cost of dyi wood cart vs new

rosros

The wood cart appears to be a relative ez diy project. For fellow eggers that built their own;
wondering costs of building own cart vs purchasing premade ones.

RGBHV

The cedar, glue, screws, wheels I purchased for my table was in the same price range as the BGE tables I saw.

What I would say is that the BGE tables were 2 x 4 and 1 x 6 construction. The table I built is 4 x 4 and 2 x 6 construction and the table is bigger.

I think if you're handy and you've got to build the table yourself anyway, you're better off designing your own.

My 2 cents!

Michael

Fidel

You can save money or you can spend more depending on the size table you want and materials you choose for it.

I've built 3 tables now and assisted on another. Two for me, one for another forum member, and one for a good friend of mine who doesn't visit here. They can be done for under $100 in materials or well over $250.

If you are somewhat handy then building your own is the way to go for size, strength, and durability.

rosros

Thanks for the replies. I really need a handle on actual material costs...I figured that pressure treated would run around 100 and cypress/teak lot higher; but I was just guessing. Your numbers will help me decide. My local dealer is willing to sell a blem table to me (does not want to put on floor) and I was weighing costs of building vs purchasing. If the building materials for a cypress table was considerably less, I would build. Since it could be close, I may purchase and spend the extra time queing

stike

please consider something other than PT. not because it is "poisonous", just because it isn't really intended as a finish wood, and the PT offers virtually no benefit when used this way.

you'd need to protect the PT with a finish anyway, and that'd be the case for any other wood you choose as well.

and since the PT isn't in contact with damp conditions, or below grade, or at the risk of insect damage, it really isn't doing anything for you.

try mahogany, cedar, etc.

they will price out decent and look a lot better than fast-growth PT pine.

Doug in Eggmonton

If the costs are flat it's a simple equation:
value of personal enjoyment building it + value of quality of personal build - cost of time - cost of not cooking on the egg if you can't do that without a table.

That last term can get quite large, at least it did in my case.

Doug

The Naked Whiz

When I built mine 8 years ago, I had a lot of fun doing it. But the oak ran about $225, and I think I spent another $100 on the stainless screws and wheels. You don't need 2x lumber for the shelves. I used 1x and my table will withstand a direct hit by an atom bomb. Bracing is the key! :-) If cost is all you care about and you don't really get a big kick out of the project, the buy the dealer's table. Otherwise, dive in and have fun and don't worry too much about the cost. Good luck!

Here is a link to my table plans: The Naked Whiz's Table Plans