All manufacturers produce one-piece cast arms and door pivots. Dawson manufactures stainless steel and bronze castings to match the door material. Other competitors on stainless doors use a bronze cast arm that will oxidize over time and require maintenance.

Arm Bearings:

Dawson uses self-aligning needle bearings in all door pivots, not plastic sleeve bearings.

Hinge Shaft:

Dawson uses a 1.9" diameter steel tube with 3/16" minimum wall section.

Guide Box:

The Dawson guide box is made of one piece cast 304 stainless steel. The stainless is 50% stronger, more than twice as hard and will not discolor due to corrosion. The Dawson guide box has a larger cross sectional area for strength and incorporates a trim plate to match the frame material.

Checking Unit:

Dawson utilizes an LCN cast check mechanism and warrants it for 10 years.

The physical characteristics of the LCN make it a superior check mechanism. LCN is considered the best manufacturer of checking devices in the world and has been thoroughly tested and approved in the industry.

Spring Tension Adjustment:

Others use a gear box located below the threshold grade for spring tension adjustment. This location exposes the mechanism to dirt, water, salt and other contaminates which can cause corrosion and make adjustment difficult. The Dawson product has all the controls for spring tension, swing speed and latch speed protected in the header. This location provides protection from dirt and corrosion, while allowing easy access for adjustments in the guide channel without removing the door from the opening.

Conclusion:

The Dawson design incorporates ease of installation and industry accepted warranty while reaching new levels of quality in the areas of bearings, material match, ease of adjustment and strength.