| Aluminum, Iron & Steel - Oh, my! Metal
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| | furniture from the 1960swas made from
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| Outdoor Furniture Explained
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| | hollow-core extrusion tubing. Such
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| Mention metal patio furniture and you
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| | furniture wasextremely lightweight but
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| probably think of the light,fly-away
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| | not exceedingly wind-stable. Such
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| aluminium loungers of your youth or that
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| | piecesare still available today and are
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| half-ton cast irontable and chair set on
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| | best used around a pool area.
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| your neighbour's lawn.
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| | Castaluminum is better used in outdoor
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| But metal outdoor furniture has come a
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| | dining or sitting areas.
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| long way. Here's a quickprimer on the
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| | Whether you're looking for extruded, cast
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| available types and their care.
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| | or wrought aluminum items,there are a few
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| Construction Methods
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| | items that indicate a quality piece. As
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| Metal is fashioned into furniture in one
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| | with wroughtiron, joints should be welded
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| of three main ways:extrusion, casting,
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| | (preferably full-circumference
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| and welding.
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| | welds)rather than bolted. If bolts are
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| Extrusion forces melted metal through
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| | used, for example to connectwebbing, they
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| long pipes and forms longnarrow tubes of
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| | should be made of aluminum or stainless
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| metal, sometimes solid, but often hollow.
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| | steel.
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| Casting metal involves a form, or cast,
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| | Otherwise they will begin to rust even
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| shaped like the finishedproduct. The
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| | though the main frame doesnot.
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| molten metal is poured into the form and
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| | Best quality aluminum pieces have a
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| then the formis removed when the metal
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| | powder-coated finish, whichdetermines the
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| has solidified. Cast pieces are
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| | final color of the piece and the
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| almostalways solid.
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| | durability of themetal. Powder coating is
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| Forging, a process in which metal is
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| | a process in which colorful
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| heated and hammered into shapeproduces
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| | polyesterpowders are applied and then
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| the type of furniture known as "wrought"
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| | baked onto the frame.
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| metal. It usespipes and various solid
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| | If you're buying aluminum furniture with
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| pieces of the metal and joins them
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| | vinyl webbing or straps,look for vinyl
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| togetherby welding or bolting.
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| | that has been processed with mildew
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| Common Materials
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| | inhibitors andultraviolet stabilizers.
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| The most common metal outdoor furniture
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| | Any wooden pieces mounted on aluminum
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| is made from iron oraluminium, although
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| | framesshould be treated with a finish to
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| the use of steel, especially stainless
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| | guarantee durability.
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| steel, isgrowing.
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| | Suntan oils, human perspiration, car
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| Iron is a chemical element that is
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| | exhaust and salt spray can alleat away at
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| naturally malleable and rustseasily.
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| | the powder coating on aluminum furniture.
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| Vintage pieces, usually in black or dark
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| | To ensure longlife, clean your aluminum
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| green, can be foundat premium prices and
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| | furniture twice a month with a solution
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| must be carefully maintained to prevent
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| | ofmild dish detergent and warm water.
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| furtherrusting. Modern reproduction
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| | Rinse well. You can then applypaste car
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| pieces will usually have a rust-resistant
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| | wax to any smooth finish frames.
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| finish or coating that protects against
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| | Steel, a hard tough metal, is an alloy of
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| chipping,scratching and corrosion. There
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| | iron and various smallpercentages of
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| are a variety of finishes availablesuch
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| | metallic elements. The alloys produce
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| as primer and paint, powder coatings and
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| | hardness andresistance to rusting.
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| galvanizing. They areavailable in a range
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| | Galvanized steel has been plated with
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| of colors and styles.
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| | zinc;stainless steel has been alloyed
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| Since iron is heavy and solid, it is
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| | with chromium and is virtuallyimmune to
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| well-suited for windy spotswhere light
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| | rust and corrosion.
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| furniture might be blown away. Don't
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| | Before the production of aluminum
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| expect it to behighly portable, though.
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| | furniture in the mid 20th century,steel
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| Well-cared for, iron furnishings can
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| | furniture was common, dating from popular
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| lastfor 100 years.
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| | French-made itemsmanufactured in the
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| Much of the iron furniture available
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| | later half of the 1800s. American
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| today is wrought iron, ratherthan cast
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| | companies usedsolid steel until the
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| iron. When you're buying wrought iron,
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| | Second World War when the heavy military
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| look for pieces madewith solid metal
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| | demandfor steel dictated the use of
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| rather than hollow tubing, and that are
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| | lightweight tubular (hollow) steel
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| welded,rather than bolted, together.
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| | inoutdoor furniture. Vintage steel sets
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| Generally, the better furniture is
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| | can still be found at fleamarkets.
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| North American made.
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| | If you're looking at modern steel
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| Iron furniture requires more maintenance
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| | furniture, be sure the product iseither
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| than other types of metalfurniture. Clean
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| | stainless or powder-coated and that any
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| it regularly with warm soapy water and
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| | hardware used is alsorust-resistant.
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| then dry itthoroughly. Wax the smooth
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| | Metal outdoor furniture in its many
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| surfaces and apply mineral or baby oil
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| | shapes and designs can be awonderful
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| totextured surfaces. Oil springs and
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| | addition to your outdoor living space.
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| moving parts once per year.
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| | Choose wisely andenjoy!
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| Immediately touch up any scratches or
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| | Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and
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| rust by lightly sanding thespot with a
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| | operates Paradise Porch,and is dedicated
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| fine steel wool. Then apply several thin
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| | to helping people create outdoor living
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| coats of metalpaint, letting each coat
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| | spaces thatnurture and enrich them. Her
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| dry well before applying the next. If
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| | latest how-to guide "Attracting
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| you'reusing a spray paint, apply with
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| | Butterflies to Your Home and Garden" is
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| short light stokes.
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| | now available on her website. Visit her
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| Aluminum is a silvery, lightweight and
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| | at and get a free reporton "Eight easy
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| easily worked metallic elementthat never
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| | ways to create privacy in your outdoor
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| rusts. Much of the early aluminum
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| | space". Mail todebbie@...
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