jbeach61978 Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 how do you and where would you get a alum mold made up with your on lure design and what would be the cost, i have ideas on designs but dont know where to start, thanks for any info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 how do you and where would you get a alum mold made up with your on lure design and what would be the cost, i have ideas on designs but dont know where to start, thanks for any info Depending on detail in the mold which equals draw up and programing time. Then how many molds usaliy figure about $1,000 on up. Also depends on the shop doing it and if the are a two piece mold. Really you should find a local shop and get a price quote from them first. I had a local shop do mine for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinamike Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 PM sent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rixon529 Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 (edited) If you don't own (or know someone who does) a CNC machine, be prepared to part company with considerable sums of cash... I'm not saying that it always costs a bundle, but custom aluminum molds can be costly depending on several variables such as mold type (1-piece, 2-piece), lure size, number of mold cavities, and complexity of design. Your best bet is to contact the makers to obtain more info on costs. Here's a few places to get you started: http://www.basstackle.com/aboutus.asp http://www.bearsbaits.com/crm.asp?action=contactus https://www.caneycreekmolds.com/crm.asp?action=contactus http://www.del-mart.com/shop/help.php?section=contactus&mode=update http://www.kmolds.com/ http://www.lurecraft.com/contact-us.cfm Here's a website forum of CNC machinists that has considerable information that may benefit you: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/moldmaking/ And like Pitbull said, see if you can find a machine shop in your local area with a CNC machine that may be able to help. Remember - there are a lot of fishermen out there. Maybe one of them is a CNC machinist who is interested in your idea(s) and wants to help you... Best of luck to you! Rick Edited May 18, 2011 by rixon529 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Learn to make your own? For the cost of a dozen truly custom designs you could more than pay for a mini CNC machine. It takes time though. I spent over 2.5 years learning what I could do, and then expanding that. I only really learned how to use 3D designs in the last six months. I know some will say "just" and "only", but I get a great deal of satisfaction out of controlling my designs completely and not being dependent on somebody else's "interpretation." If I have to make practical compromises I know why and I can make adjustments to stay close to the origininal functionality. A wording of warning. Making chips fly is almost as addictive as fishing. Where do you get one of thoes Mini CNC's at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I would love to get into CNC, but it is daunting and more expensive than I could manage at this time, but like Bob says, very doable. An interim alternative for a professional looking bait, is to model the bait in 3D on CAD and pay to get the model rapid prototyped. The RP model can then be used to make RTV molds. The quality of RP models is getting better all the time and they have reached a stage now, were the best machines can give us what we need in terms of surface finish. Even if you wanted a better finish, you would only have to apply a coat of epoxy. Another advantage of going the RP route, is that you can model in features that would be very expensive and/or difficult to do with machines, at no extra cost. I will qualify this statement by adding that just about anything can be machined, it is just a question of machine capabilities, cutters and time, all of which add expense. If you did not do the CAD yourself, you would also have to pay for that service too. But if you are considering CNC in the future, then a good plan would be to start learning a decent CAD program now, because you will definately need this skill if you progress to CNC. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 how do you and where would you get a alum mold made up with your on lure design and what would be the cost, i have ideas on designs but dont know where to start, thanks for any info I don't think it was very expensive at all. I had a bait idea and sent it off to Kevin @ Basstackle.com. Got a prototype and many 2 cavity molds. Molds were around $120 each. Thing might have changed since last year but unless you are looking at a very large mold, I doubt you will get into the thousands. You can add molds to your collection as you can afford them once the design has been established. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHK Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I don't think it was very expensive at all. I had a bait idea and sent it off to Kevin @ Basstackle.com. Got a prototype and many 2 cavity molds. Molds were around $120 each. Thing might have changed since last year but unless you are looking at a very large mold, I doubt you will get into the thousands. You can add molds to your collection as you can afford them once the design has been established. Jim last i talked to another member here Kevin isnt taking on any custom work right now because he is swamped. things may have changed but i talked to this member a couple weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 last i talked to another member here Kevin isnt taking on any custom work right now because he is swamped. things may have changed but i talked to this member a couple weeks ago. He may not be but you may be able to shop the project around and someone will be interested. my ovriding point was that it will not be cost prohibitive for you to get molds in your bait design unless it is just over the top. More like hundreds vs thousands. I would get "in-line" now though as these guys make money by staying busy. They don't plan for free time. