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