Shopping list
Parts, hardware & tools.
Everything you need to build La Cantinera, the chicken-bus bar cart, grouped the way the ten build stages use it. Hardware is linked to Amazon; steel and sheet goods come from your local yard. Read the stage notes before you order — the casters, wheels, ice bin and gas struts have to be chosen against the real measurements.
Disclosure: this page contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the current price on Amazon. Plywood and lumber are cheaper and easier to get locally, so those aren't linked.
Steel & welding
Steel is far cheaper from a local yard in 20- or 24-ft sticks; the Amazon lengths are for topping up. This guide assumes you already own a 120 V MIG welder.
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square steel tube, main frameS-01 | 1" × 1" × 0.065" (16 ga), ~44 ft (two 24-ft sticks) | 02, 03 | Buy locally (steel yard) | Top-up length: 1" × 0.065" × 48" |
| Square steel tube, upper bodyS-02 | ¾" × ¾" × 0.065", ~24 ft (buy 30) | 06 | Buy locally (steel yard) | Top-up: ¾" 16 ga × 36" — its 0.060" wall is fine for the upper body |
| Steel plate & flat barS-03 | 4 × 4" × 4" × 3/16" plate (caster pads); 1½" × 3/16" flat bar, 1 ft (axle tabs) | 02 | Shapiro 3/16" × 4" × 4" plate, 4-pack | Flat bar from the steel yard. Pre-drilled alt: 4" plates w/ 3/8" holes — match the holes to your caster's plate |
| Flux-core MIG wireS-04 | .030" E71T-GS, 2 lb | 02–06 | Blue Demon E71T-GS .030", 2 lb | 2-pack |
| Cutoff wheelsS-05 | 4½" × .040", 25-pack | 02–06 | Benchmark Abrasives 4½" thin cutoff, 25-pack | |
| Flap discsS-06 | 4½", 40/60/80 grit | 02–06 | SHALL zirconia flap discs, 24-pack | |
| Self-etching primerS-07 | For bare steel, 2–3 cans | 04 | Rust-Oleum Self Etching Primer, 12 oz | For joints welded after priming: SEM Weld-Thru |
| Self-drilling screwsS-08 | #8 × ¾" pan head Tek, 200+ | 04–06 | #8 × ¾" self-drilling pan head, 100 pc | Buy 2–3 boxes. Hex-washer-head alt for impact drivers: #8 × ¾" HWH |
| Welding magnetsS-09 | 4 × 50 lb arrow magnets | 02, 03, 06 | ABN arrow welding magnets, 4-pack | Magnets hold for tacking; check with a square before welding out |
Sheet goods & fasteners
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior plywood ¾"P-01 | 1 × 4'×8' (counter, shelf, hood top, well platform) | 04, 07, 08 | Buy locally (lumber yard) | |
| Exterior plywood ½"P-02 | 1 × 4'×8' (floor, rear panel, well box, dividers) | 04, 05, 07 | Buy locally (lumber yard) | |
| Exterior plywood ¼"P-03 | 2 × 4'×8' (all skins, roof) | 05, 06 | Buy locally (lumber yard) | |
| 2 × 2 lumberP-04 | 1 × 8 ft (shelf legs) | 08 | Buy locally (lumber yard) | |
| Waterproof wood glueP-06 | Bottle well box, door frame | 05, 07 | Titebond III, 16 oz | |
| Exterior wood screwsP-07 | #8, 1" and 1¼" | 05, 07 | WELLOCKS #8 deck screw kit, 150 pc | Wood-to-wood only; skin-to-steel uses S-08 |
Wheels
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WheelsW-01 | 4 × 8" × 2" flat-free, ⅝" ball-bearing bore (2 rear carry the load, 2 front for the look) | 02 | GICOOL 8" × 2" flat-free, ⅝" bore, 2-pack | Buy 2 packs. Cut the axle stubs long enough for the hub width plus a washer each side. Alt: HaulPro 8" × 2", 500 lb |
| Axle stubs + retainersW-02 | ⅝" steel rod (cut four 5" stubs); ⅝" washers; push-on caps or shaft collars | 02 | ⅝" × 36" zinc axle rod, 2-pack + ⅝" push-on axle caps, 4-pack | Weld each stub through its tab; buy 2 packs of caps. Alt: rod + shaft-collar kit. ⅝" washers from the hardware store |