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I know at least one of the machinists will want to sell your mold as part of his inventory, but you will still have to pay for the mold. Personally, I would expect several free molds if I was giving up the rights to my design. If you want to keep the selling rights, it may be better to go to a non-fishing machinist, but you may have to get the CAD work done independantly, as a non-fishing machinist will not understand lures. Check the arrangement details with your machinist before revealing your design, this is not unreasonable, or am I being paranoid. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 All very good points Bob. I guess what I am trying to say is, understand the costs, what you are getting for the big bucks and what you are giving away for the price reduction. If your lure design becomes the next big hit, you are going to feel a bit sick about the few hundred bucks that you saved just to get a cheaper mold. It all depends on what your hopes are and how you value your new design. CAD and CAM work takes time and has to be paid for. Another point worth mentioning and this was discussed here on TU no so long ago, is ownership of the design models. If you decide to take your bait to another machinist is your original machinist going to say "no problem" and hand over the CAD and/or CAM files. Unlikely I would say. This is all part of the contract. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marks Lures Posted May 24, 2011 Report Share Posted May 24, 2011 how do you and where would you get a alum mold made up with your on lure design and what would be the cost, i have ideas on designs but dont know where to start, thanks for any info It all depends on the time of year. If the current mold makers are not busy in the winter they will bend over backwards etc. for some cash. When spring and summer get here, well you will have to pay the big bucks. I ordered a mold and paid for it from Del-Mart a couple of months ago and promised it was shipped 3 weeks ago, NOT. Asked another mold maker about a design and he said he had something that he made for himself I might be interested, NEVER SAW A PICTURE. Well I have access to designers and machine shops, IN MICHIGAN THAT ARE REALLY REALLY HUNGRY. Have a desighner that will spend the weekend on CAD for $100.00 hey if this goes I will just make it $200.00 for his time. Great guy we drink beer together, he is from India and has no clue what a fishing lure is. Need I keep going. I am so frustrated with what people think this will cost and what it can get done for in a crap economy and thinking of changing the rules. Going to find a local machine shop that is looking to make some money and put food on the table for his kids. And I will stress the importance of customer service. Anyone Interested in this endevor? I AM TIRED OF THE POSTINGS THAT SAY YOU SHOULD WAIT, BE HAPPY AND PAY BIG BUCKS FOR YOUR UNIQUE DESIGNS WHEN THEY WILL MAKE SOMETHING CLOSE AND SELL IT ANY WAY, PROVIDED THEY HAVE TIME. MY OPINION AND IF THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPORT WILL LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL CAD DESIGNERS AND MOLD SHOPS THAT ARE EAGER TO GET INTO A NEW BUSINESS. e.g CAD to CAM to produce executeable code to make a little league trophy $100.00, this with an Indian on a good ol Red Neck handshake. Finding there are a lot of designers with free time and Machine shops with free time. Dont think it would be that hard to put the two together. I am talking non-fishing people that want to eat, and keep their kids in shoes. An Unhappy mold customer, due to service. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggun Posted May 24, 2011 Report Share Posted May 24, 2011 I guess I have been lucky me and my wife both do CAD in 2D and 3D, I have the same machinist that makes pulley's for my motor's on my moving targets make my molds and it's never costed me more then $100.00 to have a multi cavity mold made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted May 24, 2011 Report Share Posted May 24, 2011 With all the frustrations being heard, I still think the mold selection and service is good. Like both Dave and Bob mentioned, if you don't outline what you expect, you are going to be dissapointed as the other party has no idea of your expectations. This includes molds, designs, files, etc. Don't expect people to be mind readers. I have dealt with all the mold makers available, except Jacob's, and have been happy with the products I have received and the time frame I have received them. I have never expected to go to a mold maker with an idea or sketch and hoped to come away with a large, multi-cavity mold for $100. We all get paid for our expertise in our areas and should expect to pay these guys. Additionally, I don't expect a ccustom mold to be in my hands in a week. 4-6 weeks sounds more reasonable. Just like with custom baits being made, you aren't the only person looking for something custom. The line forms and you get in it or not. Also, be flexible with your design. Some things can be done but may add hundreds on to the mold cost. Eliminating or slightly changing the design can reduce machine time and reduce the costs. I can speak for one mold maker that I have talked with on pricing. He tries to place the bait in the mold several ways and then runs the mold several way to help reduce the machine costs. He absorbs all these costs on the front end prior to putting the mold out there. You probably will pay for that with another individual. Good luck going out there and find others but to me, having the relationship with a local person or a trusted source is worth a few extra bucks for me. I know what I am going to get when I order from Del, Kevin, Bob, Jason, etc.... Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeach61978 Posted May 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 thanks for all the info, some is a little out of my price range , i have found a cnc guy who will do it on the side dont know how good he is but its worth a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
