I made on of those today and it was a piece of cake. Didn't have to buy a single thing and it didn't take over a half hour including the camo paint job.

I do have a couple questions.
Are you using shell corn or cracked corn?
When you said you made the hole a half in bigger than the rod did you mean a half inch on each side of the rod or a one inch hole for a half inch rod?

On mind I had some old pipe that was about 3/4 and I made the hole about an inch and a half but I also have some old washers laying around that I threw in the bottom of the bucket so I can put that on to give my self some adjustment to suit the type of feed.

I give this project 2 thumbs up it definately makes the list of 4 or 5 outstanding project ideas I've gotton off the internet boards in the last 3 or 4 years.

Easy to do.
Didn't cost a dime to make.
I don't see how it could ever go bad, wear out or quit working.