Sling Installation Instructions

Please print and read carefully before installation

Should you replace your slings on your Samsonite Furniture or go buy new furniture ?  A legitimate question that needs review -   Consider these things to make an educated decision:  Your Samsonite Furniture has lasted a long time.  There is nothing comparable to it on the market place.  We often see customers still replacing their Samsonite Slings even 25 to 30 years after purchase.  The Samsonite sling is very strong and its two-ply or body-glove sling is much stronger and more durable than those single-ply Aluminum slings found in the big box stores.  Aluminum furniture slings will last on average 2 to 7 years and they also will have to be replaced.  The Samsonite sling last on average 5 to 15 years.  You have also enjoyed your Samsonite Furniture for many years and you have really not found chairs or chaises you like as much or that are as comfortable.  The value in replacing your Samsonite Steel slings is easy to find.  You can literally have a "new-look" on your Samsontie Furniture that you are very comfortable with for less costs than lower quality furniture made these days overseas.

Replacing your Samsonite Slings can be facilitated by reading and adhering very closely to these instructions.  Is it a task to put them on ?  It can be considering most people do not do this every day and therefore they are unfamiliar with the procedure. 

Keep in mind that you want the material to be tight.  If it is not tight, then both aesthetically and functionally you are not going to be pleased with the product or the result.  Therefore, to this end -  instructions must be followed.

Because you want the material to be tight, you do not pull the sling on like you do a shirt or blouse but rather you must pound the sling on (do not worry - we explain below).  Before you say, oh no.... I could never that ... we assure you that you can by following closely with these instructions.  On a rare occasion someone will contact us and say their replacement slings they ordered are too small (remember we mentioned they must be tight).  If they ordered the correct model, which is our first order of elimination, this is extremely unlikely.

 Our plant personnel and equipment are defined by patterns and limits.  What we manufacture today will be the same dimensionally as what we manufactured last year and what we manufacture next year.  For your measure of confidence, we guarantee Samsonite Replacement Slings to fit or we will install for you at no charge.  Requirements are these:  You must have tried to install yourself;  You must ship by UPS the "bucket" frame to our plant; and also ship the bucket frames back to your home.  Please note that it is not inexpensive to ship these products to and from our facility.

Detailed Instructions

Please be sure as you take your frames apart that you keep the same bucket frame (portion of frame sling goes on) with the same base frame.  If you have to number the frames and the buckets or if you need to just keep them together you just want to make sure the bucket you take off one base goes back on the very same base frame.  One way to make sure this happens is to do one chair at a time to completion.

First, lay your slings out in the full sun.  Make sure they are opened up or unfolded.  It is best to place them on an asphalt surface or on your car and leave them in 75+ degree weather for at least 90 to 120 minutes.  If you are in a climate cooler or in a season of year that will not permit above, lay them out unfolded in your home near a heat source blowing on them such as a central air duct.  Do not lay them near a fireplace or expose them to intense heat as you may melt the components or risk a fire that could endanger your life.

While the slings are warming, go to your furniture and remove the bucket frame from the base frame.  The bucket frame is that portion of the frame that houses the sling seating material (i.e. the part of the frame the sling goes on).  Generally, four to six screws will allow you to do this procedure.  Lay your hardware to the side in a safe place as you will use later.  With the bucket off the base, remove any plastic components on any chaise lounges or chair models that may have plastic components.  Lay the plastic components aside for install later. 

Cut the old sling off of your chairs / chaises.  Do not try to pull off or save.  The old sling will not be of any value to you once removed.  At this point wash and wax your frames.  That is correct - wash and wax.  Wash, just as you would your car, using dishwashing liquid and water.  Wax, just as you would your car, using any good quality of car wax on the frame.  We might mention that if your frames are embedded with dirt from over the years you can remove most of the embedded dirt by applying Turtle Wax Automotive Chrome Polish found in any WalMart or Automotive Store.  This polish has a light grade pumice which can lift embedded dirt from solid substrates.

Side Note:  Every spring you should wash and wax your furniture.  You do not remove installed slings.  Once slings are installed they are never to be removed unless being replaced.  However, you may wash everything and then wax only the frames exposed to the sun.  This will extend the function and life of your furniture just as wax will extend the finish of your vehicle.  Your steel frames are coated with PVC or Poly Vinyl Chloride.  It is 20x thicker than any powder coated surface.  The UV rays of the sun will break down this coating over time and thus shorten the frame life.  Wax will protect against these UV rays.  If you have not been doing this..... it is never too late to start.

For Chairs with single L-Shaped Frame-

Lay down folded up on the ground two beach-type towels.  You will be using these for cushioning or padding.  You now need to apply a thin coating of a lubricant to your bucket frame.  A H2O based lubricant will work best - as you may easily rinse off.  Petroleum Jelly will work as well. Go get one of the slings that has been warming in the sun.  Start the pocket opening at the top and back.  Hold the frame and fabric at the top and raise the frame over your head (in a hammer style motion - hammers are NOT involved) and forcefully slam the frame down on the beach towels.  You will move the sling on about 3" to 4" at a time.  In essence, what you are doing by this procedure is forcing the bucket frame up and into the sling material.  Continue this process until you have worked the sling on as far down as you can.  Now, take a large screwdriver WRAPPED IN A TERRY CLOTH and carefully pry over one corner of the pocket at a time.  If you find you cannot get the second corner on, remove the first corner and set the frame on the ground and step/walk on the fabric in the seating portion of the chair.  This will allow you to stretch the fabric a little and should give you enough stretch to go back and try the corner pockets in reverse order.  Once installed, place bucket back on the base frame and enjoy your new look chairs.

For Chaise Lounges

Warm slings as above.  Go to chaise and remove bucket frame from base frame by first popping runners from glides under bottom at front.  This is very easy.  Stand on bucket frame and place hand in front end portion of bucket (where your feet would lay) and pull upward quickly.  The gliders will pop right out of glide holders.  (You will reinstall by putting glides on top of glide holders and using your foot stomp the bucket downward into the glide holders).  Remove any plastic components and lay aside for later.  Wash and wax frame as described above.  Fold frame at hinge area and rest the hinges on the towels described above.  Put a thin coat of petroleum jelly on frame as described above.  Go get one of the slings that has been warming.  Start on the foot or seat portion of frame (this portion will be extending taller than back portion) by putting pocket on frame.  Raise frame up above you and slam frame down on hinges.  Continue this procedure until you get down equal with the back and then start the back simultaneously with the seat.  Do a little on the back and a little on the seat.  Once the material is over the bar on the seat portion you can gently open frame about 5 inches and gently stomp your foot down into the middle of the material until the sling is down onto the frame completely on the back and completely on the seat.  Place back on bucket frame.

For Chairs with Tension Rods

The instructions provided in written form in each shipment should be followed.  The process is essentially the same as above except you have three sections of frame instead of one.

We are available to talk you through any area you need help.  You may reach us 888 808 2253 during standard business hours.