Fix Broken Umbrella

This instructables show how to reuse some metal fix a broken umbrella.

Step 1: Pain Point

An umbrella with UV protection can be USD30-50, and the umbrella ribs break easily in windy days. The price tag make it become a hard decision to simply throw it away. Fortunately, it can make a quick fix with some materials you can found easily.

Note:

I learnt this fixing method from my mother's fixed umbrella many years ago.

Step 2: Reclaim Metal Plate

The main fixing material is a tiny metal plate. You can reclaim a metal plate from any metal sweet box in your hand.

Note:

Beware sharp edge and corner hurts your hand.

Step 3: Remove Sharp Edge & Corner Before Use

Step 4: Bend a U Shape

Step 5: Wrap Up Broken Rib

Step 6: Fix With Plier

Step 7: Drill a Proper Hole Size

Step 8: Reconnect Option1: Reuse Socket Nail

If original socket nail still in good condition, you can try to reuse it. But it is not easy to reuse it, the straighten and refasten process are broken easily caused by metal fatigue.

Step 9: Reconnect Option 2: Connect by Wire

Extract a wire from a wire twist tie, connect rib components with perforation and then twist tie.

Step 10: Enjoy!

You just saved some money to buy something else, enjoy!

Step 11: Advance Level: Thin Plastic Rib

Some umbrella are not using metal ribs, it cannot direct fix by a metal plate. Especially thin plastic rib. It need more steps, more tools and accessories to fix it.

Step 12: Heat Shrink Tube

Cut a heat shrink tube and put it in the broken rib.

Step 13: Temporary Reconnect

Apply a little bit hot glue at the broken part to temporary reconnect it together.

Step 14: Increase Tension

Use wire surrounding the connection part.

Step 15: Fix Wire

Apply more hot glue to fix the wire.

Step 16: Cover by Heat Shrink Tube

Cover the connection part with heat shrink tube and use hot glue gun shrink the tube.

Step 17: Strength Connection

Wire, hot glue and heath shrink tube altogether is very good in tension but cannot resist bending. It still require cover by a metal plate to increase the strength.

Step 18: Cover Sharp Part

The irregular shape make the metal sharp part expose and easy to hurt. It is better use some masking tape cover it.