"Adding grip" to steering wheel

[Freddie]

Hi everybody,

I have a question mainly for the ones making their own steering wheel: what do you use for grip on the steering wheel?

We are currently having our steering wheel custom fabricated in aluminium (long story short we had do design a steering wheel to fit some non-standard dimensions), and I'm looking for something to use to make it slightly less "slippery".

I have found this (http://store.drumbum.com/skuA-66.html) and this (http://www.heskins.com/prod01.htm) type of tape, and have also been looking a bit at skateboard grip tape, but I wonder if anyone here has tried anything that has worked out well (or horribly bad, for that matter). Would even painting it in wrinkle paint do the trick?

Also; when adding tape to the perimeter of the steering wheel, I would get a minimal concave surface where I would have overlapping, has anybody had any problems with this during tech inspection? Just to be clear; the steering wheel itself has no concave surfaces in the perimeter, it would only be because of the tape. As I interpret the spirit of the rules, it would not be a problem, but it's always nice to have other opinions as well.

[Freddie]

Hi everybody,

I have a question mainly for the ones making their own steering wheel: what do you use for grip on the steering wheel?

We are currently having our steering wheel custom fabricated in aluminium (long story short we had do design a steering wheel to fit some non-standard dimensions), and I'm looking for something to use to make it slightly less "slippery".

I have found this (http://store.drumbum.com/skuA-66.html) and this (http://www.heskins.com/prod01.htm) type of tape, and have also been looking a bit at skateboard grip tape, but I wonder if anyone here has tried anything that has worked out well (or horribly bad, for that matter). Would even painting it in wrinkle paint do the trick?

Also; when adding tape to the perimeter of the steering wheel, I would get a minimal concave surface where I would have overlapping, has anybody had any problems with this during tech inspection? Just to be clear; the steering wheel itself has no concave surfaces in the perimeter, it would only be because of the tape. As I interpret the spirit of the rules, it would not be a problem, but it's always nice to have other opinions as well.

[Rex Chan]

I've held a Swinburne uni carbon custom wheel in my hands, and it was very light. It also had grip tape (like on skateboard decks), and apparently, it wears through gloves very quickly.

[Big Bird]

Maybe bicycle handlebar tape, like that Cinelli stuff for road bikes? Would be comfortable. Or does it unravel?

[tgman]

Tennis racket handle tape should work well

[JulianH]

We used grip tape from Tennis rackets.

It looks kinda shitty after some time but works brilliantly. You have to use a new one before going to competition http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Ibahr]

I would talk to your uni's baseball team... most baseball players have had experience with taping aluminum bats. Since you're European you probably don't have much experience with baseball... just search for aluminum bat grip tape and it may point you in a decent direction

[Boffin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Rex Chan:
I've held a Swinburne uni carbon custom wheel in my hands, and it was very light. It also had grip tape (like on skateboard decks), and apparently, it wears through gloves very quickly. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Yep. Skateboard grip tape does not work well.
Give's you plenty of grip with gloves, but tears them apart very quickly.

[Z]

Freddie,

Take cloth material of your choice (denim works well), cut into long strips, dip in watered down PVA glue (aka "Aquadere", or wood glue), and wrap around wheel rim to your desired thickness.

For an even grippier texture use thick string or cotton cord + PVA, spiralled around the rim.

For an upmarket finish use leather, preferably suede (French "Suede" = Sweden?).

Practise on a broomstick, or offcut tube.

My dear old Dad taught me this method. I have several of his tools with these handles from 50+ years ago, used regularly and no significant wear.

Z

[DougMilliken]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">My dear old Dad taught me this method. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Also learned about wrapping/winding with string from my father. As well as steering wheels, it's also useful for repairing/reinforcing cracked handles on any tool. This instructable shows the clever way to secure (and hide) the ends of the string, by starting with a long loop that you wrap over,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlModgaE5Qw
I've gone further and pulled the loop right under the wrapping (useful for non-meltable cord or wire wrapping).

Simple winding is now taken "over the top",
http://www.itstactical.com/ski...knife-paracord-wrap/ (http://www.itstactical.com/skillcom/knots/knot-of-the-week-strider-knife-paracord-wrap/)

[MegaDeath]

Hockey tape works really well.

[Freddie]

Thanks for all the great answers! I had a feeling that skateboard grip tape wouldn't be a really good solution, but it's always nice to have some confirmation.

I'll look into the different kinds of tape, actually we have some baseball teams over here so I may be able to get in touch with some of them. The fabric-and-glue-method is really interesting, since we have some members with a bit of fashion design education who'll might be able to make something cool out of it.

[caantoun]

I know im digging up a grave here, but in the future, consider plastidip. It comes in two forms, liquid and spray. for this application i would go with liquid. Just dip the areas you want to be grippy, or even paint it on with a brush. The stuff is commonly used to recoat tool handles, as well as ricy wheels;) ;)

[MOTO909]

I don't know about the liquid plastidip but the spray on will last for awhile and then peel off from use.