chooses according to their taste. All seams look very organic on the steering wheel. The main thing is to grease the steering wheel when tightening the edges. This way you will prevent premature peeling of the material in case of a seam break. Although the threads are quite strong.
Step five - installation
After the new material has been successfully applied, you need to wait until the glue dries. After an hour, you can install the steering wheel in place. Do not forget to put it strictly according to the marks that were made in pencil. A washer is put on the nut. Further, the steering wheel is assembled according to the standard scheme.
If the car is equipped with an airbag, disconnect the terminal on the battery, otherwise the airbag may shoot. Also connect all sensors so that their signal does not light on the instrument panel at startup. That's all. After installation, you can start full use.
Conclusion
So, we figured out how to properly sheathe the steering wheel with leather. It is worth noting that the process is quite laborious and not every person can cope with it, especially if the steering wheel has a non-standard shape and wooden inserts.
There is always a great risk of improper skin fitting. Therefore, many motorists entrust this work to professionals.
Where is the leather steering wheel? They often turn to specialized workshops. They also reupholster seats, door cards and other interior details. The price of works - from three thousand rubles (including material).
