The bus project has always been a balance of time and money. Today was a perfect example of this: we needed a certain drill bit to countersink the bolts for the roof deck. Lowe’s, two miles away, had a bit for $35ish. Woodcraft, about a half hour away, had a comparable bit for $12. I made the trip to Woodcraft. I’ve often made the decision to save the time.
Instead of spending lots of time trying to find used tools/components that will work for our needs, I’ve bought many new components. In some cases, this is common sense – we wanted a new mattress to sleep on, and a spotless fresh water tank. But much of what we use could be just fine used. It’s tough to find that balance.
This project has taken far longer than I had intended it to, and it’s starting to stretch the budget. I think if I had held out for some more second hand items, I would have saved a bit of cash, but it would have taken even longer. I’m not sure which is better, but I don’t yet regret my choice. It’s still a constant battle.
