I have wanted to start custom painting crank baits for several years now. I love seeing all the awesome baits you guys post! I want to know for a beginner as I would be, what am I looking at for start up costs? What equipment will I absolutely need? I don't want to buy to much until I get to try it out. Where is the best place to order this equipment from?

The cost is fairly steep for someone just starting up. You will need an airbrush along with a compressor for starts. You will need to add a regulator, with a moisture trap, to control your airflow. You will also need to purchase airbrush paint, along with clearcoat. If you use 2 part epoxy, you will need to build a lure turner to hang them on, after brushing the clearcoat on. You can buy lure blanks fairly cheap, to practice on. Be sure to have fun with it!!

So am I looking at like 3 or 4 hundred to get started up or is it going to be higher than that? If its to expensive I might have to put this off for a little longer than expected.

A lot depends on what kind of airbrush and compressor that you buy. You can buy the cheaper brands at Harbor Freight. I spent around $1,000 dollars on getting everything I needed to start up. The price doesn't end there!! You always going to need something to paint, so when you run out of lures, you have to buy more. I forgot to mention lure eyes and new hooks. If it is a hobby you think you will enjoy, I would go for it, but if not, Its a lot of money to spend to just paint for a month or so and quit.

I started out with a $20 Badger single action airbrush, cans of compressed air, cheap $2 hobby paints (all from the local Michael's craft store), and $2 syringes of Devcon Two Ton epoxy. Do I recommend that route? Not if you can afford better equipment that will enable you to learn faster and easier. But it was a way to get my feet wet. Now I use a tool compressor with moisture trap and regulator, a couple of nice Iwata airbrushes, airbrush formulated paint, and a couple of different clearcoats plus whatever ancillary equipment is needed to make everything work together. I've seen some very nice baits painted with aerosol spray paint, so I think that while nice equipment makes things easier and faster, great crankbait artists will find a way to paint great looking crankbaits.

Ok. Thanks for the info guys I really appreciate it! Is there a good website I can go to in order to price a lot of this stuff out?

Here is where I purchase a lot of my paint. They have all types of airbrushes also. Just to give you an idea of the cost of things.

http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/

Thank you for the info and the website. I will get on there and check it out.