Buy or build

I am wondering if it is worth the time & trouble to build my own feeder. Actually I would be assembling it because I would have to buy all the componets such as barrel,lid,funnel,legs, and feeder/timer. Has any one purchased the parts and put together a feeder (tripod or hanging) 55 gal. size, if so what did it cost you ready to use? I realize there is a big difference in the price of feeder motors and timers. I would probably go with a middle of the road price feeder/timer. All opinions welcomed. Thanks

yOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 80.00 IN IT WITH OUT THE TIMER, TIMERS ARE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SPEND.

Build it. It will save you quite a bit, if you have the time.

I recommend the Big "A" feeder from Academy but replace the timer. Heck of a good deal for what you get.

Depending one the style, time and expertise it is always more gratifing to build it yourself. What you are paying extra for is the same time expertise and a few special tools. Even though I sell winch feeders I will be the first suggest you try it on your own first, after all you have plenty of time.

I have a friend that built his own and used a heater blower motor out of a car for the slinger motor. All he had to buy was the timer. Also last year I bought 3 feeders at Lowes after the season started. They had $250 units for $99. Wish I had bought all they had. They arent hard to build if you can have a mig welder.

build it.

buy some used ones on craigslist...easiest and best deal if you don't hit academy after hunting season. If you do hit Academy then change out the motors and maybe legs to something better. But if you like to build stuff here you go:

55 Gallon Barrel - $20
Legs - $30 min (Fence Pipe Rail or steel pipe)
Leg Adapters for barrel - $20 - Academy
Varmint Cage - $20 - Academy
Solar Panel - $20 - Academy (Get armored cable wire for sure!)
Control Unit - $87 "All Seasons" from their website..has the timer included that is worth about $60 by itself.....or try HCR Units and I hear Remingtons from Acedemy for $50 are not bad but haven't tried them.

There you go.....easy to build as well.

I've built a bunch over the years, but I've found that the one from Cabela's that comes as a kit is the way to go.

Feeder

Last fall, they had them on sale, with the thrower for $70, so Dad and I each bought one. I'm especially fond of the thrower, there's no stupid clock to fiddle with. It feeds twice daily on it's own, and you can add more feedings if you want. It has a photocell, and after a day or two it 'learns' when sunrise and sunset are, and throws 30 min after sunup and 30 min before sundown (or thereabout) A cheap lantern battery will last me a full season.

I built a 12' tripod for mine, and used a boat trailer winch and a pulley.

It works great, and I've got a little over $100 in the whole setup.

My next one I'll build with 14' legs though. No problems with varmints getting up on to it that I've noticed.

I bought my first one from Academy last October. It is Remington brand. Seems like I paid right at $100 for it. That included everything but a varmit guard, which I think was about $15 or $20 and a battery. I bought a rechargeable 6 volt battery for it for about $7 and a recharger (cannot recall price for recharger). Only had to recharge battery one time during the season. Thought about adding a cheap solar panel charger from Harbor Freight on it, but don't think it is worth the effort unless it is to be used year round. It has a plastic barrel. I can program it to throw up to 4 different times a day and for various length of time. It worked fine all last deer season. I have heard that cows may knock them down, but there were no cows where I had it set up. I am sure there are reasons for some having much more expensive ones and heavy metal barrels, but I don't know why. I am pleased with mine.

HENRYSEALE, those are quality feeders. My buddy and uncle each bought one. $100 and it is so worth it. The plastic is real sturdy too.

The Remmys have good quality motors IMO. Thats what I run is a remington digital motor.

I will get pics of the new one I built, when I go to the lease this weekend.
Basically:
Barrel $19 (55 Gallon)
Legs $24 (8' 1-5/8 fencing pipe Home Depot)
Leg Adapter $20 (Academy)
Controller $39 (Academy - Moultrie Hunter Pro have had several and only one failure, it is cheap and can be replaced in 10 minutes with a new one. 6 programmable feeds)
Cheap Primer and Paint $6

$108 bucks, and a dang fine feeder. Can get a varmint cage and feet for another $30 - $40.

Have thought about building them to sell. But people balk at the cheap moultrie. Although most online reviews of it are very favorable.

I bought a Wildgame Innovations Monsta-D from Gander Mountain for $89+tax. It is a very nice feeder, easy to assemble, holds 4 50lb sacks of corn and the control unit is awesome! You can set the motor from low speed to medium to high speed depending on how far you want your corn to throw out! I set mine on low so it throws the corn 10-15'. Medium is like 25-30' and high is almost 40-45'! A great feeder for the money, all I did was purchase a solar panel and rechargeable battery! The only thing you would want to do is drive rebarb or metal stakes down by each leg and use bailing wire to wire them together! My feeder is/has worked flawlessly!

If I were to buy one, I would make sure the legs were 1 piece. Ive delt with the legs that comes in sections, and had a difficult time with them. I built a couple and love them. It only took an hour or two for each one.

The fence pipe I use for Home Depot is awesome, 8' is perfect for my feeders, pre cut, one piece, super strong. If you use the Moultrie Leg kit you have to twist them on they just don't slip right one. Tight Fit, great price, one piece, strong enough for any 55 gal barrel feeder. Thank goodness I was looking for chain link fencing material and stumbled across them.

exactly what I did chuck. great idea

Contact us and we can fix you up with a quality feeder that will last. These others are good for a while but will be "boat anchors" after a couple years. Spend a little more and get a good quality unit. You will appreciate it when you are sitting in your stand and it goes off everytime you set it too. Nothing more aggravating than a cheapo setup failing on you in the middle of deer season.
Thanks,
Andy
"feederguys"