How To Build a Tub-Foot Umbrella Stand

Transforming salvaged bathtub feet into a unique umbrella stand is a creative way to repurpose antique hardware while adding character to your entryway. This relatively easy DIY project combines the charm of vintage cast iron with the practicality of modern storage, resulting in a piece that’s as stylish as it is useful. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating your own tub-foot umbrella stand.

All About Salvaged Iron Tub Feet

Salvaged iron bathtub feet are prized finds at antique shops and salvage yards, known for their intricate designs and historical significance. These ornamental pieces, typically dating from the late 1800s to early 1900s, once elevated rounded tub basins, giving them a furniture-like appearance. Exact replacements for damaged tub feet can be difficult to find due to manufacturer-specific attachment methods, and finding a complete matching set of four feet can be challenging. However, pairs or trios are more readily available, making them perfect for creative repurposing projects like our umbrella stand. For this project, you’ll want three tub feet.

Pro Tip: The most ornate tub feet date to the peak of the Victorian era, when Americans craved embellishment on even the most utilitarian household objects. These ball-and-claw feet had wide “ankles” decorated with flowers, vines, or shells that wrapped the base of the tub like shields. At their largest, they measured about 5 inches wide by 7 inches tall and weighed 4 or 5 pounds each. By the early 1930s, when the popularity of claw-foot tubs began to fade, feet were often small unadorned balls supported by smooth ankles.

As This Old House Magazine contributor Amy Hughes wrote, “They’re small, they’re orphans, and they’re usually quite dirty. Still, iron bathtub feet are among the star attractions at salvage yards. It’s no wonder, really, with their intricate castings of lion paws with drawn claws and eagle talons gripping balls.”

Style Evolution

The designs of these feet reflect the aesthetic preferences of their era. Victorian-era feet from the 1890s were particularly elaborate, featuring wide “ankles” adorned with flowers, vines, or shells that wrapped around the tub’s base. These ornate pieces could measure about 5 inches wide by 7 inches tall and weigh 4–5 pounds each. As styles evolved into the early 1930s, simpler designs emerged, typically featuring small, unadorned balls supported by smooth ankles.

Pro Tip: The shift from ornate to streamlined wasn’t just a matter of taste. As historian Merritt Ierley, author of The Comforts of Home: The American House and the Evolution of Modern Convenience, has noted, bathtubs took on industrial styling in the 1920s with an emphasis on clean lines over frilly ornament. This is also when cast-iron tubs began to be offered in footless, one-, two-, and three-wall configurations that maximized space — making loose, orphaned feet increasingly common at salvage yards.

Step-by-Step Directions for Building a Tub-Foot Umbrella Stand

Step 1: Trace the Bucket’s Bottom

The first step in creating your tub-foot umbrella stand is to prepare the base. Begin by measuring the diameter of your chosen bucket’s bottom. This measurement will determine the size of the wooden disk that will serve as the mounting surface for your tub feet.

Once you have the bucket’s diameter, use a ruler and compass to trace a circle on a piece of paper. Make this circle one to two inches smaller than the bucket’s bottom. This slight reduction in size ensures that the wooden base won’t be visible once the project is complete, maintaining a clean look.

Pro Tip: Once you’ve traced the circle on a piece of 3/4-inch plywood, use a jigsaw to cut out the disk. This plywood disk will be fixed to the bottom of the bucket and provide a stable surface on which to mount the feet.

Step 2: Cut the Mounting Disk

With your traced circle as a guide, transfer this shape onto a piece of ¾-inch plywood. This thickness provides the necessary strength to support the weight of the tub feet and any umbrellas or walking sticks you’ll store in the stand.

Using a jigsaw, carefully cut out the disk along the traced line. Take your time with this step to ensure a smooth, even edge. Once cut, lightly sand the edges of the disk to remove any splinters or rough spots.

Pro Tip: Norm Abram, master carpenter on This Old House, recommends using a router-based jig instead of a jigsaw for cutting plywood circles: “A jigsaw is fine for rough work, but if you want a really smooth, accurate cut, a router mounted on a simple jig works much better.” The jig is simply a length of scrap plywood with a pivot screw at one end and a hole for the router bit at the other—it swings around the center point to produce a clean, even edge with minimal sanding.

Step 3: Drill Out the Tub Feet

Now it’s time to prepare the tub feet for mounting. Each foot will have an iron bracket extending from its back, which is how it was originally attached to the bathtub. These brackets may already have holes or slots, depending on their original attachment method. If no holes are present, ensure you position the bracket to allow balanced weight distribution.

To ensure secure mounting, you’ll need to drill holes through these brackets. Clamp each foot securely to your worktable or in a vise to prevent movement during drilling. Using a drill bit appropriate for metal, carefully create holes in the brackets. If the brackets already have holes, you may need to enlarge them to accommodate the bolts you’ll be using for attachment.

Step 4: Arrange the Feet

With the tub feet prepared, it’s time to determine their placement on the wooden disk. Typically, three feet arranged in a triangle pattern provide the best stability and balance for the stand, ensuring an even height for the umbrella stand.

Once you’re satisfied with the arrangement, trace the outline of each foot’s iron bracket onto the wood. Within these outlines, mark the locations of the holes you drilled in the brackets. These marks will guide you when drilling holes in the wooden disk for attachment.

After marking all the positions, set the disk on your worktable and drill holes at each marked point. Ensure that your drill bit is the appropriate size for the bolts you’ll be using to attach the feet.

Step 5: Drill the Bucket

With the wooden disk prepared, it’s time to focus on the bucket that will form the body of your umbrella stand. Place the wood disk on the bucket’s underside, aligning it centrally. Use a marker to transfer the locations of the holes in the wooden disk onto the metal bottom of the bucket. This alignment will maintain the stability of the bucket.

Remove the disk and carefully drill holes in the bucket at each marked point. Be sure to use a drill bit suitable for metal to avoid damaging the bucket.

Step 6: Bolt It

Now that all components are prepared, you can begin assembly. Start by inserting two-inch bolts through the holes in the bucket from the inside out. To keep the bolts in place during assembly, temporarily secure the head of each bolt with a piece of duct tape on the inside of the bucket.

Turn the bucket over and carefully place the wooden disk on the bottom, aligning its holes with the protruding bolts.

Step 7: Attach the Feet

With the wooden disk in place, it’s time to attach the tub feet. Using the tracings on the disk as a guide, position each foot over its designated spot, aligning the holes in the brackets with the bolts.

Once all feet are in position, remove the duct tape from inside the bucket. Twist a nut onto each bolt and tighten securely using a ratchet wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten, as this could damage the bucket or the wooden disk. Check that all feet are firmly attached and that the stand is stable when placed upright.

Step 8: Patina the Bucket Surface

To create a cohesive look between the antique tub feet and the modern bucket, you can add a patina to the bucket’s surface. This step not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also helps protect the metal from rust and wear.

Prepare a wash mixture by combining one part white paint with three parts polyurethane. This blend creates a translucent coating that allows the metal’s texture to show through while adding a vintage-inspired finish. Using a paintbrush, apply this wash to the exterior of the bucket in even strokes, ensuring a uniform look.

While the wash is still wet, use a clean rag to dab and blend the coating, creating a mottled effect that mimics the patina of aged metal. Continue this process until you achieve the desired look, allowing some of the original metal to show through.

Let the patina dry completely before handling the stand. Once dry, your tub-foot umbrella stand is ready for use. Place it by your front door to welcome guests and provide a convenient spot for wet umbrellas on rainy days.