| Front casters (hidden)W-03 | 2 × 5" total-lock swivel, plate mount, polyurethane — the steering, under the hood | 02 | Service Caster 5" PU total-lock swivel, 300 lb | Sold singly: buy 2. Measure the mounting height before cutting posts |
Roof & shelf hardware
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weld-on hinges, upper bodyH-01 | 2–3 × 2" weld-on bullet hinges | 06 | Heavy-duty weld-on bullet hinge, 2" | You need two, three if the roof ends up heavy; pack sizes vary. 8-pack alt: Sidco 2" weldable barrel hinges |
| Piano hinge, shelfH-02 | 36" × 1½" stainless (trim to 34") | 08 | 36" × 1.5" stainless piano hinge, 2-pack | Second hinge is a spare |
| Gas strutsH-03 | Matched pair, sized to the weighed upper body | 06 | ARANA 20" 80 lb gas struts w/ brackets, 2-pack | Weigh first, then pick the force with the supplier's calculator. Same family in 100 lb and lighter |
| Locking lid stayH-04 | Positive-locking prop for a ~40 lb roof | 06 | Not linked | Make it: a ½" steel rod with a flattened, drilled end pinned to the upper body, dropping into a welded socket on the cabin end — or buy a heavy-duty locking lid support rated for at least 40 lb. The light brass chest-lid supports are not enough |
| Travel latchesH-05 | 2 | 06 | 304 stainless adjustable toggle latch, 2-pack | |
| Bump stopsH-06 | Upper body | 06 | Recessed rubber bumper pads, 25 pc | |
| Locking folding shelf bracketsH-07 | Pair, for 34" × 10" shelf | 08 | YUMORE 12" stainless folding brackets, 330 lb/pair | 12" arms on a 10" shelf: set them back 2" |
| Folding leg bracketsH-08 | Pair; legs cut from P-04 | 08 | Rockler folding leg brackets, pair | |
| Magnetic catchesH-09 | 2, for the lift-off service door | 05 | WOOCH 30 lb magnetic catch, 2-pack | Plus a small pull handle |
| WeatherstripH-10 | ½" × ⅜" self-adhesive D-seal, ~10 ft | 06 | AP Products ½" × ⅜" rubber D-seal, 50 ft | Shorter alt: Tintvent ¾" × ⅜" × 26 ft |
Bar station
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-in ice binB-01 | Flange within 20" × 14"; ≤12" deep | 07 | VEVOR 20" × 14" × 12" stainless drop-in ice chest w/ drain | Get the cutout template and measure the flange when it arrives; the counter needs 1" of material all round it |
| Shutoff valveB-02 | Match the bin's drain thread | 07 | Beduan ½" NPT brass mini ball valve | Match it to the bin's drain thread; add a brass adapter if they differ |
| Food-grade drain hoseB-03 | ½" ID, bin → jug | 07 | Sealproof ½" ID food-grade clear vinyl, 10 ft | Plus 2 hose clamps |
| Waste jugB-04 | 3–4 gal, fits through the service door | 07 | Reliance Aqua-Tainer 4 gal | ~11" tall: fits the 25½" interior under a 12" bin |
| Garnish pansB-05 | 3 × 1/9-size stainless, 4" deep | 07 | CURTA 1/9 size 4" deep hotel pans, 6-pack | Three spares for swapping |
| Cutting boardB-06 | ~12" × 8", washable | 07 | Thirteen Chefs 12" × 8" acrylic board | |
| Bottle wellB-07 | 7" × 14" × 5" box with dividers | 07 | Build from P-02 offcuts | Depth = tallest bottle − 8" |
| Food-safe sealantB-08 | Bin flange | 07 | Sil-Bond 4500 NSF food-grade RTV silicone, clear | |
| Stemware railB-09 | ~16", surface-mount, inside the roof | 06 | MATILODI 15.9" under-cabinet stemware rails, 2-pack | Check your glass bases fit the gap. Alt: SIMVE 16.5" stainless 4-row |
Decorative skin
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum sheetD-01 | .040", panels and both fenders | 05, 08 | .040" × 12" × 24" 5052 aluminum | Single sheet; order 6–8. 5052 bends well for fender returns |
