Repairing a patio umbrella

[atgcpaul]

I left a very nice patio umbrella open in a downpour/windstorm last summer and several of the wood ribs broke.

I thought it would be a simple fix of just cutting new ribs and putting them in place but I ran into an issue. The bottom tips of the ribs are capped with a brass plated metal sleeve. These sleeves are crimped/pinned onto the ends of the rib.

I'm not finding a good way to pry them off without trashing the sleeve. The angled piece of brass with the screws in it comes off easily. That secures the umbrella fabric to the rib. I guess the sleeves are really more decorative than anything else, though, but I want to keep the look.

Thanks,
Paul

[LCHIEN]

I can't believe you can't get those off, unless there's more to it than shown in the picture.

[RAV2]

fire....

Burn the wood out

[BadeMillsap]

I may not understand the whole issue ... I would cut the rib off at the metal and drill it out ...

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[atgcpaul]

fire....

Burn the wood out

I like the way you think!

I may not understand the whole issue ... I would cut the rib off at the metal and drill it out ...

Duh! Of course! This'll work. Thanks!

[atgcpaul]

I can't believe you can't get those off, unless there's more to it than shown in the picture.

Well, I didn't burn it out or drill it out but those would have worked, too. Clamped the sleeve in my wood vise and for 5 of the 6, I was able to muscle the wood free. The sixth one required a little friendly persuasion but the sleeve was fine. They were brad nailed on but that turned out to be a non-issue.

I planed some reclaimed ipe decking to thickness, ripped it to width and the ribs were good as new. Installing them was another story, but I think I'm qualified to work in an umbrella factory now.

[LCHIEN]

Nice repair job

[cabinetman]

I planed some reclaimed ipe decking to thickness, ripped it to width and the ribs were good as new.

A repair well done. The Ipe should outlast the canvas.

.