Review on Heavy-Duty Prefilled Patio Umbrella Base By FRUITEAM - 22Lbs Assembly With 17.5" Round Weight Base And 2022 New Pole Holder For Market Table, Yard, Garden, Deck, And Porch by Josh Long

The stem screws into the base and the stem cap screws onto the top of the stem. For both, it's plastic on plastic. The stem cap is already attached and while it's difficult to unscrew, it comes off with effort.Screwing the stem into the base, however, is an impossible task unless you have one of two things; lubricant or a pipe wrench. I supposed it's good to have a stem that is firmly attached to the base, but the amount of torque it takes to do it without one of the two things I mentioned, is ridiculous. It was impossible for me to screw it in by hand, and if I did, I'm darned sure that I would never be able to remove it without a pipe wrench.Liquid silicone lubricant was the answer. I twice applied it generously to the threads and only then was I able to make it work. Even with lubricant, it is a really snug fit. Without lubricant, you need to be the Hulk.Apply lubricant to the stem cap threads too.The grip of death required to screw the stem into the base without lubricant was cause for the deduction of a star. But I figured that since the solution was easy, I'd give it full stars and just rant a little.The base isn't made to support an umbrella on its own. A pictograph in the instructions points that out. I thought so. It's too light for that. This umbrella base is on the lighter side because it is designed to provide stability when the umbrella is used on a table with a hole for an umbrella to pass through.After you oil the threads, it does its job. It's simple to carry fully assembled or with the stem removed from the base.