millsryno

You are really asking a question that is very difficult to answer because there are so many variables. I would say that a guestimate would be that it is about 1/4 the cost just to make your own. This does not take into account start up equipment as you have requested like molds, pyrex glasses, microwave, etc.

There are a few guys using the alberger salt. It comes in vairous sizes, too. If I remember correctly, it is made out your way.

Del has a food grade salt which I believe is one size larger than popcorn salt. You have probably found through your research that the common "salt is salt is salt" statement that is made on this forum is not true. There are many different sizes of salt and the smaller you go, the softer and more durable your baits are going to be. They will also be easier to pour. If you want an opaque bait, you can blend any type of salt in a grinder or blender and gets some real nice pours. If you want some light transparency, you need to stay with a granular salt. Different grades of salt also have different degrees of impurities (insolubles) in them. These impurities will cloud the bait. Ideally, you want the salts that have 99.99% pure NaCl. These salts will have no iodine and no anti-caking properties. They pour some real nice baits. The problem is, though, that since they don't have the anti-caking properties, they clump up with any type of moisture. Another problem is availability. I have tried so many different types of salt and done a lot of research on the topic. My final verdict was this: Get the purest, smallest granular salt you can in bulk that you don't have to pay shipping for. Shipping kills your price on salt, usually costing MUCH more than the salt itself. If you are not worried about light transparency, blend your salt in a grinder or blender. You won't be able to get a better pour than that, period. If you are going to grind it, just get the cheapest table salt you can. It will work just fine. Del has a good grade of salt. If you can't get un-buttered popcorn salt in bulk around you, stick with his salt. Pop, I'll be interested to hear if you find any other info than this. I try to stay on top of the salt subject as I mainly pour sticks.

I'd talk to an accountant. They will get you set up on your books, help you will liscensing and all that. I do my bookeeping on my own and turn my in to the accountant quarterly.

Hey guys, I hang more on the soft plastic side, but am wanting to buy some nice hand crafted deep divers. Not sure if this topic is covered here too often. Anybody make a deep diver that dives 25+ feet? 30 feet? Please let me know. Looking for a pattern similar to the old Berkley Frenzy Tennessee Shad. http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/Detail.cfm?PassProductInfoId=6475&PassPrevious=1438&PassLevel=3

Dynasty, Please let me know when you get it in. I can't seem to get anything to work and would like to try it out. If anybody can point me in the right direction, please let me know.

Looking for a used pot to try out before I get a couple new ones. Anybody have one for sale? PM me if you do

I'm looking for the same color. I nice, deep blood red.

From the lawyers I have spoken with, it is about $15K minimum. If you are researching online, they are probably not telling you a lot of the hidden fees. When I actually spoke with some lawyers, I understood more how it all works. You can just open the phone book at look for patent lawyers and talk to them on the phone about typical costs. Many of them have a low fee for a consultation. When they turn the patent in, it is almost 100% likely they are going to deny it, at least some portion of it. They will send it back with input on what they might patent and you will need to make changes/concessions. This requires your lawyer to do work and they charge a lot of money per hour (I forget exactly how much, but $100s per hour). It is likely it may even be sent back again, too, but it's been a while since I have spoken with somebody I forget exactly all the steps. And after all this, there is no guarantee that you get the patent and the lawyers sure aren't going to give you any money back. Basically, this one lawyer told me like it is...they (the gov) assume NOT give you a patent and to NOT let you have a monopoly. They would rather let everybody do what you are doing. This is why it is so costly and difficult. Now, if you have the knowhow to do it on your own, you can certainly save a lot of money and it is probably worth it. Also, I have been told that you cannot patent something that mimics nature. This is why just about every lure design you see is not patented. I am almost positive that Sweet Beavers are not patented. You can patent certain parts of your design such a new, innovative tail design that affects the swimming motion of the swimbait and things like that, I think. If you are hearing something different, please fill me in. I, too, have something I am thinking of patenting. Right now, though, with the research I have done...it's just not worth it.

Lots of money... Do a search for "injection" and I am sure you will find all the info you are looking for.

For a day or two it seemed to be getting better, but now it seems worse than ever...

Well, to protect yourself it will require a patent. From the research I have done, a patnet for a worm design is going to be EXTREMELY difficult. I have something I am debating whether or not to patent, too. I'ts basically a matter if I want to invest money just to try and get a patent, then it is a matter of if the payback is worth it. A patent is around $15K from the research I did. You have to sell a shi* load of worms to just break even on that.

Edit - Double Posted

Hmm...I made a mistake. I thought I had a Pyrex and an Anchor cup. I actually have two different style Anchor cups. Here is the one I like better. Is this the one you guys are using? if you want to buy this one, just google "Anchor 8 oz measuring cup" and you will find it is pretty popular. Here is the Anchor cup I do not like. Seems like the handle gets hot quick and it is more difficult to handle. http://www.galasource.com/prodDetail.cfm/63487,8%20oz%2E%20Measuring%20Cup,MX1

Here's a little trick for the guys that don't know it. If you have bubbles in your plastic, just cook it like normal. After it is cooked place it in your microwave for an additional 1-2 minutes on the "warm" setting. Take out and all the bubbles are right on top. Use a spoon to scrape them off the top. I know, it's an extra step, but it work perfectly. I even do this now when I have good plastic.

Use less dye

I've been able to get on just fine.

If you are fishing clear water lakes, stick with lighter, more natural looking colors with good light transparency. If you are fishing muddy water, use brightly colored, opaque baits. If the water is in between, use something in between. You can hardly ever go wrong with the watermelon or green pumpkin pours.

I use both the anchor and pyrex. I tend to like the pyrex better because it seems like the handle is a little further away from the glass and easier to handle. I also notice that the anchor seems to get hot quicker than the pyrex. I'm not sure about how thin they pour vs. each other, I don't do any real intricate work like that.

BTW, has anybody heard from him in a while? Last I heard he got his injection machine. I wonder how that is going for him...

You can purchase plastic from these 3 suppliers. If you go to their websites you can get pricing for all your materials. www.del-mart.com www.lurecraft.com www.fishingworld.com/M-F-Manufacturing From my understanding you are going to want swimbait or tube or saltwater plastic, not soft handpour. I could be wrong though, I don't pour swimbaits.

I think this is the pot guys are using. I have had people tell me that the components rust if you are using salt. They do not sell a mixer for it. I bought an arrow mixer on ebay for $100 and its almost new. I don't have a pot yet, but it will be mounted to mix the contents in the pot. http://www.sta-warm.com/pots.htm You may also want to consider the Wenesco pots. I am contimplating which to get, myself. For some reason or another, the guys that have these pots are not too open about giving you info on them. I have tried in the past and gotten very little feedback. I'm at the point where I'd actually pay somebody money to let me see their pot in action. Here is the link for the Wenesco pots. The mixer you see is the arrow mixer I got on eBay. http://www.wenesco.com/dip.htm#diptop One problem I have with the Wenesco is that every time I call I seem to get a different price quote from them. From my research, the Wenesco seems to be a better built pot. The thing I don't like, though, is the dispensing mechanism. I like how the Sta-Warm dispenses from the bottom and it seems like the dispensing handle on the Sta-Warm is more user freindly than the gate valve on the Wenesco. Maybe somebody that has either of these pots can chime in on this.

It's been like that for me for a few days...

Bass8baits makes some of the cleanest 3+ color pours you are going to find. Not too many guys can pour like he does. His colors are a little different from what I like to use, but they are unique.

Unless he is supplying a different salt than he was a few months ago, it is much finer than regular ol' table salt. Popcorn salt is finer if you can find it in bulk, but Del's salt works real well.