patrick reif Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 bait making is worse than archery for $50 increments. 50 bucks here, 50 bucks there. At what price stage do you reach the learning curve? What's the bottom dollar, or is there one? If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd need an intervention to stop my bait making desires. Maybe the proper title to this thread would be "When to say when" I've seen many aluminum molds I'd like to pour. I want an injector. I think I should order plastisol in 2.5 gallons instead of 1 gallon pails now. I've modified every jig and bait mold I've bought. This addiction is worse than crack. Where's Dr. Phil when you need him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted May 20, 2010 Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 For every $50 you spend, put $10 aside.............................for rehab and you'll be just fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted May 20, 2010 Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 In rehab they give you crack to get off the molds. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted May 20, 2010 Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 In rehab they give you crack to get off the molds. Frank Good one Frank;lol. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted May 20, 2010 Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 You guys are so funny Patrick, when is enough.. enough? When you no longer have the desire to do this. Realistically you never stop learning especially when you want to experiment and make yourself better than everyone else and you push your limits. That's what separates all of us from each other. Some have the drive to want to be best and others are happy where they are at. Nothing wrong with that, we all can't be brain surgeons. When I started this hobby I had 2 molds, a melting pot and that's it. Fast forward 8 years, I now have over 100 molds, 3 Lee pots, 3 Palmer pots and thousands of hooks. BTW I pour lead jigs. Even though I don't pour plastics my hobby is just as addicting as yours. The reason it's addicting is because you want to try and make different things. The better you get at it the more you want to try different things and the more you buy, and buy, and buy, and buy. Look at it this way, yes it's an addiction but it's a good addiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDSBYDAY Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 You have come to the right place. It's a journey with no end. Once a solution or technique is mastered you just move on to the next level. I find it interesting that I look back at some of the stuff I did three years ago that looked so good to me then. I wouln't even admit that I made them now. The bar just keeps getting raised. To think this all started because I could not find a 1/4oz.purple marabou jig with purple thread at any store back in the early 1970's. (I saw it on the rod of the only guy that could catch walleyes on our lake). I take that back. I was 10 or 11. I found one at a bait shop and talked my dad into buying one for me. I was so convinced that I was going to catch walleyes now. It was a 1/2 hr drive from the place we bought the jig to the cabin. I was so excited. We got there I grabbed my rod ran to the dock and tied on the walleye jig. Launched it on it's fist mission and watched it release from my poorly tied fishing knot never to be seen again. That is, until I could make my own. Many years later. You are not alone and that was my catharsis. I feel better now!! -------- They worked!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly41985 Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 You guys are so funny Patrick, when is enough.. enough? When you no longer have the desire to do this. Realistically you never stop learning especially when you want to experiment and make yourself better than everyone else and you push your limits. That's what separates all of us from each other. Some have the drive to want to be best and others are happy where they are at. Nothing wrong with that, we all can't be brain surgeons. When I started this hobby I had 2 molds, a melting pot and that's it. Fast forward 8 years, I now have over 100 molds, 3 Lee pots, 3 Palmer pots and thousands of hooks. BTW I pour lead jigs. Even though I don't pour plastics my hobby is just as addicting as yours. The reason it's addicting is because you want to try and make different things. The better you get at it the more you want to try different things and the more you buy, and buy, and buy, and buy. Look at it this way, yes it's an addiction but it's a good addiction. I would def agree with this " The better you get at it the more you want to try different things" i cant say much because i started ... this past january. but over those few months ive learned alot and acquired a few things. 5 molds, lee pot, and more ... ive just ordered about $300 in the past week and a half on a bunch of new things. im learning that the possibilities are endless. keeps it very interesting for sure! not to mention a lot of fun! Shawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterjay Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 Considering the fact that my fly tying addiction has been out of control for decades, I should have known better that to take up lure making, but here we are. The guys on striped bass sites like to talk about how making a $15 plug ends up costing $1,000, but they're only half-joking. You've really got to love it, and it's all too easy to love once you get started. More of a passion than a hobby, I think - it's easy to walk away from hobbies, but nobody gives this stuff up until they've hit rock bottom and they're looking for a bridge to live under. In my own case, I'm lucky enough to have a stint in rehab and 25 years experience in AA to draw on - the first step is admitting that I'm powerless over the urge to put enough stuff on a hook to outsmart something with the brain the size of a pea. Any kind of hook, any kind of fish. One's too many and a thousand's not enough. Nowadays, I can walk in an out of a liquor store without the urge to buy anything, but I usually fill up a bushel basket every time I go into Home Depot or the local hardware store. At least lure making addiction doesn't wind you up in court, though the nuthouse is still a definite possibility. (I admit I get nervous whenever I see my wife signing papers) So far, so good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 Considering the fact that my fly tying addiction has been out of control for decades, I should have known better that to take up lure making, but here we are. The guys on striped bass sites like to talk about how making a $15 plug ends up costing $1,000, but they're only half-joking. You've really got to love it, and it's all too easy to love once you get started. More of a passion than a hobby, I think - it's easy to walk away from hobbies, but nobody gives this stuff up until they've hit rock bottom and they're looking for a bridge to live under. In my own case, I'm lucky enough to have a stint in rehab and 25 years experience in AA to draw on - the first step is admitting that I'm powerless over the urge to put enough stuff on a hook to outsmart something with the brain the size of a pea. Any kind of hook, any kind of fish. One's too many and a thousand's not enough. Nowadays, I can walk in an out of a liquor store without the urge to buy anything, but I usually fill up a bushel basket every time I go into Home Depot or the local hardware store. At least lure making addiction doesn't wind you up in court, though the nuthouse is still a definite possibility. (I admit I get nervous whenever I see my wife signing papers) So far, so good. The behaviors are the the same. It's the substance that has changed. 