Thread: Had Some baits to make last night ( new color)

Just curious what would it cost to get started doing this and is it a money saving thing to do. They look great by the way.

I can go thru 20-40 jigs a trip, if I'm tryin to teach some one new how to shoot docks. gettin ready to glue up 100 for the next 3 days, so I'd be interested in the answer on the cost myself! Thanks for th pics, they all look great!

woo wee! love them pink ones put a pink jighead on that outa be a killer! they all look real good

Look awesome

Well, You are going to have to open Your wallet a bit. You need a microwave and You can get one at a yard sale. A hand injector is about 50 bucks. The molds You want will range from 50 to 150 on average and depending on the cavities per mold, You may need multiple molds. The plastic is going to run at least 50 bucks a gallon. 50 with shipping included on up to 65 bucks. Some mold makers offer laminate plates for a particular mold for making those top bottom two tone colors. Laminate plates will run about 20 bucks. You can easily have $70 tied up in one mold.

If You play it right, You can start with bare bones for around $250. If You are going to just make baits for yourself and are after those colors that You have in mind that no one else makes then it might be worth it to You. It may be worth it in Fishdoc's case because he goes through so many with his line of business. It can over time save money on baits. If You don't fish a whole lot and are only spending $100 a year on plastics, I would not waste my time with it. You can find plenty of people here that are making baits and selling them cheaper than some of the big brand names. You can also look at someone like Percidae Papermouth. He has been able to narrow down his color range to just ONE color. One color and one or two molds of a certain type bait makes do it yourself a no brainer and the savings will come faster. But I warn anyone who does this, it is addicting. I started out and said I was going to buy 2 molds. a 2" baby shad mold and a 1.5" baby shad. I now have 19 molds and will soon be adding another. Got several lead molds as well. If You wanted to go full bore and start a tackle business, I would say You would need $5000 right from the get go to get You out the door and into production. The big boys have custom molds made where one mold can cost thousands of dollars and their injection machines can run 10 to 20 thousand. But they are running thousands of baits at the time.

The reason Why I say You might want multiple molds is because most folks heat plastics in 1/2 cup increments in a pyrex cup in the microwave. Most plastics can only be reheated 4 or 5 times before they start losing color. The brighter colors are the worst. You can have a batch of pretty bright chartreuse turn brown after 4 or 5 reheats. It will happen all of a sudden sometimes. You can buy stabilizer($8) per bottle to help keep the colors longer but it can take a lot of this. The best way to keep from losing the colors is to use them up with a few shots and more mold helps with this. A half cup of chartreuse goes a LOOOONNNGG way when just shooting tails on baits and You will lose the color before You use it up. This can get expensive and can blow a budget if Your on one.

This hobby can be dangerous as well. If You don't get a good seal when You inject and plastic squirts on You, it is like 350 degree hot cheese on you and is not going to stop burning until it cools. You need to wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and at least eye wear for safety to Your face. It can be a nasty burn. Gloves have already saved my hands several times from 3rd degree burns. You also need to be in a well vented area with fans and wear a respirator as the fumes are toxic. A bad dose of fumes will give You a sinus infection for a week. Prolonged exposure can cause cancer so take every precaution on doing this hobby. It is fun and if You have all the necessary safety equipment, can be rewarding as You catch fish on a bait and color that You made. It can save money if You have a handful of colors that You want to make runs on.

I have time when it rains, during the winter, and some time during the summer to dedicate to this. Here lately, I have been in My garage almost every night working on them. I have not even got back to my 2" stinger shads yet and My own box is running dangerously low. I have a dual injector for shooting laminates on these baits. That injector runs around 150 to 200 now.

I guess to sum up with a quick answer, If You want to make simple single color baits then You can do this fairly cheap over time. If You want complicated colors in 2 or 3 tones, then it is going to be expensive. Anyone interested in more on this subject can post on the DIY plastics forum in the Jig making section. several folks here make their own plastics and several are in their own business. If You don't want to make Your own, check them out and support them if they make a bait You like. I don't advertise as I am not a sponsor member yet. All contact is through PM. There are people here that make some outstanding looking baits and are reasonably priced and may be your best bet to save money on baits. I started because I got tired of having to order Bobby Garland baby shads all the time because no one around me within 100 miles is selling them. Then when i got into it I figured since I had all the other gear needed, I could just buy other bait molds that I liked using too so that is how it gets addicting and expensive too.

Have a mold pay for itself that is just $50 and You want simple single colors, You are going to have to use up at least 50 packs of baits fishing. Then it is saving You money. You still have your expenses in material for making the baits with raw plastic and colorant, glitter etc... Sorry to be long winded on this just want to give an honest opinion on the whole hobby. If you want to go into business, believe me, you are not going to get rich.CF

with the knowledge you got on making lures why you farming- its hard dang work-? unless you want - to my guess ! -having grown up on a small farm I always wished I could be a farmer but the days of the small farmer are gone as you know- surveying at least keep me outdoors- God bless the farmer he's the backbone of this country - and so few people realize it!!

Originally Posted by hunter1314

with the knowledge you got on making lures why you farming- its hard dang work-? unless you want - to my guess ! -having grown up on a small farm I always wished I could be a farmer but the days of the small farmer are gone as you know- surveying at least keep me outdoors- God bless the farmer he's the backbone of this country - and so few people realize it!!

I will farm until the day I die or go busted. My family has farmed since they came over on the boat. Many generations. All My extended family on my dads side grew up on our home farm. They farmed it, moved on to farm in other places or went into other professions. Now My Dad and I are the last of our family that are still farming. I don't think I would quit if I wanted to. Its an old tradition that I don't want to see die. My Son wants to farm so I have an heir to pass it down to. If not for him, I would farm until I was tired of it and then sell it all and retire.

I love making baits too But it is done when I'm not farming. I don't think the two will ever cause a problem for each other. If I can't go fishing, I might as well do something fishing related.CF

Great looking baits Ed, I like your pink/ char color. I'm waiting for the mail man to bring mine.

Thanks for sending so quick, Anchor man, Vic