How can I reuse or recycle the metal frame from an old umbrella?

Over on the “suggest an item” page, the bookstorebabe said:

Broken umbrellas were done a few years back, but most of the suggestions were reuses for the umbrella fabric.

How about specifically the metal frame, as is or taken apart? Any clever ideas, anyone?

Over on the old umbrella page, Pamela mentioned a lovely idea:

I saw broken umbrella frames used by a theatre troupe, they knotted streamers to the frame, and they blew in the wind, they held it like a rain umbrella, but it was fanciful and lovely and attracted attention. This was a walking troupe, on the street, attracting people to their performance.

While most of us probably wouldn’t want to become street performers with our old umbrellas, I wonder if a frame with streamers placed in the garden would act like a portable scarecrow…?

Nude umbrella frames remind me of swifts, for balling yarn from skeins – but I suspect they might have too many sharp bits/catches for nice yarn. Anyone used/modified one for that?

Any other reusing or recycling ideas? What about ideas that use it in parts rather than whole?

(Photo by LilGoldWmn)

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15 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle the metal frame from an old umbrella?”


  1. Linda says:

    -to support peas..
    -to hold up shade cloth or bird net..
    -to hang costumes from..
    -break down and use wire pieces..

  2. Give to inventive child if there are not any obvious sharp pieces would make an excellent helicopter blade for play.

  3. Noetz says:

    I’ve used one hung from the ceiling as a mobile. I tied strings onto the ends, and attached binder clips. I can clip in photos, mementos, or whatever! It hangs over our bed.

  4. balers says:

    There are many different ways how to recycle the metal frame from umbrellas, you can made a door mobile from it, or just recycle the metal. You just need creativity to make a junk into a work of art.

  5. bookstorebabe says:

    Thanks for the ideas! I just had another one. Most umbrellas seem to have 8 ribs/spokes. I wonder if it could be used as the base of a spider outdoor decoration for halloween? The mobile idea sounds good, as does the idea of somehow using it in the garden. Hmm…remove the center pole, and it’s almost a spiderweb shape, or could be, with a little wire. I did see a spiderweb made of wire only, in a garden ideas book. And they drilled holes in old lenses from eyeglasses, and added them as dewdrops to the sculpture.
    Okay, I’m getting inspired to go play now.

  6. Alice says:

    The individual metal bits might be quite good for the struts of a big hanging mobile something like this http://www.homehomehome.co.uk/product/1101.shtml

  7. J&P Lewis says:

    If the umbrella frame is made of metal (and most will be), then you could include it in your trip to the scrap metal recycling centre. You may even get some cash for it!

  8. Janet says:

    If it’s raining then I’d use one to hang underwear onto after it’s been washed.Great also if you go camping,attach it upside down to a tree & hang washed underwear or hats.

  9. Uluska says:

    Middle part can be used to open and close curtains.

  10. Fashenista1 says:

    Separate the triangles, then arrange them into a rectangle, sew together with zig zag stitch and use as garden flag or a curtain. :)

  11. Uluska3 says:

    Old umbrella can be used to shade young plants from harsh sun.

  12. Julia says:

    Hang an old umbrella off the ceiling and dry herbs in it.

  13. If the umbrella is a long one I use the stick, with the handle still attached in either plant pots or in our community garden as funky cane replacements. I noticed after a windy night that some pigeon deterrents had fallen off window sills and roofs and what a resemblance they had to the spokes from an umbrella. It gave me the idea that the metal parts could be therefore utilised as pigeon deterrents.



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