Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 12, 2024 18:49:09 GMT -5
Welcome from Napa!
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 10, 2024 9:37:56 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum mirkee! You live in a rock lovers paradise down there. So many beaches, so little time haha
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 10, 2024 9:30:00 GMT -5
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 10, 2024 9:25:45 GMT -5
Happy birthday Robin Hope you have a nice day.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 9, 2024 19:44:40 GMT -5
Banded agate goes brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmm Gorgeous!
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 9, 2024 9:12:20 GMT -5
Those are all very nice roQhound! You are off to a great start
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2024 14:21:02 GMT -5
PS- Tommy you need to get back up here, the $1 pile is about 300 tons now. Even after the dent I put in it?? Haha You've been busy
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2024 10:20:08 GMT -5
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2024 10:11:55 GMT -5
Hi, it's Pietersite. He lived in Melbourne but I couldn't tell you where he got it from. Welcome to the forum! Pricing rough rocks is tricky - the simplified answer to your question of the rock's value is literally as much as you are willing to wait or work for. The road to waiting for the the highest value should include a solid identification and a peek inside the rock. If you are able to provide high-res close up photos that shows this rock exhibiting features such as blue chatoyancy through 'windowing' which means chipping or cutting a decent view of what's inside the rock, or even cutting a end-cap off if you have the capability for that. If you're selling it in person to an experienced rock person then the previous thought is less important because they can hold it and turn it around and get a greater understanding of the total potential. The following is VERY general and unscientific example of rockonomics but it's pretty much how it goes in the lapidary hobby. There are exceptions of course with highly valuable rocks such as turquoise and obviously if it's a museum quality rock that's an entirely different conversation. Rough rock - buyer assumes max risk - least value$1 per lb to $75 per lb? Rough rock which is not cut or windowed presents the most risk to a buyer. Our forum member catmandewe has a pile of probably 20 tons of rocks from all over the US and beyond, priced to sell in the $1 per lb range. Every rock in this pile is likely to have shown enough potential that it caused a rockhound to pick it up, lick it, and bring it home with them. The risk of buying a rough rock is very high that it will turn out to be mostly crappy matrix inside or it can be riddled with fractures. Example: high grade material, 40lb rough rock, $1000 - $3000 to the right buyerCut/faced/slabbed rock - seller assumes max risk - value addedWith a display cut or cutting the rock into slabs, the value switches to a total of the pieces price. A high grade 1/4" thick slab of pietersite could easily sell in the $100 to $200 range because most of the risk of purchasing the rock has now been removed. Example: 40 slabs @ $100 to $200 each, $4000 - $8000 spread out over multiple buyersJewelry Ready Rocks - near zero risk, highest valueThis last example that could be used probably doesn't apply here but it's part of the economics. A lapidary artist who bought the whole rock and cut it up and makes maximum jewelry cabochons and sells them individually stands add the greatest lapidary value. Example: 40 slabs, 4 cabs each selling in the $80 to $180 each range (based on size/brilliance etc.), $12,800 to $28,800
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 7, 2024 15:51:56 GMT -5
I have seen, and have personally, Maury with fortifications. The odds of me finding what bucket, crate, or other container it is in are not good though. realrockhound I had a killer chunk of Maury Mtn back in the day that was super gemmy and riddled with little fortifications. I cut it all up for cabs but I probably still have some of it in the "moss agate" preform drawer.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 7, 2024 9:16:34 GMT -5
...and one in particular that might give you a comical-smart-aleck type answer! Gee, I can't imagine who you might be referring to
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 7, 2024 9:14:36 GMT -5
I've searched online (usually Google) a number of times for info on various aspects of rock tumbling. This forum always seems to have answers - and always the best answers when several possibilities are available from multiple sources. Welcome to the forum and thanks for vote of confidence! It doesn't hurt either that the helpful advice comes from such a nice bunch of folks
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Apr 7, 2024 8:49:13 GMT -5
Tommy I’d personally hate to see the monthly cab contests halted. My life is extremely busy and this is often the only cab I make in a month. It’s a great incentive to get at least that one done. I have a theme which narrows down my work and gives me a focus and I can just concentrate on the cutting practice. And when 6 months goes by I have at least 6 cabs done as opposed to none. Also because I get so little lapidary time in I’m still learning a little something new or improving my workspace just a little bit more each month. I think maybe people are too worried about submitting a masterpiece. Especially for newer cabbers, it’s such great practice that it doesn’t matter really if it turns out all that great, I guarantee something will have been learned doing it. I try to mention the contest when I see new cabbers show up but that could probably be encouraged more… Thank you for the great input Khara, much appreciated.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 6, 2024 13:53:18 GMT -5
Happy birthday to you both! Hope you get to play with rocks today
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 6, 2024 11:31:10 GMT -5
Ummmm, Tommy, what’s a mega-contest? Hi Pat it was the Mohs memorial cab contest - I cut up a bunch of material and mailed out slabs to contestants who bought in.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 6, 2024 8:59:14 GMT -5
Yeah...yeah...I know...stupid choice for a theme! LOL Stop it! It was a great theme! I'm sorry if you really took my post to mean that the theme needed to be propped up. I say this with deep appreciate for everyone who participates in the contests, both entrants and discussion participants, but during covid era we all had a lot more time on our hands and the contests were averaging in the 16 to 19 entries. I knew at the time that it was likely unsustainable but I didn't expect it to drop quite this low by 2023. I've been wondering if it's time for a break in the action - maybe mix it up a bit with a yearly mega-contest like we had a while back?
