Leather Repair Compounds and Leather Steering Wheels
I’ve been working lately with different leather repair compounds on leather wrapped steering wheels. There are so many different compounds used to repair leather but few that work really well for a leather steering wheel. The steering wheel takes more abuse then just about any other part in your vehicle. Think about it, you have to touch your steering wheel to drive and most of us don’t realize the damage until its already happened. There are some of you out there that have got to have a nervous habit or just like to rub the steering wheel a lot or something due to the shape of some of the steering wheels I repair, wow.
Leather repair compounds that I have found that really don’t work that well are the low heat compounds that look a lot like the vinyl repair compounds. I’ve yet to have one hold up, it just peels off. Not all low heat leather repair compounds are like this though, I use a couple of low heat compounds that hold very well. It just seems to only be the ones that are more like vinyl, they seem to well for seats but try to avoid the wheel with this stuff.
Water based leather repair compounds work well but it really depends what you use. Some of the deep crack fillers are almost to thick to use and there are a few that just peel right off while sanding. The thinner the compound the better. I find by layering the thinner compounds just seem to get the job done better. I apply all my compounds with my finger, a lot easier then using a palette knife and paper towels just seem to waist product. You can just smooth it better with your finger. There a couple I use mostly and one is Leather Corrector from New Life and another is from Viper Products called Extreme Leather Fill, both are a light compounds and easily applied with your finger.
There is one old stand by that I use and always have success with and that’s the gray stuff, Leather Crack Filler. You can apply it with your finger, smooth it out, sand it and it just looks great. I use it a lot for larger damage. In fact I used it just today on a GMC Denali leather wheel and here’s one off a Dodge I did yesterday, this one turned out really nice considering the damage I had to work with.
Pictures not that great but you can see the damage along the top and lower left. This one was frayed all along the top. The best way to tackle this is by sanding the frayed leather then apply your filler. Start with a 240 grit then move to a 400 then 800. I usually will start out wet then go dry as the leather starts to smooth out. I’ll use my prepping solution to do the wet sanding, it seems to cut through the dye and smear it, actually filling too. You want it to be as smooth as you can get it before you apply your compounds. There’s even times you won’t even need a compound after sanding with the prepping solution, just depends on the amount of fraying going on. 
After you get it smooth, apply your compound with your finger, dry, then sand with 800 grit, then prime and dye. Leather Crack Filler works with both solvent and water based dyes where as water based works only with water based, also be careful applying it over an already dyed area with water based, just use lighter coats, it will peel if you not careful, it is a solvent. I’ve also used Leather Crack Filler as a filler on other things too other then leather, kinda like a primer surfacer, works great. Dash repairs and even vinyl repairs, I’ve used it on many applications, it’s just a good all around filler to keep on hand for us automotive interior professionals.
Glues on leather steering wheels, well it depends. I’ve tried water based glues to lay down the frayed leather but never really had any luck with it, it peels. Never fails I try it thinking maybe things will be different but when I apply a filler over the top, and then go to sand it and it peels every time. About the only glue I’ve found that works well on a leather steering wheel is super glue. The trick works great, but after a while it will spider crack so only use this for quick fixes or holes in the steering wheel. The best way to eliminate fraying is like I said, sanding it smooth. I have had luck with the water based for snags or small chunks where you still have the leather peice and all you need is to lay it back down with a little glue.
Well we all have our favorite leather repair compounds for each job and I’d love to hear which ones you use to get the job done. Steering wheel repair can be difficult because of the normal everyday abuse, but if done right, the right leather repair compounds are used and the right leather dye, one can make a steering look new and last for years to come.
Talk to ya soon,
Mike “TIG”
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