Any chance of saving this steering wheel ?

>>> Just wondering if there is a chance to save this steering wheel. It was sticky from a day I bought this used car.

To save this leather steering wheel would require a total restoration that involves stripping the already damaged topcoat, stripping all unknown conditioners and cleaners residue; degreasing and protonating; hydrating and fatliquor replenishing; and topcoat refinishing.

>>> Now it looks leather top coat/glaze is gone

Pictures show that they are partially gone; it has to be all gone with an even appearance prior to new application of topcoat.
1- Stripping:
The entire blotchy partial random finishes is to be stripped with Stripper-2.3 > Rinse-3.0 system using tools like Brush-1, Eraser-4 and 2000grit Sandpaper (sandpaper is only to used to remove finishes and only very lightly on the unfinished leather). When the steering has an even appearance throughout proceed to degreasing it.

>>> A friend of mine advised to wash this wheel with rubbing alcohol. I think it was a big mistake. True, dirt was kind of washed away and wheel wasn't sticky for a short period of time. After a week or so it became sticky again even more. Leather is sticky again accumulating hand sweat /dirt quicker.

This washing with rubbing alcohol is an incomplete process as it leaves the leather more vulnerable to recontamination. Sweaty contamination when ferment weakens the positive (+ve) ionic hydrogen bonding attraction of the leather protein fiber with its tanning agent, thus slowly reverting to rawhide is one reason.

>>> I've tried all kinds of detergents to get wheel cleaned with no luck.

Leather protein fiber is an amphoteric material, influence by pH especially from alkaline detergent and will shift it ionic negative (-ve). Thus repels the other leather constituents like the tanning agent that preserves the leather from stickiness and the fatliquor that keeps the leather soft from cracking.

2- Degreasing & Protonating:
Degreasing is to remove absorbed foreign contamination from within the leather structure to resurface. Using Degreaser-2.2 with a pH of 2.2, it degreases and protonates the leather protein fiber charging it ionic more positive (+ve) at the same time. Follows by rinsing with Rinse-3.0 to a squeaky healthy feel.

When the leather appearance and stickiness problem is satisfactorily rectified, the next phase is to rejuvenate them. Leather rejuvenating involves Hydrator-3.3 to precondition the leather structure prior to effective fatliquor (fat, oil and water) replenishing them with Fatliquor-5.0. This ensures the softness of the leather structure when dry and prevents it from premature cracking.

3- Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0

Refinishing the topcoat may includes the sealing of surface grain damages with Adhesor-73, prevents topcoating stickiness due to impurities from the leather may require Crosslinker-25. Gloss is the preferred topcoat for the first application and thereafter the luster level can be adjusted to satin or matte accordingly.

4- Adhesor-73 > MicroTop-54 + Crosslinker-25

Protection from stickiness and wear is part of routine leather care and is recommended. Protector-D impart a dull finish, besides for wear resistant, non-slip grip and non-stick feel.

5- Protector-D

Roger Koh
Leather Care Consultant
www.LeatherDoctor.com

Products information:

Attachment 2369
Leather Doctor Kit Ap5.dr – Auto Pigmented (perforated) Leather Degreaser Kit
Leather Doctor® Kit Ap5.dr, auto pigmented (perforated) leather degreaser kit is an innovative leather-safe degreasing system designed for sticky leather steering wheel. Oil, grease and sweat contacts easily builds up to an unwanted sticky shine. Unlike solvent based degreaser, that further dries the leather of its fat and oil, Degreaser-2.2 is waterbased with a pH of 2.2 close to the neutral pH 3 - 5 of leather to take care of sweaty soiling. Besides effectively emulsifying the greasy contamination, it strengthens the leather’s pH chemistry integrity charging the leather fiber ionic positive to maintain the ionic attraction between the other ionic negative leather constituents like the tanning agent and the fatliquor. The suspended emulsified contamination is removed with Rinse-3.0. Hydrator-3.3 relaxes stiff leather and removes surface tension to the desired appearance prior to fat and oil replenishing. Fatliquor-5.0 rejuvenates the leather for the desired softness with suppleness when dry. MicroTop-54M is a matte urethane OEM grade topcoat for renewing existing deteriorated topcoat. Protector-D imparts a draggy-feel for a safer grip to complete this holistic leather degreasing system for sticky steering wheel. Note that the mentioned products suffix numbers denotes its pH value for a safer degreasing approach to pH sensitive leather. Leather is an amphoteric material and shifting of it pH value obliviously causes the leather to denature and reverts to rawhide.
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/servlet...-Ap5.dr/Detail

Attachment 2370
Leather Doctor Adhesor-73
Leather Doctor® Adhesor-73 is an auxiliary for refinishing pigmented, aniline, bicast and simulated leathers. This is a waterbased compact resin adhesion promoter for a) smoothening abraded surfaces, b) ensure proper sealing and adhesion prior to color coating and c) used after Wax Effect-8.6 prior to topcoat application.
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/servlet...-73/Categories

Attachment 2371
Leather Doctor Crosslinker-25

Leather Doctor® Crosslinker-25 is an auxiliary for refinishing topcoats to improve adhesion properties and increase its film strength. This is a high solid crosslinker without the VOC (volatile organic compound). It is super-concentrated and when incorporating 5 to 10% to the topcoat it will significantly boost adhesion. By creating a tougher film that also ties up some of the hydrophilic elements that eliminate stickiness.
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/servlet...-25/Categories