How to use a Sekey parasol
Updated: 22.10.2026
The box is in the hall and you want the cloth over the table before lunch. How to use a Sekey parasol in this set starts with a base you bought separately, then the pole sections, then a crank you stop while the canopy is taut. These listings are centre-pole cranks, including the auto-tilt title and the bendable rectangle. The [Sekey parasol comparison](/hub/sun-shades/sekey-parasol) is the product table. Directions below come from other brands' UK manuals, because these Sekey titles do not print one. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The box is in the hall and you want the cloth over the table before lunch.
The box is in the hall and you want the cloth over the table before lunch. How to use a Sekey parasol in this set starts with a base you bought separately, then the pole sections, then a crank you stop while the canopy is taut. These listings are centre-pole cranks, including the auto-tilt title and the bendable rectangle. The Sekey parasol comparison is the product table. Directions below come from other brands' UK manuals, because these Sekey titles do not print one. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Auto tilt | Bendable | Base included | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Sekey Sekey aluminium rectangle | No | Yes | No | 9.2 | about £47.12 | View offer |
 Sekey Sekey crank with auto tilt | Yes | No | – | 8.8 | about £73.35 | View offer | |
| Preis-Tipp |  Sekey Sekey crank, £31.56 page | No | No | No | 8.4 | about £31.56 | View offer |
On this page
Stand it before you wind
The raw titles do not include a base. Crank the canopy while the pole leans on a chair and the cloth becomes a sail. Drop the lower tube into a sleeve that matches the diameter you measured, and tighten the screw until the pole does not spin. A hole in the table still needs that sleeve underneath. An empty hole is not a mount. Weight and sleeve size sit on Sekey parasol base and wind.
Do this on a still morning. A gust at half-open is how a light base slides on slabs. On a balcony, keep the foot inside the railing. One UK review on the shared parent says the parasol was easy to put out, and it never describes a base. Non-UK notes mention a missing cross-foot and a lower pole that felt about 20 cm short. If the tube does not reach the sleeve, stop.
Join the pole and wind to the stop
The cranks arrive as more than one tube. Non-UK reviewers say the sections push together. Hartman's UK sheet and a SIT Connect manual for GB, Ireland, and Northern Ireland both say to open clockwise until the stopper, and to close anticlockwise. Neither sheet is Sekey. If the cloth collapses, stop and reverse.
Wind until the canopy is taut and the crank resists. Smartwares, not Sekey, says to stop when the crank binds. A non-UK Sekey review describes a missing stop pin that let the canopy wind inside out. If the handle goes light and the cloth flips, stop and look for a pin at the top of the mast. A torn cord is a return, not a technique. The UK files name no warranty period. On this centre pole the crank is the opener.
Tilt only the way that title allows
The shared crank parent does not put tilt in the raw title. Do not bend the pole because a photo leaned.
The auto-tilt title is the one that names the feature. Non-UK notes describe a collar above the crank, used after the canopy is open. That is a review, not a Sekey UK manual in this folder. Turn the control a short way. If the collar will not move, do not use pliers.
The rectangle's raw title says the pole is bendable, which is not the same sentence as auto tilt. Stop at the joint's own limit. A long canopy has more leverage once it is angled, so leave the cloth upright if you doubt the sleeve.
Close, dry, and stop forcing it
Bring the canopy upright before you close it. Hartman says to close anticlockwise only from upright, and SIT pairs the close with a canopy that is no longer angled. Closing on a tilt loads the cord sideways. If the crank is stiff, Nova Outdoor Living says not to force it. Reverse gently, free any caught rib, and try once. If it binds again, stop.
Dry the cloth open after rain, then store it closed and dry. These listings state no wind class. Stop when the cord has snapped, the stopper is missing, a rib is bent, or the tilt joint has cracked. Photograph the fault and use the amazon.co.uk return while you can. Call a fitter if the mast is already kinked or you meant to bolt a plate into a rented slab.
Common questions
Which way do I wind it?
These Sekey titles do not print a direction. Hartman's UK sheet and a SIT Connect manual for GB, Ireland, and Northern Ireland both say clockwise to open and anticlockwise to close. They are other brands. Try clockwise. If the cloth collapses, stop and reverse. Stop again when the canopy is taut or the handle suddenly goes light.
How do the two pole sections join?
Non-UK reviews say the tubes push together. Hartman's sheet, for a different parasol, says a spring button locks the lower pole. Seat the upper tube until it clicks, then tug, before you fit the base. If there is no click and the joint slides, do not open the canopy.
How do I tilt the auto-tilt model?
Open the canopy first, then use the control that title is selling. Non-UK notes describe a collar above the crank. There is no Sekey UK manual here, so do not copy a cantilever arm. Turn it a short way. If it will not move, stop. Pliers are how that collar breaks.
What if the canopy turns inside out?
Stop turning. A non-UK Sekey review describes a missing stop pin that let the crank wind the cloth inside out. Close it gently and look for a pin or stopper at the top of the mast. Do not use it while that stop is absent. A torn cord is a return, not another half-turn.
Can I close it while it is tilted?
Bring it upright first. Hartman says to close only from upright, and SIT pairs an anticlockwise close with a canopy that is flat again. Closing on a tilt loads the cord sideways. If the joint will not return to flat, do not force the crank to compensate.
The crank is stiff. Do I keep turning?
No. Smartwares says to stop when a crank binds, and Nova says not to force it. Free any caught rib and try once more. If it binds again, leave it closed and contact the seller. Extra force is how the cord tears. The saved files do not name a warranty length to wait for.
Where do I store it over winter?
Dry it open, then store it closed and dry, which is Nova's advice for a traditional parasol. A wet canopy in a bag mildews, and a cover is not a dryer. These titles do not promise a cover. Close the parasol before a windy week rather than leaving it cranked open because the bag is indoors.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Size chips noted 21 October 2026. Updated 22.10.2026.
- Shade Specialists parasol buyer guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Shade Specialists parasol base guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Opal Retail: what size parasol base do I need (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 19 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- GOV.UK ultraviolet radiation FAQs (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Cancer Research UK sun safety (retrieved 22.10.2026)