The Father-in-law DIY Rescue

by Robert H Fender Jr

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We purchased an 11 foot umbrella and granite base on wheels for our son & daughter-in-law as a house warming gift.  The umbrella was nice and looked good.  However the pole was too large for the hole in the center of their glass patio table.
 
The base sleeve was too large for the table’s center metal frame support.  So it is of no use for under the table.  I was thinking about having the glass top center’s hole enlarged so it would fit.  The glass company would not guarantee the top would not crack and be useless.  That idea was short lived.
 
Eventually the umbrella was used as patio umbrella and moved about when needed in different areas, which was nice.  This was probably better than semi permanently in the center of the table.
 
Four  weeks into owning it, the umbrella was in the base’s sleeve, closed and against the fence.  During the night a gust of wind caused the umbrella to fall and a break several ribs.  Not being able to find the manufacturer’s name, I was unable to get information to see if replacement ribs could be purchased. I drilled out the rivets and used the broken pieces as a template to make new ribs. 
 
I went to the local home improvement store looking for wood that had the same dimensions as the ribs.  The ribs had four sections each.  Of course I could find the correct size, and as I was leaving I saw wood pallets with spacers which were being discarded.  I measured it and it happened to exactly the size I needed.  I took it to the checkout counter to purchase and they gave it me. 
 
I went home cut the wood to length and widths, used the old ribs as a template and drilled holes in them, stained the wood, and used shelf bolts to reassemble them and repaired it.
 
Why do I need a free umbrella then?  In case they leave it up again and it gets blown over, it will be a long time before I fix it again, and they can use the free umbrella.
 
Maybe I should have made extra ribs when I had the tools out!
 
Hopefully they learned to remove the umbrella when not using.
 
If I win I would like the umbrella to be sent to their house.
 
The above is true.