| Panel adhesiveD-02 | Aluminum → plywood | 08 | Loctite PL Premium, 10 oz | Scuff and degrease first |
| Blue acrylicD-03 | ⅛", window band and windshield | 08 | Transparent blue cast acrylic 8" × 12" × ⅛", 4-pack | One big sheet: 24" × 48" blue ⅛" |
| Chrome trimD-04 | Bands, window edges | 08 | QWORK ½" chrome trim molding, 26 ft | Sticks to painted surfaces only |
| Grille meshD-05 | Hood front | 08 | Chrome diamond grille mesh 12" × 48" | Sharp edges: trim them |
| HornsD-06 | Roof, decorative | 08 | Estink dual trumpet air horn, chrome | Mount unwired; counts toward the strut weight |
| MirrorsD-07 | Removable pair | 08 | KiWAV chrome round mirrors, pair | 10 mm stem into threaded inserts |
| Roof railsD-08 | 2 × 24" | 08 | SEIDO 24" stainless towel bar | Buy 2; counts toward the strut weight |
| Headlights + tail lightsD-10 | 2 × 4" round white LED w/ chrome bezel (front); 4" red LED w/ chrome bezel (rear) | 08, 09 | Partsam 4" round white LED w/ chrome bezel, 2-pack | Wire into the 12 V circuit or mount unlit. Rear: TMH 4" red LED w/ chrome bezel, 4-pack |
| Lettering + scrollworkD-09 | "LA CANTINERA", stripes, "SALUD" board | 09 | Custom vinyl lettering decal | Scrolls: M1186 pinstripe decal |
Finish
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonding primerF-01 | Wood + aluminum | 09 | Rust-Oleum Universal Bonding Primer spray | Brush-on: Zinsser Bondz, quart 4-pack |
| Gloss enamelF-02 | Red, royal blue, yellow | 09 | Regal Red · Royal Blue · Sunburst Yellow | Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel, brush-on quarts |
| Clear topcoatF-03 | Shelf and counter edges | 09 | Minwax Helmsman spar urethane, gloss | Ambers slightly; test over blue first |
| Edge sealerF-04 | All plywood edges | 05, 09 | TotalBoat penetrating epoxy sealer | Smaller: MAS 1.5 pt |
| Exterior sealantF-05 | Skin seams | 09 | DAP Dynaflex 230, white | |
| Sanding discsF-06 | 5" 8-hole hook-and-loop, 60–220 | 09 | 5" 8-hole discs, 100 pc | Matches the Milwaukee sander (T-07) |
| Chrome sprayF-07 | Bumpers, grille surround, horns | 09 | Rust-Oleum Bright Coat Metallic Chrome | Reads as bright silver, not mirror; don't clear-coat it |
Optional lighting
| Item | Spec / qty | Stage | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V power sourceE-01 | Enclosed, + approved charger | 09 | Dakota Lithium Power Box 10Ah LiFePO4 | ~3–4 h on one 5 m strip |
| LED stripE-02 | 12 V warm white, IP65 | 09 | iNextStation 16.4 ft warm white IP65 | Check amps/metre to size the fuse |
| Inline fuse holderE-03 | Waterproof | 09 | Zoatcba waterproof inline blade fuse holder, 4 pc | ~5 A fuse for one strip |
| Master switchE-04 | Panel mount | 09 | RVMARINEPAT 12 V toggle w/ weatherproof cap | |
| WireE-05 | 18 AWG 2-conductor, 50 ft | 09 | AOTORUA 18/2 red/black, 50 ft | Pure copper, not copper-clad aluminum |
| Connectors + grommetsE-06 | — | 09 | Wirefy heat-shrink butt connectors, 180 pc + EASYEAH rubber grommets, 170 pc |
Tools
Milwaukee M18 throughout, so one battery kit (T-11) powers the grinder, saw, jigsaw, drill and sander. Milwaukee doesn't make bar clamps, a plywood rip guide, a deburring tool or welding gear, so those are other brands. You'll need a 120 V MIG welder; any flux-core-capable unit in the 140 A class does this job. For the Milwaukee tools, buy from Amazon or Milwaukee directly rather than "for Milwaukee" resellers.