Iron Lawn Furniture Repair
We get several calls for repair concerning these older metal gliders and rockers.
The newer models are made with thinner, hollow, folded metal frames which hold the expanded metal backing – rather than solid metal. Most of them seem to fail in pretty much the same place at the upper joints along the back.
In either case, hollow or solid, the metal can get overheated during the initial manufacturing process and will fatigue and break near, or just after the welded joint. Once the metal has fatigued to this point – it can’t simply be welded again and rejoined – as the heat required would further fatigue the metal and start the process all over again.
This chair is one of three that we’ve been contacted about in the last month, all with breaks in identical locations.
In each case – a metal strip has to be fabricated and placed behind the break, where it is joined with the original metal. With this method, most of the weld heat goes into the new solid metal – and the older metal is covered and incorporated into the new joint.
This process creates a new, longer lasting joint that should meet or exceed the lifetime of the chair.
Some things to keep in mind:
The repair is not going to look like the original joint. It will usually be “beefier” for lack of a better term.
Also – much of the surrounding finish will have to be ground off with a wire wheel or sanding disk – and the heat from the welding process will damage the paint in the immediate area of the repair.
More may flake off post-repair. Just be aware that the chair is going to need some TLC afterward to hide the repair, as the whole process damages the existing finish/color/patina.
Given the metal fatigue – and the nature of the metal – they can’t just be “welded” – as the heat would just make the metal weak and the weld would likely fail again.
It requires the addition of a small brace piece of metal backing between the breaks – that is solid and can take the welding heat. Then the chair metal is joined to the brace. This process adds to the cost of the job. While not exorbitant, there’s is nothing “cheap” in the welding process. Every little thing adds up – in time and cost of expendables. We’ll happily provide fair and honest estimates for free.
This makes a lasting repair – though – maybe not an entirely pretty one – but one that is hard to notice once the chair is painted, and will last, creating value and rescuing an other wise functional “deck favorite” chair – which will hopefully be useful and comfortable for years to come.