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 4, 2024 14:41:36 GMT -5
Well it’s entirely possible that the portal didn’t ever have mobile view! 🤣 Maybe my eyes have just gotten too bad and it just started bothering me?? 🤷♀️ I gotta find that online glasses ordering place… khara just confirming the portal page never had a mobile view. It's actually a proboards custom page that I created and it uses the forum header and footer but with a mobile view I guess it wouldn't know what to do with all the custom data in the middle. Because it's using the header and footer I had to check to see if I was remembering it right.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 4, 2024 14:16:43 GMT -5
Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! It's a great theme and hopefully will draw some thinkers out of hiding
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,654
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Post by Tommy on Apr 4, 2024 13:41:48 GMT -5
All - I'm adding "fortifications" and "lace" to the description! I meant to have that there already got going too fast and forgot. Edited to add:
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 4, 2024 12:37:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum cabochon contest where your cabochon making skills, creativity, and material will be put to the challenge. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to enter regardless of cabochon making experience, skill level, or machinery and methods. This contest is about having fun and challenging ourselves to step outside our comfort zones and learn and grow, while dazzling the community with our beautiful rock creations.
April 2024 - RTH Cabochon Contest Contest Theme: Banded Agate, chosen by our January winner agatewhisperer. Contestants are asked to create a cabochon from fortifications/banded/lace agate, any shape, size, or color and the cabochon design should showcase banding features in the agate. Prize:Again this month, the contest prize is provided by Chad from Suva Lapidary in the form of at $30 gift certificate. As always the winner can choose a free teeshirt or mug of their choice. ordered from the designs on display in the RTH Store, or we can use a custom design of their creation. Contest Format:The chosen contest theme serves as the primary criteria for voting. The voting period will occur for approximately seven days around the start of the following month. The winner of the contest will have the opportunity to choose the theme of the contest occurring two months after the contest they won (ie: Nov winner chooses Jan theme). At the beginning of the voting period, a voting poll will be added to this thread and all contest submission posts and responses will be hidden from view in order to help insure a level playing field. All original content will be replaced in the thread at the close of voting. Contest Period:The contest period starts when the new contest thread is posted, and concludes at the end of the last day of the month PST or PDT time. Voting Period:Voting occurs for approximately the first 7-10 days of the month depending on when the voting is launched. Entry Requirements:Participants are asked to follow the contest theme in the creation of a hand-shaped, jewelry-ready cabochon or set of cabochons. For the purposes of contest consistency, a cabochon should have a visible dome on top and a flat backside. Variations on dome heights and girdle styles are permitted and ultimately it's up to the voters to decide if the contest criteria has been met. Entry cabochons must be made entirely by the member, within the contest month and feel free to let us know about the piece including how you shaped and polished it, and what challenges it presented. Please identify the material if you know what it is or let us know if you don't. Alternative materials are allowed as long as they are in keeping with the theme (ie: "agate" theme = agate material), and the material is such that it requires lapidary skills to transform it into a cabochon. Cabochons may have a hole(s) drilled but nothing attached to it. Photo Requirements:Three photos minimum are required including one non-backlit, non-glamorized or filter manipulated photo showing the cabochon directly from the front (if posting more than one front photo please indicate which one you want used). Also include a photo taken at as close to 90 degrees angle as possible showing the side of the cabochon so we can see the shape of the dome and girdle if it exists. The third required photo is of the preform or slab you started from. If you do not have all three of the required photos post what you have and let us know. Photography Notes:For size perspective it is helpful to include a photo alongside an object such as a coin or fingers. Until the conclusion of the voting period please do not post on any area of the forum, photos of your contest entry that has been turned into jewelry which includes the stone after it has been set, wrapped, or had any kind of bail attached. Back-lit photos, unless specifically required by the theme, are only permitted as extra photos to illuminate interesting features that do not photograph very well. For a level playing field please include non-back lit front and side photos for use as your front featured photo requirement.Members are welcome to enter work-in-progress photos as a place holder for their entry. Final photos may be added up until the point where the entry posts are hidden from view in preparation for the voting period. If final photos are not posted the piece will not be able to be included in the voting. We don't want the competition to turn into a photo contest but also recognize that it is in your best interest to make sure your front and side photos are as focused, bright, and colorful as possible because these two photos will be cropped and presented in the voting collage. Highly zoomed-in photos are not as desirable as photos well-focused on the stone, allowing enough background top and bottom for cropping to a square 300px X 300px. Voting Criteria:Please judge each entry based on the following while keeping in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the difficulty levels of material vary as do photography skills and equipment. An exceptional example of creativity and skill might not always be flashy and bright, and we owe it to every participant to do our best not to allow it to become a photography contest. 1) How well was the challenge of the contest theme met? 2) How well did the shape of the stone meet the general contest requirements? 3) General appearance, beauty, artistic creativity. 4) Photography - is there a direct and focused front shot and a direct and focused side shot for voting purposes? If a tie vote occurs, a new voting poll will be launched for the period of one day and will include only the stones that were tied for the lead. Community participation and Conflict Resolution:In the interest of preserving contest civility and fairness, please do not post negative comments regarding another member's entry. As always on the forum, polite and respectful dialog and encouragement is welcome in the form of 'likes' and comments. Offering advice or direction about an entry, including whether or not it met the contest theme, is only welcome if the contestant has requested it. In the event of theme-related questions, the person who chose the theme has the final say. If questions arise regarding if an entry meets the general contest requirements, or the member-chosen theme requirements, these can be directed privately to staff members directly or through the use of the 'report post' feature. Thank you to everyone who participates by entering and or commenting and encouraging others. We sincerely appreciate all the comments and feedback we get and want to continue to improve the contest as we go so keep 'em coming!
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