BajaNomad - Anchoring a patio umbrella

Anchoring a patio umbrella

BMG - 3-2-2008 at 10:03 PM

Saw some heavy decorative metal umbrella bases out at City Club last week. Didn't check weight and don't remember price but if you're out there, take a look.

Steve

bajaguy - 3-2-2008 at 10:07 PM

Take BMG's suggestion and buy the stand........and when the wind blows, take the umbrella down......I speak from experience!!!

standingwave - 3-2-2008 at 10:19 PM

One design of umbrella stand I like is the plastic shell you fill with water.

Bob and Susan - 3-3-2008 at 06:53 AM

we have water stands but...

the umbrella just raises up out of it

no bolts to bolt it down

vandenberg - 3-3-2008 at 08:53 AM

Hang sandbags from the outer edges of the umbrella.
20 lb'er every other spoke. Thing never goes anywhere but for hurricanes. :biggrin:

BMG - 3-3-2008 at 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
Thanks for the ideas, everybody. I looked at the stands at City Club. Unfortunately, they're only 12 kg and the umbrella weighs 10 kg (it's pretty huge). I like the water-filled idea and will try to figure out if I can make one out of something.

Kate

Have a local welder make you one as big and as heavy as you want. Design it yourself and maybe have it do double duty as a small table encircling he pole.

Water is about 8lb per gallon so a water filled stand would have to hold about 13 gal to weigh 50 kg. Not sure you'll find one that big.

Taco de Baja - 3-3-2008 at 05:20 PM

Find a metal pipe, or conduit, or metal fence post, slightly bigger in diameter than the umbrella pole.

Cut it so it is ~6"-8" longer than the height of a 5-gallon bucket. (Slightly lower than the height of the handle when it is raised...makes it "easy" to haul around, if needed)

Fill bucket with concrete (ready mix)

Place duct tape on one end of pipe and insert into bucket, center it, and allow to dry. Or, pound one end of the pipe into an L-shape before inserting, guarantees it won’t pull out.

Insert umbrella pole.

Drill 3/8" hole through pipe and umbrella pole

Insert 1/4" nut and bolt into drilled hole.

Done, you now have an 80 pound anchor.

Here is a patented plan of the same general idea.... umbrella anchor

[Edited on 3-4-2008 by Taco de Baja]

UnoMas - 3-3-2008 at 05:56 PM

Taco de Baja
I like your idea of the pipe and pin method but think I would try and find a container with a larger base, paint buckets are larger at the top and tip over easily, especially with a large umbrella in the wind. I do like the plastic water filled base and would try and adapt to that, maybe with a large washer and bolt up through the bottom to keep the pole from pulling out in the wind. JMO

BMG - 3-3-2008 at 07:37 PM

This would be a pretty simple base to have made. You could have it made with whatever size base you want for a large footprint.

Sallysouth - 3-3-2008 at 08:17 PM

BMG, that is the exact same base we have but ours is granite(base).Takes a beating and high winds.Heavy as all get out !It is set into a teak table with hole in the middle.Morgains base would be free standing.hmmm...

Bob and Susan - 3-4-2008 at 07:21 AM

we have that base too... :saint:

the umbrella falls over with the slighest wind

we use a BIG rock to put on top of it and it STILL moves around

i like the concrete tub but...
its ULGY and does have a small footprint
(could tip)

with kates umbrella you'd really need a concrete footing :spingrin:

Mike99km - 3-4-2008 at 08:51 AM

We took the steel post and bottom and put a flower pot (large) over the outside. We had to adjust the whole size. we filled the pot with beach stone and gravel to the top of the pole. It is heavy but when we need to move it just empty out the gravel, works great. Make sure the pot is a good one.

DENNIS - 3-4-2008 at 08:57 AM

Remember the Cristo art installation when he planted huge umbrellas across central California and Japan at the same time? One of the umbrellas got an updraft, took off and speared an admirer to death. So, if this happens to you and your umbrella, be sure to call it an art project.

Taco de Baja - 3-4-2008 at 11:49 AM

Use the square base BMG posted a picture of.
Find one that is 18" x 18"
Build a frame around it that is 6" high
Full that with concrete, and you could even decorate the top with attractive beach cobbles :light:

.
When dry remove the frame.

Based on my calculations, this will weigh almost 170 pounds plus the weight of the metal base.
18*18*6=1,920 cu. inches. 1,920cu. in./1,728 cu. in. to a cu. ft. = 1.125 cu ft. Density of concrete is ~150 pounds per cu ft. 1.125*150=168pounds.

Now you have a wide very heavy base. If you need to move it around a patio, you could use one of those wooden appliance movers with wheels.

elizabeth - 7-27-2008 at 05:20 PM

This is a really nice looking solution...

by Peter O. Whiteley

Planter umbrella stand

Plant an umbrella in a pot full of greens

Directions

Strong wind is no friend to most patio umbrellas, but it would take a hurricane to budge this setup. The umbrella rises from a sleeve centered in a flowerpot that's filled with three layers of material: a bottom layer of lava rock to hold the sleeve in place, a center layer of concrete for extra rigidity, and a top layer of planting mix. When there's no need for shade, just lift out the umbrella -- the plants should mask the sleeve.

Choose any large pot and umbrella that match your garden decor and coordinate with each other. The container should be broad-based for stability and at least 15 inches tall (ours is 24 inches) and 20 inches in diameter so there's room for the three layers. Use 1 1/2-inch ABS (a black plastic vent) pipe from a home improvement store for the sleeve; make sure the umbrella pole will slip inside it easily. The cost will vary depending on the umbrella, pot, and plants you choose, but it shouldn't exceed $200.

Tools

Measuring tape
Saw
Shovel and hoe
Garden hose
Wheelbarrow
2 levels
Dolly

Materials

Flowerpot (at least 15 in. tall, with drainage)
3-ft. length 1 1/2-in. ABS pipe
1 square ft. nylon or aluminum screen
1 cubic ft. crushed lava stone
1 50-lb. bag fence-post concrete
3-ft. length 3/4-in. dowel
Planting mix and plants
Patio umbrella

Edited to add website and acknowledge that it came from Sunset Magazine...the photo and heading didn't come through on my cut and paste!
www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/article/0,20633,713141,00.html

[Edited on 7-28-2008 by elizabeth]

DianaT - 7-27-2008 at 05:25 PM

That looks great---sure glad you brought the thread back with the results.

Now, how strong are the winds where you are?

Thanks
Diane

Paula - 7-27-2008 at 05:31 PM

It's beautiful, Kate! Put out a few more chairs, cuz all of us nomads are on our way over!

:dudette:

Except these guys, they can't come :mad:

elizabeth - 7-27-2008 at 05:58 PM

Well, that's a little embarrassing...I didn't see your solution before posting a suggestion of one that I've been wanting to try! Can I come over when you get all the extra chairs for all the nomads, anyway?

[Edited on 7-28-2008 by elizabeth]to remove misplaced apostraphe!

[Edited on 7-28-2008 by elizabeth]

lingililingili - 7-27-2008 at 06:28 PM

Kate: It looks beautiful!!!