15 years in NA. I won't get any DUI's making lures, but I have neglected things and/or family members............this is the last one, I promise! I'll be right in! Honey, what happened to my dinner? Honey? Honey?..........anybody here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterjay Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 Congrats on the 15 years bro - always nice to meet another survivor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainbutter Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 I'm probably about $500 in it, and I won't have to buy any soft plastics again ever. I'm actually quite happy with the molds I have and don't even feel the need to buy more (at the moment). All I'll need is maybe another 5 gallon bucket of plastisol and maybe a few colorants/additives every couple years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 Congrats on the 15 years bro - always nice to meet another survivor. Thanks and back at you. I guess someone else had other plans for us. It certainly wasn't my idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 I'm probably about $500 in it, and I won't have to buy any soft plastics again ever. I'm actually quite happy with the molds I have and don't even feel the need to buy more (at the moment). All I'll need is maybe another 5 gallon bucket of plastisol and maybe a few colorants/additives every couple years. You've done allot better than most. I remember placing my second order BEFORE the first one even arrived! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveh Posted May 22, 2010 Report Share Posted May 22, 2010 i am mold poor and proud of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 22, 2010 Report Share Posted May 22, 2010 One of my favorite quotes: Note left by wife of absent husband, "You're dinner's in the dog". I have all my receipts for the last three years, but am not brave enough to add them up. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance Posted May 22, 2010 Report Share Posted May 22, 2010 One of my favorite quotes: Note left by wife of absent husband, "You're dinner's in the dog". I have all my receipts for the last three years, but am not brave enough to add them up. Dave I guess it is a lot like my mother told me many years ago... it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around. I love this web site and really enjoy reading what you guys have to say and admire the work you do but that being said I really am happy at the present time just keeping it simple and relatively cheap. I do not own an airbrush yet which I know is probably offensive to most of you guys but I simply can paint lures with a combination of camel hair brushes, sponge brushes, and permanent markers that will catch fish. I make topwaters, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, bladebaits, and plastic worms, all without the aid of an airbrush, melting pots, or molds. I live on a 15,000 acre lake so it makes it easy for me to test lures after I make them, I just walk out my back door and start casting. At this point I believe I am actually saving money on lures as opposed to buying them at the tackle shop. I use a combination of a coping saw, an off-brand electric dremel tool I found at ace harware, and sandpaper to cut my basswood lures. I make spinnerbaits by running wire through an egg sinker and then using devcon 2 ton epoxy to hold the wire in place, the hook will be free swinging instead of in a fixed position but I think that is actually an improovement vs store bought models. I make a blade biat similiar to a reef runner cicada by epoxying a #4 willow leaf blade to a 3/8 ounce finnese weight after I have drilled three holes in the blade in the correct positions for two hooks and a split ring/barrel swivel line tie. I make plastic worms with plaster of paris molds; are they works of art; no, would they sell at the bait shop; no, do they catch fish; yes. Hell I'm even so cheap I use egg sinkers I get at the local bait shop for 4 cents a piece on my texas rigs instead of the clasic bullet weights. The lake I fish has lots of rocks and I think the egg sinker shape actually comes through the rocks on bottom without getting hung up better than the bullet weight shape. Well I have had a good spring of fishing but now the weather is starting to get hot where I live so it's about time to start making lures again, haven't made any since winter and I am ready to get to it. Just saying you don't have to break the bank just to make some lures for your pesonal use. Ain't nothing like catching a fish on a lure you've made yourself, that's for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 When is to much money I thik I have about $3,000 in molds so far. $600 in pots so far. Maybe $350 in colors and glitters so far. Maybe a year at least in lost sleep so far. If my Ex wife left because of it SO WHAT I think I get the better of the too. *Notice key words SO FAR* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 When is to much money I thik I have about $3,000 in molds so far. $600 in pots so far. Maybe $350 in colors and glitters so far. Maybe a year at least in lost sleep so far. If my Ex wife left because of it SO WHAT I think I get the better of the too. *Notice key words SO FAR* Well, you guys have convinced me, if it will make my wife leave me it's time for an airbrush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 Well, you guys have convinced me, if it will make my wife leave me it's time for an airbrush! I hope she doesn't read TU and know your screen name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 I hope she doesn't read TU and know your screen name. The best advise I can give you with your wife is get her involed with it. Sell some on eBay and show her you can make money for her to spend As for how much before you learn the ropes its never ending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cz75b Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 does anybody on this list actually fish? Hi, my name is Paul and I'm a lure maker.......(group replies) Hi Paul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 does anybody on this list actually fish? Hi, my name is Paul and I'm a lure maker.......(group replies) Hi Paul! Hi Paul I fish in bass club tournys and sometimes I fish in the NBAA tournaments plus going to help run a couple this year. Then I take the kids out fishing. The trick is more molds less down time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickeralpete Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 "How Much $ Before You Learn The Ropes?" i think it has far less to do with money as it does time and experience. the more time you can put in, the more you are going to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 does anybody on this list actually fish? Hi, my name is Paul and I'm a lure maker.......(group replies) Hi Paul! No, Paul........It's about finding the ways and means to make more lures. No one here has time to fish. That's another fellowship. Thanks for letting me share! (group replies) Thanks for sharing, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 I hope she doesn't read TU and know your screen name. Don't worry, she has been a fishing widow for the last several years and she still hangs around. Hum maybe if I stoped feeding her... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
