If you are in the market for an iron umbrella stand you may be getting confused as to which type of iron you should buy. Some of the terminology may be confusing and you may wonder why there is such a big difference in price between the various umbrella bases on offer if you plan on using these on your patio. If you are buying an internal umbrella stand the type of iron it is made from will also impact the price.

What is an iron umbrella stand made from?

The short answer is iron! The proper explanation is that an iron umbrella stand can be made from different types of iron a bit like gold can be 9 carat or 18 carat. The purer the gold the more expensive the piece of jewelry and the same holds true for iron stand umbrella bases.

Cast iron is the less pure of the two types of iron umbrella stand. Therefore it is more widely available and is usually cheaper. Some manufactures have crafted very beautiful pieces from the cast iron that will look pretty in any garden. But these umbrella bases are susceptible to rust so must be painted with an anti rust chemical at least every four to five years. When you first make your purchase it should be fully treated but check to be sure.

If you are buying an interior umbrella stand you may still need to protect it against rust. Although it won’t be outdoors if you are going to use the stand people will store their wet umbrellas in it. Obviously if it is for purely ornamental use you won’t have this problem.

How is a wrought iron umbrella stand made?

During the smelting process, iron that has been heated very slowly to let the impurities show so they can be hammered out is used to make a wrought iron umbrella stand. Once the iron is pure it is either hand crafted to form a base or more usually poured into a mold. This form of iron has been used for centuries to make gates and railings as well as umbrella bases. It is possible to pick these items up from salvage yards and have them returned to their former glory. You could decorate your whole garden with iron from second hand dealers if you wished. This would save you a lot of money. It isn’t a difficult job but you need to keep the kids away as you will be filing rust and perhaps lead paint off of the old pieces. Nobody should inhale these materials least of all children.

You can find beautiful interior antique cast iron umbrella stands if you go to an auction house. Sometimes these have been badly neglected but when treated will turn into a fantastic show piece for your home. The Victorians loved intricate carvings so you will often find Cherub Victorian Umbrella holders on sale.

What about a Brass umbrella stand instead?

Don’t be tempted to buy a brass umbrella stand for your backyard simply because brass has a good reputation for use outdoors. Only buy if you genuinely like brass ornaments. They can attract a mold like growth. This condition called Verdigris is unpleasant to look at so you need to maintain your brass umbrella base on a regular basis to avoid it.

If you are buying a brass umbrella stand for interior use, you don’t need to worry about mold. Brass is a good choice as it is easy to clean and can look fantastic. It can also complement your other iron umbrella stands. If you like metal objects in your home but don’t like them to all made from iron you could chose a copper or steel umbrella stand instead.

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Filed under: Cast Iron Umbrella Stand • Iron Umbrella Stand • Outdoor Umbrella Stand

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