22-11-2020, 10:32 PM
I use a thick brown cord from an upholsterer, the stuff they use to locate the springs in a traditional sprung seat. Being thick you need less turns and it is a damn sight easier on the old hands. It takes about 20 minutes to do each section between the spokes of the wheel. Each section is done individually, there is no fancy stuff around the spokes, that is left to the MG men! I don't do the fancy French whipping stuff either and I think the nobbles on the rim could make that difficult if you tried. I call my system Yorkshire Whipping! When you finish you leave the last half dozen loops slack so that you can feed the cord back through on the reverse side where it is not visible. Pull the end of the cord with a pair of pliers carefully and the loose loops tighten up and grip the end of the cord which is then cut off with a sharp knife. The finish is a bit rustic and hairy at first, which you might like, but like Mark I give the cord a couple of coats of satin varnish which soaks in and sets hard, then a light sanding and more varnish if you want. I generally strip the old plastic off the rim and spokes and give the rim a coat of smooth black Hammerite, leaving the spokes as polished aluminium. Cost works out at about £2 a wheel.