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Mention
metal patio furniture and you probably think of the light, fly-away
aluminum loungers of your youth or that half-ton
cast iron table and chair set on your neighbor's lawn.
But
metal patio furniture has come a long way. Here's a quick primer on the
available types and their care.
Construction Methods
Metal is
fashioned into furniture in one of three main ways: extrusion, casting, and
welding.
Extrusion
forces melted metal through long pipes and forms long narrow tubes of metal,
sometimes solid, but often hollow.
Casting
metal involves a form, or cast, shaped like the finished product. The molten
metal is poured into the form and then the form is removed when the metal has
solidified. Cast pieces are almost always solid.
Forging,
a process in which metal is heated and hammered into shape produces the type of
furniture known as "wrought" metal. It uses pipes and various solid pieces of
the metal and joins them together by welding or bolting.
Common
Materials
The most
common
metal outdoor furniture is made from
iron or
aluminum, although the use of steel, especially
stainless steel, is growing.
Iron is a
chemical element that is naturally malleable and rusts easily. Vintage pieces,
usually in black or dark green, can be found at premium prices and must be
carefully maintained to prevent further rusting. Modern reproduction pieces will
usually have a rust-resistant finish or coating that protects against chipping,
scratching and corrosion. There are a variety of finishes available such as
primer and paint, powder coatings and galvanizing. They are available in a range
of colors and styles.
Since
iron is heavy and solid, it is well-suited for windy spots where light furniture
might be blown away. Don't expect it to be highly portable, though. Well-cared
for, iron furnishings can last for 100 years.
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