Frequently asked questions

Frame

Old frames are sanded or blasted and painted in the desired color. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend hot-dip galvanizing on old frames, as we cannot guarantee the silicon content of the steel. If the silicon content is incorrect, the hot-dip galvanizing process may significantly weaken the steel.

Wooden Parts

Scrape or sand off old paint from the wooden parts and treat with new oil or paint; feel free to ask for advice at the paint store. If the wooden parts are rotten or damaged, you can purchase new wood kits; check out the accessories page. Also, see the assembly instructions for wood kits. Information about color schemes over the years can be found here.

Yes, there are wood kits available in untreated wood. Note that the seat width on older A2 models is 50 cm compared to today’s 45 cm, so make sure to order the correct wood kit. Please double-check the measurements. Also, note that the table tops do not have umbrella holes.

Read more on the accessories page.

The back slats should be vertical, while the seat slats are horizontal and all the same length. The frame that follows the curve to the ground all the way around should be made of solid spring steel (not tubing). Most furniture pieces have a Grythyttan emblem, but it may have come loose. If you’re unsure, write to us via the contact form and attach a photo for evaluation.

There are a few craftsmanship details that indicate the age. The oldest frames from the 1930s are riveted at the back and armrest joints. Around 1940, welding began to be used for the frames, and in 1954 the first stackable armchairs were introduced. Until 1962, a “flat oval” profile was used for the frames, after which it was replaced by the round profile we use today. In 1963, the dimensions of the A2 armchair were slightly reduced, including a reduction in seat width from the previous 50 cm to today’s 45 cm. This reduction was primarily made to decrease the chair’s weight.

For more information, see the overview.

The first A2 armchair, introduced in 1930, had a dark red frame. The red color was used throughout most of the 1930s. In the 1940s, frames began to be painted orange (color no. RAL 2010) with wooden details in yellow-stained and varnished pine. This “classic” orange color was also used throughout most of the 1950s, although light green and white frames were also available during this period. In the 1960s and 1970s, frames were white with blue or red-lacquered pine slats. In the 1970s and 1980s, variants with pressure-treated or brown-stained pine were also common. In the 1990s, the dark green frame color was introduced, which was used until 2019. Starting in 2007, frames began to be hot-dip galvanized.

Download the fact sheet.

We produce only a fixed number of furniture pieces each year because the manufacturing process cannot be automated. If the furniture in the finish you want is sold out at your local store, you can inquire with our resellers in neighboring counties. You can find their addresses under Find a Store.

Grythyttan Stålmöbler collaborates with stores around the world. You can find their addresses under Find a Store.

No, the important thing is to clean and oil the pine and oak wooden parts. Feel free to ask at the paint store which oil they recommend for this purpose.

Yes, that’s fine; just make sure the oil has fully dried before applying a surface treatment. Be sure to clean and sand the furniture thoroughly first.

Of the types of wood in our range, oak is the one we recommend for painting. Oak is dimensionally stable and is a hard wood, which makes it suitable for painting.

The level of shine depends on how quickly the hot-dip galvanized coating cools. Different types of steel also result in different levels of shine. Where the steel has been worked, such as the “twist” on the frame of the A2 armchair, it’s always slightly shinier. Bent tubes, like those used for table frames, cool faster than solid steel bars, like the chair frames for the A2 and High Tech armchairs. Over time, all hot-dip galvanized steel parts develop the same gray hue.

The graying process occurs naturally and depends on weather conditions, sunshine, and rain. The front of armchairs and chairs usually grays faster. The more sunshine and rain, the faster the graying process.

The furniture is made in Grythyttan, Sweden.

Here you can read more about our history

Here you can read more about the craftsmanship behind the furniture

Here you can read more about our environmental certifications

The company was founded in 1895 by Karl Lindqvist and was originally named KR Lindqvist Smidesverkstad, producing items such as horseshoes. Today, the company is run by the fourth generation of the Lindqvist family.

Here you can read more about the history of Grythyttan Stålmöbler

Teak naturally develops moisture spots due to its high oil content, which is a completely natural reaction. When teak gets wet and then dries again, the natural oil in the wood seeps out, creating what appear to be moisture spots. This often occurs on the back of the chair backrest, as it doesn’t get as fully wet as the front during rain showers. If you position the chair back to allow more water exposure by tilting the furniture forward against the table repeatedly, the spots will gradually disappear, and the wood will achieve the same beautiful gray color and patina as the rest of the piece. Tabletops often develop moisture spots on the underside in the first few years since it doesn’t get as much water exposure as the top.

A common feature of all wood is that the color shade, grain pattern, and texture vary from piece to piece. No two pieces are alike, giving wooden details a lively appearance, in contrast to artificial materials. Different types of wood have unique properties, and here you’ll find information about the types of wood we use.

Pine

Pine comes from the pine tree. We use Swedish pine for our furniture, and all pine, except that used for Sofa 5, is PEFC certified. The reason Sofa 5 does not use PEFC-certified pine is that we have not yet sourced certified knot-free pine in a 190 cm length. Pine is naturally light in color but darkens with exposure to light over time. For the highest quality, we only use wood with vertical growth rings in our pine furniture. This means the growth rings align with the short side, minimizing the risk of warping. This also provides a harder surface on the product, making the wood components more dimensionally stable and less prone to cracking.

Read more about PEFC certification here.

South American Oak

South American oak is dimensionally stable and a hard wood, lighter than teak but darker than pine. It should be oiled a couple of times per year to ensure a long lifespan. Over time, the wood will gray naturally. As it is dimensionally stable, it is suitable for surface treatments like stain, paint, or lacquer. All of our South American oak is FSC certified.

Read more about FSC certification here.

Teak

The teak we use is plantation-grown and is approximately 25-30 years old when harvested. Teak contains a high natural oil content, making it suitable for harsh climates, such as coastal areas. Teak is form-stable and will gray over time. It doesn’t require oiling, as its natural oil content provides sufficient protection. However, for aesthetic reasons, you can oil it to achieve a beautifully warm brown tone.

How to care for your teak furniture

Read more about FSC certification here.

The steel comes from recycled scrap that is melted down. The molten steel is adjusted to the correct mixture before being formed into bars and furniture.

Yes, all powder-coated frames and furniture are treated with rust protection before they are coated.

It depends on which Ø100 cm frame you have. Often, it won’t fit directly, and you may need to get a bit creative, such as adding an extra board under the Ø120 cm tabletop. We do not offer this board as a spare part.

Coastal climates are tough on all surface coatings. We primarily recommend hot-dip galvanized frames for coastal climates.

Grythyttan Stålmöbler has been manufacturing furniture for nearly 100 years, and there have been minor differences over the years. A chair from 1965 may look the same to the eye as one made today, but the hole pattern has been adjusted over the years.

Tips on how to assemble your new wooden parts can be found here.

Information on how to maintain your furniture can be found here.