Need help with this. I have 4 original 50's Bertoia coated wire side chairs that I grew up with but the white coating has become discolored, almost as if the metal underneath has stained it. Knoll describes the coating as "Rilsan, a very durable and adhesive fused nylon-dipped finish".

Also, the coating in several spots where the wire cross pieces are welded has worn through.

Is there a way to restore the coating without affecting the value of the chairs? I also have the original pads but the cloth webbing loops that snap to hold the pads has rotted.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Rislan was a later Knoll coating (mid 70s or 80s forward?). Its a very hard plastic and nearly impossible to chip or remove!!!

I am betting your chairs could be a heavy paint (if they are 50s vintage). If its rislan, it won't cut with a file or a wire wheel (think mini dremmel wire wheel). If it is rislan, you better not try to remove it. That stuff is like pure hell to remove just to do a weld. You can also tell what the coating is with a knife (if you know how hard platic acts). This is comparable to a cutting board made of plastic, it just doesn't chip and release with the knife.

On the other hand, if its paint, it will wire wheel right down with little effort. Either way its probably best to visit a chemical stripper or blasting facility. Then spray paint is totally OK for indoor use. I personally think powder coating is like rislan. A hard plastic coating, that is also hard to remove.

good luck