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What is
Andure®?
It is
a proprietary resin alloy based on an ultraviolet
light protected co-polymer. This inherently tough
resin is alloyed with rutile titanium ore, which is
a crystalline structure harder than diamond with six
times the fire of diamond. While serving on
peer review for the Department of Energy, Maloney
observed that the means used to render the
stealth bomber invisible to radar could be used
to render furniture invisible to the Sun. After
years of testing, Andure® was borne.
Several advanced techniques are involved in the
unique manufacturing process which produces the
thick boards from which Fincastle’s furniture is
individually machined.
Why
won’t it chip peel, rust, rot or crack?
Because
all parts are machined from blocks of solid Andure®
there is no finish to peel, or chip. Being solid
there is no grain to spilt and nothing to rot.
Because no metal is used, there is nothing to rust.
The result is a product which cannot fall prey to
the pitfalls of furniture which has weak points know
as "failure modes".
How
can there be no screws or hardware in the assembly?
A
patented structural system based on true mortise and
tenon joinery is the secret. Like Thomas
Chippendale's joints in the 18th century,
Fincastle's joints go all the way through solid
boards of Andure®. Fincastle limits use
of hardware to the locking pins made of
stainless steel driven into the ends of the tennis
bench, stainless steel screws on the underside
only of the dining table and stainless steel pins in
the bottom of trash receptacles.
How
do I put it together?
But
for the exceptions listed above, no tool or hardware
is used so the process takes 20 seconds per chair
and about five minutes per dining table. This means
seasonal flat storage is a real possibility and
shipping flat via UPS saves time and money. You can
UPS a sample to a customer overnight.
How
long will Andure® last?
The
failure modes of lesser furniture are designed out
so Fincastle furniture will last for generations;
and then be recycled into new products. It is that
recyclablity and the clean manufacturing process of
converting raw material into finished goods that
earns Andre® the accolade,
environmentally friendly. Our designer, Tim
Maloney, is well known and much awarded for the
environmental intelligence of his designs.
What
is the cleaning procedure?
A
light rinsing with soap and water is the best
program. If Andre® furniture is left out
over the winter without cleaning, environmental
soiling will result. In that case soap is upgraded
to "Soft scrub" which has a mild abrasive which can
cut through all but the worst cases. The use of blue
SOS abrasive soap pads will remove even painted
graffiti. Cigarette burns are sanded off revealing a
new surface as bright as when new.
I
thought abrasives are bad for resin surfaces. For
conventional resins this is true. Ordinary resin
chairs are so thin that the tiny scratches left by
such abrasives can eventually lead to structural
failure. We’ve all seen cheap resin chairs with a
leg broken off. This can’t happen with Andure®
because at 1 1/8" and 3/4" thick parts Fincastle's
designs are grossly over designed against such
problems.
Why
do I hear that Fincastle furniture is windproof ?
Fincastle is about the same weight and price as teak
wood furniture. It’s just too heavy to blow around.
Ask about our wind tunnel photos.
Can
Andure® be painted?
The
Teflon® like surface of
Andure® makes it difficult to paint
without special processing.
What
colors are available?
We
started with white because it is the most popular.
Our next color is khaki. Andure®
can be made to match the color of your eyes in
special runs of about 700 pieces.
Doesn’t Andure® yellow when exposed over
time to severe sunlight?
That
is what Andure® is all about. Any soiling
that does occur can be taken off by abrasive
cleaners which are warned against in the case of
ordinary resin furniture products. Because of Andure®'s
formulation and extraordinary thickness, the "no
abrasive for resin" rule doesn't apply - 100 years
white.
What
is the guarantee?
Forever
period. Andure® will be replaced at any
time that surface cracking, rot, rust, pealing or
breakage occurs - without time limit. Clean the
surface of an Andure® chair in 100 years and it will
be bright as new.
I
have heard Andure® compared to Corian®,
Why?
It's
an illustrative comparison. Dupont's Corian®
is a sophisticated version of acrylic in the same
sense that Audure® is a sophisticated
version of olefin.
Is it
true that Andure® will scratch the same
as painted wood does?
Yes,
just about the same, but that is where the
similarity stops. With no finish to fail, the result
is the distressed look admired in all vintage
furniture and heirlooms. The low sheen of the
surface of Andure® causes such surface
scratches to blend into a rich look rather than a
damaged surface.
Do
you offer cushions?
Fincastle provides seat cushions for the arm chair,
the garden rocker, the 48" bench, the 48" rocker
bench, and the long bench. In each case the seat
cushions are physically captured between the arm
support and back without need for ties. The back
cushions have two ties at the top. All are made of
100% acrylic for maximum outdoor life. The internal
foam cushion is wrapped in polyester padding for
best appearance. Ask for our samples or we can quote
on a customers’ own material (COM) basis.
Are
the designs protected?
The
structural system of Fincastle's furniture is
covered by a U. S. Utility Patent which is not
limited by variations in style or appearance.
Additional patents are in preparation. All designs;
the names Substantial Resin, Fincastle Chair, Andure
and other intellectual property are copyrighted by
Fincastle LLC. The name Andure®, is a
registered copyright. Twenty -five percent of our
owners are lawyers. Infringements of intellectual
property are vigorously pursued.
I’ve
always been told that teak lasts forever without
maintenance. When first growth teak trees
were still available, that was more true than now.
Young plantation grown teak has annual rings of a
diameter much smaller than the grandfather
trees of yore. This means enormous stress grows
right into each board if it isn't of a very large
diameter. Over time that stress is relieved by the
process of cracking and checking. Indoors, this is
less of a problem. Teak is almost gone from the
yachting industry because of this modern day problem
of over cutting of mature forests. The virtues of
teak caused it to be cut faster than replacement
trees could reach the desired large diameter.
I
understand that I can put a logo or other art work
into the tracery of the chair and bench backs. How?
Provide your art and our designer will submit
proposals for carved in place artwork, and
the option of applied cloisonné medallions attached
to the rail which support the seat.
How
much does it cost?
A
little less than the teak, cast aluminum, and cast
iron which it replaces.
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