Jig Pouring

[WI_Angler1989]

What a ballpark guess of the cost to get into pouting my own jigs. I love Confidence Baits Draggin Heads but it's pricey to go through them. Plus I've always wanted to make tackle someday.

I have nothing for it. No melting pot, molds, paint gear, materials, etc. 

Anyone have experience and a cost guess for starting up? I'd just be pouring for me alone, so all gear can be small and not put out tons of jigs. 

Also, I realize it's an investment and won't pay off for a while, but I'm just doing a Lil research.

[smalljaw67]

The cost will depend on a few things, they type of jig you want to pour and the hooks you use and how many colors you want to start with. Then you have melting pots and molds and lead and I recommend using good lead and not wheel weights, there are you tube videos showing what zinc contamination does to lead and it doesn't take much. So the cheapest way would be to get a dipping type pot and a small ladle, those 2 items will run $40, then the hooks and paint and skirt material, I'd say on the cheap side it would be around $200, that will get you around 50 jigs or so. There will be those who say that they can get a hot plate and a small cast iron pot and you can save money like that but it isn't very efficient or safe.

1. Melting pot - bottom pour or ladle

2. Lead

3. Mold

4. Hooks

5. Paint - vinyl - powder - air brush

6. Skirt material - silicone - rubber

7. PPE - cotton mill gloves, safety glasses

This is a list to get you started and understanding that it will take time before it begins to save you money is the right way to go about it. What eventually happens if you stick with it is that the jigs you choose to make become more expendable so you fish them in heavier cover and that leads to more and bigger fish, good luck.

[cadman]

I agree with smalljaw, however I would think you would be more in the 200 -300 dollar range. If you want to save money don't start up pouring, because there is the initial start-up cost, and then all the other things you will need.  Also there is a big learning curve in pouring and a bigger learning curve in painting. All this depends on what your ultimate goal is. if you are going to pour for yourself and friends, it might be worth your while, but it is a never ending hobby that you always dump money into, because you always want to try something new, and new cost money. Your biggest concern would be to make sure you are careful and don't get burned. Good luck in your endeavor.

[WI_Angler1989]

Thanks a ton! That a heck of a list. Yeah my though wasn't to "save" in a traditional sense, but the jigs I wanna make (someday) are ones I use a ton, that I anticipate will be a staple for years. I use them for tubes, craws, shakey head, finesse anything honestly.

Plus, i've wanted to try my hand at tackle crafting for years and that seemed like a good starting point. Thanks again for the awesome outline and help guys!

[RyneB]

You can find some good deals on Ebay and help you with cost.

[Munkin]

You have a good plan: Start with things you use a lot of. This is how I got started and if you stick with it you will save money. As for the confidence jighead look into the mold I posted below, Mustad 91768 2/0 hooks, and a Dremel.

http://store.do-itmolds.com/SWM-JigbrSz-18-14-38brHk-2190BbrCollar-None_p_1022.html

 

Allen

[Dave A]

I agree with Cadman- once you get started, it will become an ongoing addiction, but it is one of the most relaxing and satisfying hobbies that I have been involved in!

 

 

[Jig-Man]

Before you take the plunge, I recommend that you buy some pre cast jig heads in the style you want, (weed guard in or out, painted or unpainted) buy some skirt material and put them together.  That will give you a starting place.  Cadman, smalljaw, or Mike Seibert may be able to help you get some heads and www.fishingskirts.com has lots of skirt materiall from which to choose. 

I've seen guys jump in buy a bunch of stuff and not like doing it at all.

 

[Karma]

I just recently got into making my own football jig and ended up starting to sell them. It was hard to find exactly what you wanted in my neck of the woods, the nearest bass pro is 70 miles away, Cabel's 100+, Academy 50+ and the local bait shop is over priced. You either make your own, know someone who does or you order online and wait.

It's really not as expensive as you think but if also depends on how deep you want to get into it. I order most of my lead off of ebay for about a dollar a pound or I go to the local gun range and buy a bucket of spent lead from them, $5 for 100 lbs but you have to sort out all of the brass casings. Ordering pure lead from ebay is the easiest way. Then you will need your melting pot... I ordered the Lee Precision Production Lead Melting Pot for $60-$65 off of ebay. The mold I bought was a Do-It brand football jig mold... $40ish and then the hooks... $8 per 50 for the Mustads. That is really all you need.. I went a little further and bought a heat gun for $20 and various sorts of powder paint for $7 each and a cheap wal-mart microwave oven to bake the paint on in. Do not use an oven you are going to be cooking out of... lead is bad for you. Speaking of safety I also bought some thick leather gloves, and a respirator P100 ($40 at Lowes, can find cheaper ones).

so.... buying the same equipment and materials I did just to pour some basic molds with no paint, your looking around $120. I dropped around $350 on my initial set up with all of the hooks, jig skirts, paints, weedguards, equipment, materials.. etc. I haven't made all of that back yet even though I have sold quiet a few but I have my little assembly line set up in the barn and I live out in the sticks. It's relaxing to spend some time out there at night in the barn with the radio going enjoying a cold one stamping out something someone is going to catch fish on. I enjoy it and take pride in my jigs. If nothing else it is a fun hobby to get into.

 

some of my work below.

Kentucky Battle Craw

 

[Dave A]

Nice jigs! Are you Going to tie them with Wire? I find that after a season, the bands break.

[Karma]

On 8/20/2016 at 8:20 AM, Dave A said:

Nice jigs! Are you Going to tie them with Wire? I find that after a season, the bands break.

 

I haven't had any of them break yet. How do you store yours? A lot of the skirts that I use are the Boss skirts. I use the same bands that they use on the ones I create myself though.

[Dave A]

I use the ones from Fishingskirts, not sure if they use them on the Boss skirts. I end up also using wire once I see the bands starting to crack or I use some old braid to prevent losing the strands.

[feathersandfur2214]

I know i am a little late but i thought i would chime in. I just recently got bit by the tackle bug. It was going to be a simple little hobby of me tying a few jigs for me and my son. I ordered heads from Sieberts and Cadman ( both are awesome to deal with btw). Ordered some skirt material, made a fluid bed and ordered a vise. Well that was fun so i bought some more jig heads, more skirt material, bobbin, thread, more paints. Now i am shopping for a melting pot and molds. It is an addictive habit ! But i would buy pre-made heads until i decided for sure this is what you want to do. And ask the guys on here, they are very helpful and can lessen the learning curve tremendously. and as for your original question, going the pre-made jig head route you would probably have around 125-150 bucks in basic materials to tie around 50 jigs. Jig heads are around .60 each pre-made, $30 in a fluid bed, skirt tabs around .20 each ( i use 3 per jig), paint around $8 per color, some thread or wire, pliers,  a toaster oven from the thrift store for $15 and you could start tying. 

 

[Thomas Johnston]

Its almost impossible to set a price because once you have one mold and you catch a fish on something vyou made yourself you just created a monster of yourself. You will buy mold after mold until your wife puts a stop to it