Surprisingly easy to assemblethen its all about anchoring
Pretty much ready to easily assemble and go: 4 base bolts and 2 column bolts to join 2 vertical pieces. But we quickly saw that the cantilever design was going to make anchoring it the key issue; it pretty much wanted to tip over from the git/go. I wanted to molly bolt the assembled base into the concrete patio. The boss wanted the base located just off the patio on the dirt. So I shopped around and found strong Earth Anchors at Menards hardware for a good price. I brought home two15 anchors and two 30 anchors, because I wasnt sure that 15 was deep enough to achieve a solid anchor. We get heavy winds from the West, so I started with screwing the two 15 anchors in for the East side of the base. Net: I didnt feel like 15 was really getting a firm enough anchor, so I put the 30 anchors on the West side of the base. They were tough to get set, even though each one cut thru some roots along the way (Hint: its all about leverage !) Once I finished, I was sure that with the 1/2 steel rod that I ran thru the anchor eyes and across the feet ot the umbrella base (see pic 2), the umbrella will break before the base moves anywhere ! A 30 earth anchor has a load weigh of 2,400 lbs(Note: I cut the 4 steel rod to length once in position and put 1/2 Shaft Collars on all 4 ends / not in pic.)
Umbrella opens easily. Tilt function is an easy one/handed operation. Swivel works like a charm.
Surprisingly easy to assemblethen its all about anchoring
Pretty much ready to easily assemble and go: 4 base bolts and 2 column bolts to join 2 vertical pieces. But we quickly saw that the cantilever design was going to make anchoring it the key issue; it pretty much wanted to tip over from the git/go. I wanted to molly bolt the assembled base into the concrete patio. The boss wanted the base located just off the patio on the dirt. So I shopped around and found strong Earth Anchors at Menards hardware for a good price. I brought home two15 anchors and two 30 anchors, because I wasnt sure that 15 was deep enough to achieve a solid anchor. We get heavy winds from the West, so I started with screwing the two 15 anchors in for the East side of the base. Net: I didnt feel like 15 was really getting a firm enough anchor, so I put the 30 anchors on the West side of the base. They were tough to get set, even though each one cut thru some roots along the way (Hint: its all about leverage !) Once I finished, I was sure that with the 1/2 steel rod that I ran thru the anchor eyes and across the feet ot the umbrella base (see pic 2), the umbrella will break before the base moves anywhere ! A 30 earth anchor has a load weigh of 2,400 lbs(Note: I cut the 4 steel rod to length once in position and put 1/2 Shaft Collars on all 4 ends / not in pic.) Umbrella opens easily. Tilt function is an easy one/handed operation. Swivel works like a charm.