4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS FABRIC THREAD & VELCRO All Stock fabrics are solution dyed acrylic or 100% polypropylene. In “solution dyed” fabric every fiber in the yarn receives dye. Solution dyed fabric is more fade resistant than traditionally dyed fabric. PTFE thread is made from specially engineered fluoropolymer, not polyester like typical thread. This thread is UV and water resistant, and will not break down from harsh chemicals such as bleach or chlorine. O.W. Lee also uses polyester Velcro to attach the cushion to the metal frame which has better UV resistance than traditional nylon Velcro. O.W. Lee employs an extensive process to apply a long-lasting powder coating finish to our frames. RAW MATERIALS Starting with raw materials, O.W. Lee adheres to the highest quality standards. Our raw aluminum, iron tubing and sheets used to make chair, table, and fire pit frames are often the most durable available on the market. CONSTRUCTION Steel and aluminum pieces are bent into exact shapes and then hand forged with a hammer and anvil, a process unchanged since blacksmiths in the middle ages. Wherever there is an intersection of metal, we use a full-circumference weld to join the metal together. We use a high amount of argon gas in our welds, which ensures a clean weld, free of bubble forming in the interior of the weld, which greatly contributes to weld breakage. Welds are ground and then polished first using a harder diamond disk to take the majority of the excess weld away, then a smoother sander disk is used to polish the welds. The goal is to create a consistent piece of metal from one furniture part to another. FINISH & PROCESS Using a chemical reaction, tiny paint-like particles known as “powder” adhere to the frame. The chemical reaction in powder coating causes the particles to spread evenly into every corner and crevasse of the frame, preventing exposed metal which can cause corrosion. Our 6-step powder coating process includes a 7-stage washer and drying oven, a zinc-rich primer coat, a baking process and then the final finish color is applied and cured. This process puts a 4-6 mil. thick finish on the metal, providing excellent protection against the outdoor elements.
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