all hope chairs and benches are manufactured to fold, enabling easier storage or transportation when required. many people forget about this folding facility and neglect to oil the joints. dirt, particularly with the rust finish, can accumulate in the joints causing difficulty folding and in some cases breakage, when forced.

regular oiling is recommended on ALL finishes.
use a lubricating oil (like 3-in-one) on all the articulating rivet points.
gently fold and unfold the product to remind it of this characteristic.
if you have neglected to oil and fold the product for a long period, apply oil and allow to stand for a few hours before attempting to fold it.