smallmouthaholic Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 I've been getting pure lead from the local scrap yard at $0.75 a pound. Just load up my smelting pot and melt it down outside. Most all of it is roof sheathing. My local scrap yard told me it was illegal to sell lead here in S.E.Pa. A buddy gave me some of the roof sheathing lead. Lots of dross to remove but it is soft and pours well for certain applications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I buy custom simply because none of the big companies make good 1/200th ounce jigs in my area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteZipczech Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I buy custom simply because none of the big companies make good 1/200th ounce jigs in my area. 1/200th ounce jigs? What's the use?? A couple extra wraps of thread would cover that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick reif Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Price is a big point for me. I lose a lot of jigs in the river and the price is cheaper when making my own. I use Mustad and VMC hooks instead of Owner or Gammies. I look at it like the jig retires after it's been broken off and that has happened on the first cast more times than I care to count. I also can't stand going to the store and not finding the tackle I'm looking for. That's never a problem since I started making my own. It's also a rush to catch a fish on something I made myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 1/200th ounce jigs for crappie and bluegill. none of the big names in my area stock them so i have to buy custom and paint them myself since i cant find pre painted 1/200th maggot colored jigs. i even have to mix powderpaint to get the color i want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteZipczech Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I've seen plenty of 1/100 oz. jigs and can't imagine a 1/200 oz. What size hook do you use in a jig that small? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasilofchrisn Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I buy most of my lead from my local scrap yard for $1 a pound. I made friends with an employee there and I let him know when I need some. He then calls me when a batch comes in. It is the same price regardless of quality but they do let me pick and choose through what they have and I only buy the good stuff. I recently bought 756# of lead off of craigslist for 90 cents a pound. Keep your eye out and you will find it. I melt it outside in a dutch oven that holds just shy of 200# and double flux and clean it before making ingots. Only these cleaned ingots get melted in my workshop in my ladle pot of my bottom pour. I make a lot of stuff from CNC molds that is not available anywhere else.Certainly not in retail stores. We do not have bass,walleye or crappies in Alaska so I am not competing with those thousands of guys making bass jigs from Do-It molds. I certainly don't find a lot of jig makers in Alaska selling jigs anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Sir, Congratulations on your business prowess. Most jig makers, even buying bulk wholesale, have about $0.40 in direct cost. Indirect costs like energy and capital costs like molds, pouring equipment & shop space can be different for each individual but I'm guessing your CPA could justify adding 50% to that number in demonstration of actual expenses. Add excise tax and cost to package the product and it becomes difficult to see how someone can sell a 3/4 oz walleye jig for $0.51 each not to mention labor & transportation costs. But this guy and many more sell at these "everyday low prices" http://www.riverwalleyes.com/lead-head-jigs.html I applaud your ability to not only sell at 3 x to 5x your competitors rates - but to do it 8,000 times each year might make you eligible to be Donald Trumps Apprentice. Like some others here, my interest is not commercial so I wish you the best of luck. I remain ever grateful to the guys that freely share tips and advice on this site. I don't know how anyone could stay in business selling as cheap as he does. Even unpainted jigs @ 2oz. for $.43? THat's just crazy cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
