So, what do women's boots and steering wheels have in common?

[SCWDP911]

Some of you may have seen me post yesterday that I had a nutty idea. Well, here it is. I am one of the world's leading cheapskates. I bought this Dino wheel from a guy on the board here. It needed work (which he made clear in the beginning). So it has sat in my trunk the last few months. I finally took it in to my local uhpolstery guy who decided to confirm to me that he has been sniffing too much automotive uhpolstery glue - he wanted $600 to re wrap the wheel from scratch. That was bogus. I have also been checking on line and have not been able to find a rewrap lit for it form anyone, except at about $250. That is just for kit. I still think a little high. Next up, my local shoe repair guy - his blank gaze said it all...

So what am I going to do. I check with about the only place in town that sells leather - thinking "HECK, I WILL DO THIS MYSELF". They want $75 for a half hide. I figure that is not bad. Oh man, then it hits me... the mother of all cheapskate ideas. I start to wonder if I can find an old leather coat or skirt or something, and I will use it for the materials. I remember that we have an old black leather coat hat my youngest daughter has outgrown! Bing bing bing! Nope - wife tells me she donated it to Goodwill...

Hey, wait a minute... to be continued in part 2...

[SCWDP911]

yep... I drove down to the local Goodwill, searching for my pot of leather. I looked in the womens coats and skirts sections and no dice. Bummer I think. I am walking out thinking it fell just short of genious, and then, I walk past the women's shoes! Bingo! They have tons of real tall black boots. As luck wold have it, I find two of the same pair, adn both are 100% dead cow. And so the wacko idea begins.

Continued in part 3....

[SCWDP911]

The unwrapping begins... I do not know if the stock Porsche wheels are like this, but the Dino wheels basically have the skins glued on with only three or four stiches overall to tack in down in key spots. A little bit of a pain to peel it off, but it is off. Now, I have to figure out how to use the old fairly stiff and twisted skin as a pattern for the new skins (that use to adorn some woman's feet). Here are the initial pics. More to come as project progresses...

[mmasse]

keep going. Whatever you are going to do. please, post pics!

Edit: You hit the sbmit button just before me...thanks for the pics

[SCWDP911]

I need a little time to get to the next step. Sub and you will be updated as progress churns along.

[Super_Dave_D]

Dude, you are crazy - the heels alone will impede your driving!

[Porsche_monkey]

This can't end well, can it?

[defcon65]

I like it! Cheapskate repairs are so much more satisfying then buying, installing, etc. Try wetting and ironing the old wrap before trying to use it as a template. You may want to cruise back down to Goodwill to get an old iron for this - every shop needs one! When it comes time to stitch together the pieces, the shoe repair guy can do it for you and make a strong seam. Post pictures! This is the mother of all bootstrap repairs, yuk, yuk.

[Porsche_monkey]

Upholsterers use heat and steam on leather, get a kettle and an iron at Goodwill.

[cgarr]

Its gunna smell like fish ya know!

[Rick V]

And the look on the wifes face was...........as you walked in the house toting a couple pairs of womens boots?

[Super_Dave_D]

I figured I would steal your idea and try it out - the placement turned me on at first but the heels kept kicking me in the balz

[SCWDP911]

See, it works Dave!

On a serious note, my project may be over for a day or two until I find some nice sewer to stitch together the pieces here. I have someone from church who said she can do it for me, maybe even tonight. The hard part is going to be the final stitching. I have been playing with my new needles and holy cow! It's tough when there are not existing holes! Of course the original Dino leather was basically glued on - but then I am thinking they probably use some sort of press i their process.

[DonNewton]

So Dave, what did the boss have to say when she saw her boots zip-tied to your steering wheel? Dave, you still with us? Should we call the police?

[Green 912]

I can see the lady behind the counter at goodwill. "Sure, your gonna use them on you car... you want some slacks and a bra to go with them?"

[Super_Dave_D]

Originally posted by DonNewton
So Dave, what did the boss have to say when she saw her boots zip-tied to your steering wheel? Dave, you still with us? Should we call the police?

Thats funny - She just looked at me like I was crazy and said "Those are new - you better not put a mark on them". I was careful (didnt want to scratch my wheel)

[SCWDP911]

Originally posted by Green 912
I can see the lady behind the counter at goodwill. "Sure, your gonna use them on you car... you want some slacks and a bra to go with them?"

To quote said lady: "You're gonna what?!"

[Moses]

Originally posted by PBH
This can't end well, can it?

Not likely, but I'm subscribing. It's like watching a train wreck...

[SCWDP911]

Yahoo, Just ard from my sewing lady. She is going to do it for me first thing in the morning.

Here is where I am at right now. Old skin next to the new skins.

[SCWDP911]

Try that again...