[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Karl F

Time and materials.. and tools....

Wood lathe, drill press, skews, drill bits, forstner bits.... or...
you can start with a belt sander and a dowel.. lot of guys have...
but... quickly upgrade.

Eyes.. weights.. thru wire, what grade?, swivels.. what brand?.. or hook hangers.. hooks.. vmc or mustad?.. 4X or 6X?... or screw eyes...sandpaper... zap a gap... epoxy.. sealer, primer.. paint.. clear coat.. decisions on what methods to use, and which products to apply. And don't forget wood!.. price goes up everytime you buy stock.. unless you have ways to scrounge useable wood, and know what type of wood is good for the type of plug you are attempting to build.

Experiments.. prototypes.. test swimming.. lot of factors and variables..the prototypes that didn't make it.. the blanks that split on the lathe.. the thru drills that didn't quite make it.. the stuff that makes fantastic kindling wood.. but, once again factors into the overall cost.. and Time

Time.. it all takes Time. what is your Time Worth?
I was once given this equation.. There is no Free Time.. your Time off= the Hourly rate you earn (if salaried, divide your salary by your avg. hours) times 3, as your time off is worth 3 times work time..
So.. them plugs get expensive quick!

Time...ways to cut it.. you'll think duplicator.. jigs..... you say you have cnc.. great.. figure out a proven plug, and dupe away.

Do some searches on this forum.. been some great discussions on what to use, and ways to do stuff.. but.. I would gaurantee.. you will find no two builders who do anything the same way, or same sequence.. or who use all the same products..

But if we all sat down, and really figured the cost laid out totally for each plug we've ever built.. well I won't say we'd cry.. but we would have a good laugh, at whatever notion we had about building plugs, to save money....

Oh man ,that is a Classic.

Should be made a sticky.