Got a patio umbrella but didn't want to pay for a base. Have rocks, and and pail, figured I'd try making one myself.
So I have a piece of PVC secured in the bucket and then needed to lock the umbrella post into it. A person who values their time would have simply cross drilled and put in a pin, but I wanted to turn something so I made a circular wedge.
Turn a taper:
Bore for the post:
Then cut in half:
And done!
It's held up just fine in its first weekend of use.
Classic case of over engineering where a wad of paper would have worked but that’s what we do best!