Rebuilding Steering Wheel

[Hydroglen]

Thanks for all your inputs....
I have come up with a plan for my wheel, that is really not that bad. After
talking to my plater, he suggests stripping the chrome and polishing the
spokes. He will do this, and then paper taping the spokes and have a paint
shop Powder coat the rim in black. The plater will then take the powder
coated rim and chrome the spokes. Any repairs to the rim can be done with
various magic epoxies and fine finished by the painter before Powder
coating. I will be using a shop that does motorcycles and are therefore used
to fixing and painting small bits.
So this is the proces I will follow this coming winter. I need the wheel on
the car for now, as steering gripping only the hub is particularly arduous
when parking! Even with white knuckles showing......
I realize Geoff and others might be concerned about the durability of
epoxies and the flexing of the spokes, but I think it worth a try. This
after all is pretty much what some of the restoration houses do so. The cost
will be substantially less and no VAT to deal with.
Fortunately vintage parts coming in from the USA and other countries arrive
with little or no GST ( duty equivalent) as the senders have learnt to be
creative with their paperwork....not so from Merry Olde England!

Dorien

[Kevin H]

For those who want to continue the debate about import duty, VAT, GST etc, I have moved the off topic posts to a new thread here http://www.bristolcars.info/forums/showthread.php?t=220

[Hydroglen]

Ash,
There is a problem with the posting.....My answer was not directed at you,
but rather in response to another one. By the way, I agree that it doesn't
cost them anything to declare that the part is for a vintage vehicle.
Unfortunately we have much evidence to show that they won't do this on a
regular basis. This is a costly mistake and particularly annoyng when we
were given to understand that the item will be correctly classified and then
it is not. When complaining, we get the feeble excuse that they do not know
for sure how or were the part will be used, and will therefore not declare
it for a vintage car or ??
Fair enough.....but then don't take my money and sell me something under
false pretences. Talk about a fiddle.....
Cheers
Dorien

[Ashley James]

Dorien

It goes without saying that if you are compelled to buy anything from
the most expensive country on the planet, then you should email me for
assistance as we are exporting stuff all over the world all the time
and will be happy to make sure you get it without the benefit of our
VAT as well as your own taxes.

With apologies to Kevin for not leaping to a new category specifically
designed to discuss taxes. I'd rather slash my wrists!

Ash

[Hydroglen]

Ash....Thanks will call you for sure if the occasion arises.
Dorien