How much wood will I need?

[honkey]

This is going to seem dumb, but I am wondering if I am over looking something. I have been looking at this page (http://pacfan69.tripod.com/cabinets/id5.html) and kind of using it as a base to work from for when I build my cocktail table. If I am doing the math right, I could get one piece of 4x8 oak and build the cabinet and then a 2x4 piece and have enough wood for the control panels and still have a good amount left over. Does this sound about right to you guys? If so, I just can't justify to myself buying a 200-300$ kit + shipping, when I could do this for around 50$ plus labor.

[Donkbaca]

That's probably right, as long as you make good cuts and don't have to redo everything.  I would get 2 pieces of ply, just to be on the safe side in case you have to redo everything.  Choose your wood carefully!  Make sure there is no warping and build it sooner rather than later so that the wood doesn't warp while its sitting around in your garage/shed

[honkey]

Thank you! I live right down the street from Lowes, so I will probably start with one piece, I am just trying to figure out how much I need to budget with a ballpark figure. I need to build the cab and controls, so I think I am looking 250-300$ total.

[Donkbaca]

What do you have lying around?  Do you have all the tools you need?  I spent most of my money on tools.  You can see my build in my sig.  I ended up using 2 sheets of ply for the whole thing, and have lots left over. 

[honkey]

I am going to be borrowing my fiancee's father's tools for sawing. I have drills and basic tools. My big cost is the controls.

[BobA]

Lots of leeway in controls.

Joysticks from $8 to $60 each
Buttons from $1.50 to $8.00 each
Interface $25 to $60 each

Just depends on what you want and how many.