Prices for getting started

did you have to put the dashes in there to get it to split it up?

prices on molds might differ depending on what types of molds you get.you can always make some molds yourself with pretty simple materials that won't cost too much.

Thats very true bxn, I just took a general price from several different suppliers based on injection style molds for plastics. I looked at a few suppliers and just averaged a basic small mold and hit on about the 60 dollar mark. you are right though, it can differ up or down

I know this is an old thread, but the one thing you all for got, for an injection mold, an injector is needed....Average price $60.00. So add this to the total cost of all three lists.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crappieseeker

Several people in the past have wanted to get a general idea of what it cost to get started into making plastics. This is a very hard question to answer because you can go from simple to broad. There are several different suppliers to buy from and different prices. What I have done is put together some pricing from a few different suppliers and figured up 3 different scenarios for getting started. One goes from very basic, the next to a little more, and the third to a semi advanced. None of these are scenarios get really involved but the 3rd one will allow you to do quite a bit of stuff. Remember that these are just general ideas and nothing specific. Some people might dissagree a little with these and some people will agree. My attempt is to only give you ideas to think about if you are thinking about getting into making plastics. I did not list exactly everything you will need. There me be small little odds and ends thing that you need also, I just mainly tried to touch on the major things needed. I hope this will help some of you. This set up is for microwave use and I included a price for just a basic small microwave, no need really for anything fancy. If you have an old one then you can subtract this price. Please do not use the one you use to heat the food you eat daily.

lite beginner beginner semi advanced

1 quart plastic $14.50 1 gallon $30.50 2.5 gallon $68.50
10 paint colors $33.50 20 colors $91 40 colors $182
gloves $5.50 gloves $5.50 gloves $5.50
safety glasses $5.00 glasses $5.00 glasses $5.00
glitter 3 colors $11.25 5 colors $18.75 7 colors $26.25
2 pyrex cups $12 2 cups $12 2 cups $12
2 molds $120 3 molds $180 5 molds $300
microwave $60 microwave$60 microwave$60

total $261.75 $402.75 $659.25

please remember these are just general ideas and your actual price may be a little higher or lower. I just wanted to give you a ball park figure. several people ask the question of what it costs to get started and never really get a general idea. I hope in some way this helps. for others who make plastics if you do not feel this is a good little basic idea, please constructively add to it or mention other things.

---

Getting started is the easy part. Sustaining the hobby is what gets to your billfold especially when you start making good lures and see what others are doing.

yes and the prices have gone up I hate to tell you guys what I have invested and all the stuff that I have but it is mind boggling when you get started into this hobby you could literally spend thousands of dollars in a hurry I probably have close to $30,000 wrapped up into my hobby as we have over 100 different molds and still counting on the average of every year I spent close to $3000 on molds not to mention plastic which runs about 130 some dollars for 5 gallons we go through about 20 gallons on the average not to mention all the other materials that you have to have turned a season but you don't have to go home wild like I did it is a very addicting hobby to get into I would say around $500 you can get into making plastics you don't have to have a ton on molds either I would say for five molds for the average guy that is personally make an important self is enough the problem is which ones do you choose and that's where you get hooked we have about 95% of Jacobs we Mold from Lakeside Bass tackle bear molds candy Creek which is do it now so we buy molds all over the place but mainly I stick with Jacob's

Yes I agree it can get expensive. The trick is not to let it overwhelm you, and keep it at the hobby level. I'm on a limited budget and my hobbies are even more budgeted than I am. I seriously doubt I will ever get as bad a s some. yes I will get a bunch of stuff, that's a gimme. But it will be some here and some there. If I am around long enough, I may end up acrueing several thousand dollars worth of stuff. But the only way I would spend thousands of dollars a year on this, is if I win the lottery, and we all know what the chances of that is. A couple of molds, and a bunch of colors and glitters, some UV, and plastisal aught to do it for awhile. Like I have said else where, I have to work with what I got and be happy.... Tight lines and blue bird days. Eric