I did the exact same thing as sellick for purchasing the wood. At the end of the day, you don't need anything fancy for the frame and siding. The less expensive wood gives it a nice rustic feel and helps keep the cost down.
As for attaching the top, I did attach my top to the frame using 4 L...
Sellick - Thank you for your very detailed post. I was such a fan of your design that I went ahead and built my own! I am very pleased with how it turned out and really appreciate you taking the time to document your build. I plan on adding a drip tray and would like to make my tower a little...