[Nica F.]

Personally before debating on what the 1000 dollars should be spent on contact local universities, colleges, machine shops, and other FIRST teams about using their machine shop(s). If the school isn't around these type of resources (which I doubt seeing you're in Rochester home of the Finger Lakes Regional and RIT) or unable to use them spend the money on essentials. Seeing that your beginning team only has the KOP and "some small quantity of hardware", I'd agree with:

Originally Posted by usbcd36

Good hacksaws, vises, drills, and files will assist in assembling the kit frame. Get a soldering iron, solder, heatshrink, wire, strippers and a crimper as well. See if the students themselves can lend tools.