santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 30, 2018 22:05:17 GMT -5
I definitely agree with what you said, im just saying in general ebay is known as place to get items on the cheap. Im a seller but also a buyer and I like great deals just as much as the other guy. Just saying that in general it can be hard to get decent money for a high quality rare item, but then again i have. Then the topic of bid wars lol...let the bidding begin! I have, and im sure most ebayers have at some point bid way past the money they wanted to initially spend in the last minute of an auction when other people are bidding back. All in all ebay is a great play you dont have to pay a ton in SEO to get traffic to your website, as there are people actively searching for the exact material you are selling. Been ebaying since 1998.
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 25, 2018 16:17:37 GMT -5
I find that a lot, NOT ALL buyers on ebay are just cheap. People most of the time have stuff marked for less than retail value, and people claim overpriced. If you go to a rock and gem show - those prices for the same higher end material is 5x more! I have seen this to be true several times over. Granted there are people who don't care and just want whatever they can get for some material, but overall I find ebay prices as a whole are much under retail value of rocks and items in general. Those "Overpriced" items are usually very rare and hard to come by anymore, hence there value - which I think is a good thing. Its like comparing the rarity and price of quality morrisonite to just some random breciated jasper that is a few bucks. Same for any hobby, when it is no longer produced or very hard to come by price continues to go up- as it should. I Personally have boughten some high grade stuff on ebay for way under half of what you would pay in person at rock shop or rock show. So complaining that the nice stuff is too expensive, put urself in the owners shoes, wouldn't you want to get closest to its actual value as you can? Now ebay allows "Best Offer" which I have gotten stuff for 5,10,20, 50.00 under their asking Buy it Now price. Ebay as a whole is great, where else can you search for a specific type of material or lapidary item, pay under or WAY under retail and have it arrive at your house without much hassle? Some people that don't live near rockhounding locations, it is their only way to get unique and nice quality material. Sorry for the rant, but we should be supporting any online marketplace that furthers the future of rockhounding and associated businesses - it is not like back in 1950s where there was a rockshop in every town and it was a much more popular hobby.
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 22, 2018 22:51:07 GMT -5
COVINGTON IS INSANELY AWESOME! HERES MY STORY: I called them about my star diamond I had with play in arbor. Star diamond sold them as unit with bearings shaft and casing all in one and don't have it anymore. I asked and got not much help for bearing and people hadn't changed them before. Covington said they would change the bearing for me for 35.00. I sent it and then they called said housing had broke and they don't make them anymore : ( - Then the rep said he contacted a guy who made them for star diamond and barranca diamonds same model saw years ago. They commissioned him to build me a One Off arbor housing for this saw with new bearings and new arbor shaft. They said they would just charge me their cost on it. Needless to say, they shipped me a brand new custom built replica of star diamond 10" arbor housing brand new, AND THEY ONLY CHARGED ME 35.00!!! and no shipping costs. ARE YOU KIDDING!? I thought - best customer service I have experience in years hands down. I don't own much covington but stand and support them and their products - Who offers to do work on another brands saw and then goes out of way and charges me probably way less than their cost for this. Just awesome - saw post and wanted to share! Bummed that saw was stolen somewhat recently - another story : (
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 22, 2018 8:06:12 GMT -5
hello how much is this unit? I message you about the lortone saw rebuild . Thanks, Stephen
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 22, 2018 8:01:16 GMT -5
Hi I sent you a message - Feel free to contact me at number I listed. I am interested in the saw and possibly the flat lap. thanks!
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on Sept 12, 2017 0:18:48 GMT -5
Hi,
So I have a star diamond 10" and just got a good deal on another that has auto feed. The problems now... The auto feed one, does not have a separate piece for the arbor/bearing etc it slides in or is fixed into the saw base. This must have been an older model. The saw works and everything seems good BUT the saw blade has wobble, and the blade has been check its dead straight. The bearing is tight and no movement, is it slightly bent in one direction making the blade appear to have a wobble? Any way to fix or replace this? Get someone to tap out the bearing and shaft to replace or check it for trueness?
The original saw- the newer model star diamond 10" has a separate Unit for the arbor assembly that comes out. I can feel now that the bearing is moving slightly, and just recently the cutting action is hammering and vibrating. It may be from a bent blade because I cut lots of agates by hand feed.
DOES ANYONE HAVE A REPLACEMENT STAR DIAMOND ARBOR ASSEMBLY? or HAS ANYONE HAD A MACHINE SHOP PUNCH OUT THE SHAFT AND REPLACE THE BEARING? From what I've gathered it seems that the bearings are permanently? pressed into and on the shaft. Any advice on a replacement or having a machine shop fix/replace the bearing on this saw.
I can upload pics if anyone needs. If anyone has an old star diamond 10" arbor assembly or the same saw only good for parts, any help would be appreciated. This 10" is my workhorse I cut tons of nodules on it a few times a week.
What is the hammering of a blade generally mean? that its bent in two different directions or the bearing slight wobble is making it do that?
Stephen
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on Jun 15, 2017 22:27:38 GMT -5
sweet wood -
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on Jun 15, 2017 22:21:29 GMT -5
nice site !
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on Jun 15, 2017 22:09:42 GMT -5
beauties - i have some I'm looking forward to cutting!
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on Jun 15, 2017 22:05:44 GMT -5
sweet post - love fire agates!
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on Jun 15, 2017 21:39:47 GMT -5
it looks like a light blue/grey between the green, like you ever seen big sur jade that has light blue throughout it and then you photo it and it all just looks green? surely you've seen many agates or chalcedony that doesn't look translucent in dry rough form
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:25:15 GMT -5
great to get new stuff. I can't seem to stop adding to my collection. the rock collecting disease lol
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:23:22 GMT -5
wonder how it will look cross cut
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:22:39 GMT -5
i have some bloodstone that looks very similar right down to the colors.
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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round 2
May 27, 2017 20:20:37 GMT -5
Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:20:37 GMT -5
not the biggest fan of woods but that is definitely great stuff. nice job!
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:19:06 GMT -5
very cool, i always appreciate amber - wonder how it will look if worked/polished
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:17:21 GMT -5
love those dendrites
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:16:48 GMT -5
wow!
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:15:07 GMT -5
really cool colors!
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santabarbara
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2017
Posts: 50
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Post by santabarbara on May 27, 2017 20:13:59 GMT -5
nice, its always fun getting new stuff and making a new step into lapidary
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