Student roboteer here aswell. I build Nanoweights, FleaWeights, Antweights and Beetleweights at uni since they can be worked much more easily with hand tools. I build heavies and feathers back at my family home which actually has the toolset I can build with.

Feathers can easily be built in a uni situation if you go down the HDPE route. A drill and good saw will go a long way (Though I'd use a jigsaw or panel saw and just keep the noise to sociable hours).