Is it really cheaper

[basser223]

Is it really cheaper to pour your own worms or in the end is it more expensive

[the crab]

I don't think most people who pour plastic for personal use do it to save money.  I don't pour it myself but I do pour lead and must say that it will probably take 3 years or more worth of broken off jigs to balance out the initial cost of the tools and materials.  That being said, the fun I've had making baits and catching fish on my own creations has made it well worth the investment.

[cadman]

I will agree with "the crab". I only pour lead jigs also. I do however sell them, and there is not  lot of money to be made. This is a hobby to me and a passion to create things from scratch. I have been doing this for 8 years, and most of the money you make you put back in for supplies and new things you want to try. I have about 100 molds @ $40 each, 3 bottom pour pots (3) hot pots, and thousands of hooks. Naturally this is a long term commitment for me. But if I were to just want a 100 jigs or so a year I would buy them. Much cheaper in the long run without the cost for supplies plus the hours upon hours of labor and to make sure you get it right. JMO

[Raul]

Is it really cheaper to pour your own worms or in the end is it more expensive

It depends, if you are going to pour for your personal use as a hobby, heck ----> forget it !!!, good molds cost money, unless you just fish with one type of bait you need molds for different worms, grubs, creatures, etc, etc, so the investment in good quality molds is large, you can easily shell out a grand just in molds, then you add the supplies ( plastisol, colors, metal flake, etc, etc ) and turns to be quite an investment.

The only way for making it less expensive is to sell part of what you make and keep what you need and pour the most you can to reduce the cost per unit until you reach a point where it 's cheaper for you to pour than to purchase.

Now, as a hobby the story is different, I pour jigheads, lately I 've been pouring some soft plastic baits, for me is a hobby so cost matters little, plus I get the satisfaction of catching fish with something I made, My compadre, a couple of pals and myslef have been catching fish lately with the baits I 've poured, actually I don 't sell the baits, they give me part of the cost of the supplies, I pour, then we split the production. Good way to spend some time in days when for whatever reason you can 't go fishing, better way to kill some time than spending several hours watching TV or playing with the game console.

[zach t]

Is it really cheaper to pour your own worms or in the end is it more expensive

It depends, if you are going to pour for your personal use as a hobby, heck ----> forget it !!!, good molds cost money, unless you just fish with one type of bait you need molds for different worms, grubs, creatures, etc, etc, so the investment in good quality molds is large, you can easily shell out a grand just in molds, then you add the supplies ( plastisol, colors, metal flake, etc, etc ) and turns to be quite an investment.

The only way for making it less expensive is to sell part of what you make and keep what you need and pour the most you can to reduce the cost per unit until you reach a point where it 's cheaper for you to pour than to purchase.

Now, as a hobby the story is different, I pour jigheads, lately I 've been pouring some soft plastic baits, for me is a hobby so cost matters little, plus I get the satisfaction of catching fish with something I made, My compadre, a couple of pals and myslef have been catching fish lately with the baits I 've poured, actually I don 't sell the baits, they give me part of the cost of the supplies, I pour, then we split the production. Good way to spend some time in days when for whatever reason you can 't go fishing, better way to kill some time than spending several hours watching TV or playing with the game console.

this

[FishingBuds]

Is it really cheaper to pour your own worms or in the end is it more expensive

NO its not, but it gets closer to being cheaper everytime I see the prices on the store bought : ;D

But like me as a hobby, its worth the cost

[Siebert Outdoors]

it all depends of how much of one lure you use.  The initial investment is high but it does pay off in the long run if you dont go crazy buying extra stuff.

[FishingBuds]

it all depends of how much of one lure you use. The initial investment is high but it does pay off in the long run if you dont go crazy buying extra stuff.

Good point, I make what I throw alot of and thats Craws, stiks, lizard and shad.

Cool thing about this hobby is having the plastic, so when ever you come across a new style bait to toss you can make a mock up of it.

I Just made a mock up bait off of a new one I have been messin with, cost a few bucks to make out of silicone. I don't sell, just personal use.

[Mr.Sheephead]

yes and no

my dads a machinest and can make me all the molds in the world and custom ones for free rather than buying metal softplastic molds from tacklemaking sites (sell for $80-$100)

does this save me money? yes because i can just melt my old torn used up soft plastics or buy some plastic

will you save money? depends

if your like me that loves to do their own work you can find out how to cast your softplastic lure bodies and melt some of your own old plastics and pour them into the molds you have made.

then only way to explain the cost is what RESOURCES you have like me i have a machinest to make me free metal molds so im set otherwise you will have to buy metal molds yourself for $80-$100 or cast your own molds or buy the cheaper plastic molds from tackle making sites that sell for $5-$20

[Jig Man]

Long term maybe cheaper.  Short term no.

I have $300 invested in injecting tubes.  So far I have done 3 dozen.  That is about $8 per tube.