| Mention metal patio furniture and you
| |
| | and easily worked metallic element that
|
| probably think of the light, fly-away
| |
| | never rusts. Much of the early aluminum
|
| aluminium loungers of your youth or that
| |
| | furniture from the 1960s was made from
|
| half-ton cast iron table and chair set on
| |
| | hollow-core extrusion tubing. Such
|
| your neighbour's lawn.But metal outdoor
| |
| | furniture was extremely lightweight but
|
| furniture has come a long way. Here's a
| |
| | not exceedingly wind-stable. Such pieces
|
| quick primer on the available types and
| |
| | are still available today and are best
|
| their care.Construction MethodsMetal is
| |
| | used around a pool area. Cast aluminum is
|
| fashioned into furniture in one of three
| |
| | better used in outdoor dining or sitting
|
| main ways: extrusion, casting, and
| |
| | areas.Whether you're looking for
|
| welding.Extrusion forces melted metal
| |
| | extruded, cast or wrought aluminum items,
|
| through long pipes and forms long narrow
| |
| | there are a few items that indicate a
|
| tubes of metal, sometimes solid, but
| |
| | quality piece. As with wrought iron,
|
| often hollow.Casting metal involves a
| |
| | joints should be welded (preferably
|
| form, or cast, shaped like the finished
| |
| | full-circumference welds) rather than
|
| product. The molten metal is poured into
| |
| | bolted. If bolts are used, for example to
|
| the form and then the form is removed
| |
| | connect webbing, they should be made of
|
| when the metal has solidified. Cast
| |
| | aluminum or stainless steel. Otherwise
|
| pieces are almost always solid.Forging, a
| |
| | they will begin to rust even though the
|
| process in which metal is heated and
| |
| | main frame does not.Best quality aluminum
|
| hammered into shape produces the type of
| |
| | pieces have a powder-coated finish, which
|
| furniture known as "wrought" metal. It
| |
| | determines the final color of the piece
|
| uses pipes and various solid pieces of
| |
| | and the durability of the metal. Powder
|
| the metal and joins them together by
| |
| | coating is a process in which colorful
|
| welding or bolting.Common MaterialsThe
| |
| | polyester powders are applied and then
|
| most common metal outdoor furniture is
| |
| | baked onto the frame.If you're buying
|
| made from iron or aluminium, although the
| |
| | aluminum furniture with vinyl webbing or
|
| use of steel, especially stainless steel,
| |
| | straps, look for vinyl that has been
|
| is growing.Iron is a chemical element
| |
| | processed with mildew inhibitors and
|
| that is naturally malleable and rusts
| |
| | ultraviolet stabilizers. Any wooden
|
| easily. Vintage pieces, usually in black
| |
| | pieces mounted on aluminum frames should
|
| or dark green, can be found at premium
| |
| | be treated with a finish to guarantee
|
| prices and must be carefully maintained
| |
| | durability.Suntan oils, human
|
| to prevent further rusting. Modern
| |
| | perspiration, car exhaust and salt spray
|
| reproduction pieces will usually have a
| |
| | can all eat away at the powder coating on
|
| rust-resistant finish or coating that
| |
| | aluminum furniture. To ensure long life,
|
| protects against chipping, scratching and
| |
| | clean your aluminum furniture twice a
|
| corrosion. There are a variety of
| |
| | month with a solution of mild dish
|
| finishes available such as primer and
| |
| | detergent and warm water. Rinse well. You
|
| paint, powder coatings and galvanizing.
| |
| | can then apply paste car wax to any
|
| They are available in a range of colors
| |
| | smooth finish frames.Steel, a hard tough
|
| and styles.Since iron is heavy and solid,
| |
| | metal, is an alloy of iron and various
|
| it is well-suited for windy spots where
| |
| | small percentages of metallic elements.
|
| light furniture might be blown away.
| |
| | The alloys produce hardness and
|
| Don't expect it to be highly portable,
| |
| | resistance to rusting. Galvanized steel
|
| though. Well-cared for, iron furnishings
| |
| | has been plated with zinc; stainless
|
| can last for 100 years.Much of the iron
| |
| | steel has been alloyed with chromium and
|
| furniture available today is wrought
| |
| | is virtually immune to rust and
|
| iron, rather than cast iron. When you're
| |
| | corrosion.Before the production of
|
| buying wrought iron, look for pieces made
| |
| | aluminum furniture in the mid 20th
|
| with solid metal rather than hollow
| |
| | century, steel furniture was common,
|
| tubing, and that are welded, rather than
| |
| | dating from popular French-made items
|
| bolted, together. Generally, the better
| |
| | manufactured in the later half of the
|
| furniture is North American made.Iron
| |
| | 1800s. American companies used solid
|
| furniture requires more maintenance than
| |
| | steel until the Second World War when the
|
| other types of metal furniture. Clean it
| |
| | heavy military demand for steel dictated
|
| regularly with warm soapy water and then
| |
| | the use of lightweight tubular (hollow)
|
| dry it thoroughly. Wax the smooth
| |
| | steel in outdoor furniture. Vintage steel
|
| surfaces and apply mineral or baby oil to
| |
| | sets can still be found at flea
|
| textured surfaces. Oil springs and moving
| |
| | markets.If you're looking at modern steel
|
| parts once per year. Immediately touch up
| |
| | furniture, be sure the product is either
|
| any scratches or rust by lightly sanding
| |
| | stainless or powder-coated and that any
|
| the spot with a fine steel wool. Then
| |
| | hardware used is also
|
| apply several thin coats of metal paint,
| |
| | rust-resistant.Metal outdoor furniture in
|
| letting each coat dry well before
| |
| | its many shapes and designs can be a
|
| applying the next. If you're using a
| |
| | wonderful addition to your outdoor living
|
| spray paint, apply with short light
| |
| | space. Choose wisely and enjoy!
|
| stokes.Aluminum is a silvery, lightweight
| |
| |
|
