El Cheapo here
 

OK as some of you may know I have been looking for a used white Fountain (dune buggy) wheel. You have to remember we end up paying about a third more in dollar value than you do for anything imported from the States. Anyway I had an old black dune buggy wheel kicking around the garage (doesnt everyone?) so I had an idea. Picked up a can of white "Plasti Dip" for $8 at home depot. The stuff is used primarily to dip the handles of pliers, ratchets etc so they are easier on you hands. Dip it in the can , let it dry, presto , nice rubber grip. Anyway thinned it out with Naptha gas ($3) as per instructions, brushed it on, let dry.......too many brush stroke marks, not good. Set the wheel down on the floor with a bunch of newspapers under and just poured it freely all down over the rim and let dry.........Pretty damn GOOD I must say. I swear if it wasnt for the brush marks from the pevious application it would be awesome, this was a throw away wheel but it is good enough to put on the boat, it looks like a wheel that has a few years on it. I might just "splurge" and buy a new black wheel from the auto parts store for $30 (dealer said "Ahhh No " when I asked him about a new one from Fountain) then I'll have a nice smooth surface to work with. If Im not mistaken Plati Dip comes in black, white , red, yellow and blue........hmmmmm might be able to do something with that..............Doug

Doug,
I just replaced my dash with a white powder coated dash. My dealer sent me a new white wheel to see if I liked the color. Even new the wheel looks yellowish. I'm going to try to get my old wheel leather wrapped at a trim shop. I have a CRT wheel so I need to stay with the three-spoke wheel. If the trim shop can't help me I might be visiting Home Depot.

Dan

BTW, Cheap is good!!!! :D

Dan : The wheel has came out a VERY bright white now that is completly dry.............Doug

It seems to me if you bought enough to fill a pan up about 1 1/2 to 2" you could dip the wheel upside down and laying flat and it would be indistinguishable from a factory white wheel. Maybe fill the pan with water first and test to get the level just right before you set the wheel in.

Thats a good idea but you would want to turn it right side up in a hurry because it will drip off considerably and you will end up with little "points" at the end of the drips. I had the wheel right side up and lifted it up above my head and took a narrow brush and took off the excess while it was still very wet. After it set up the brush mark was practically gone. Its on the underside of the wheel and will not be visable when the wheel is on the boat............Doug Hey, hows the glass work going??