Magnetic bucket stand for use with a plastic bucket

A kit, comprising:

• a tripod having a chassis, three legs connected to the chassis, and a threaded bolt extending upward from the chassis at the center of the tripod;
• a rigid linear shaft having a central axis, a first end having internal threads and a second end, wherein the internal threads are threadably securable to the threaded bolt of the tripod;
• a rigid flat platform made of a ferromagnetic material attached to the second end of the rigid linear shaft;
• and
• a permanent magnet having a first flat side, wherein a plastic bucket may be securely supported atop the rigid flat platform with the first flat side of the permanent magnet positioned against a bottom inside surface of the plastic bucket and the rigid flat platform positioned against a bottom outside surface of the plastic bucket such that there is magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet and the rigid flat platform with the bottom of the plastic bucket held therebetween.

A method, comprising:

• threadably connecting a tripod to a first end of a rigid linear shaft, wherein the rigid linear shaft includes a second end attached to a rigid flat platform made of a ferromagnetic material;
• setting the tripod on a support surface such that the rigid linear shaft extends upward away from the support surface and the rigid flat platform is generally horizontal;
• positioning a permanent magnet inside a plastic bucket so that a first flat side of the permanent magnet is positioned against a bottom inside surface of the plastic bucket;
• setting the plastic bucket on the rigid flat platform so that a bottom outside surface of the plastic bucket rests on the rigid flat platform and there is magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet and the rigid flat platform with the bottom of the plastic bucket therebetween such that the plastic bucket is secured in position on the rigid flat platform;
• and
• adding and removing balls from the bucket.