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Post by Son Of Beach on Sept 7, 2022 20:32:01 GMT -5
A co-worker asked me about if I'd be willing to part with my tumbles, I think he said something about putting them around trees or posts, some kind of circle.
It's stupid, because they are just rocks, and these aren't even my favorites per se, but they are works of mine. Time, effort, a little bit of "craftmanship" I guess. I dunno, when he asked I was all on board. But every container I opened to see what was inside was like ripping a band-aid off lol There all sorted by type, color, etc. Each one was as good as I could get it... I know there have been other threads in similar fashion. Can't keep them all, right??
Cold feet on giving up rocks I guess.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 421
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Post by hypodactylus on Sept 7, 2022 20:41:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I feel you. I have a hard time getting rid of rocks before I even tumble them, let alone after... 🙂
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,594
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Post by Tommy on Sept 7, 2022 20:50:05 GMT -5
Sounds like a bit of a rude approach but I'm sure much was lost in translation... Typically Americans would ask if they can buy them while hoping you would give them away. My German wife points stuff like this out to me all the time - Germans value sincerity and a direct approach a lot.
That being said I have never had anyone including other rockhounds ask for my polished rocks for free which is part of what makes me so happy to give them away. Does that make sense? I give them away every chance I get. I'm not quite as bad as my dad who would push useless trinkets off on anyone who would pretend to be interested in his hobbies, but again, I LOVE to give them away when it makes people happy.
I've never been asked for them for free but the thought makes me squirm a bit.
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Post by mohs on Sept 7, 2022 20:59:59 GMT -5
I'm all for letting them roll make the person take a picture of his set up then you always have them or maybe you just need to roll more till you run out of tupper ware ha ha Which reminds me of story At the Shiner’s Corn Fest Art & Craft Show A person was selling Tupperware Had a whole table full And I need a rectangular container So she pulled out this 11 X 7 incher She said 20 bucks Well I blanched “ sorry didn’t mean to bother ya butte I’m low maintenance dude That to much for mohs" So she asked what I thought it was worth? didn’t want to give an honest appraisal did that once w/a rock seller & he threw the rock at me ha ha So she said 15 dollars I still blanched She said 10? I still felt like that was to much Butt hated inquiring & bothering her So I whipped out the ten she asked: what are you going to use it for? I said I’m gonna put rocks in it Then she blanched Ha ha Butte she was real gneiss!!! In case she's reading It worxs goood….mostly
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2022 22:03:15 GMT -5
Son Of BeachI’m with you Chad! I know its a kind thing to do but it almost feels like giving away a family pet or something lol! We put so much love and effort into what we do and we specifically pick each rock for a purpose b/c we liked some quality about it. To see it go to someone who might not value it as much is gut wrenching. That might sound extreme and silly to some but thats how I feel. (At least for now. I might change my mind when I run out of storage room and my husband is telling me to do something with all the rocks around the house!)
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 8, 2022 9:14:50 GMT -5
Not gonna lie...I don't tumble often enough to feel "okay" about giving them away. I think I've given more cabs and wraps away than tumbles! LOL
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Post by miket on Sept 8, 2022 10:01:49 GMT -5
It's happened to me, too, whether it's giving them away or selling them. Tumbles and wraps, both. They're more than "just rocks." When I tell my wife and daughter about how much a particular Fairburn that I find is worth they ask why I don't sell them.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2022 10:35:12 GMT -5
I think I would feel better giving rocks away to people on here or someone I knew personally who loved rocks too. But to someone who doesn’t understand the passion and care that has went into it, it’s hard. I give my kids lots of stuff.
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Post by Starguy on Sept 8, 2022 10:36:06 GMT -5
LOL Son Of Beach . The ultimate dilemma of polishing rocks. I don’t sort by rock type anymore. My sorts are 1-rocks with cracks or small pits, 2-rocks without cracks or pits and 3-Premium rocks. I will let anyone search my grade 1 rocks and keep a few for free. I break out the grade 2 rocks for special occasions, (birthdays etc.). The grade 3 rocks are my personal favorites. It’s cash or as a special gift from me for these rocks. I might have 10 lbs of the grade 3 Premium rocks. That’s not much considering how long I’ve been doing this. I don’t even let people search the Premium rocks on their own. Too many people will pick one up, show you why they love it then throw it back in the container without thinking of chipping it or others. That drives me crazy. I’ve never had anyone ask for a lot of tumbled rocks for free. Maybe your co-worker would be interested in helping you do a coarse clean out. Most people don’t realize how much effort and expense goes into tumbling. If they understood, maybe they wouldn’t ask for free rocks.
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on Sept 8, 2022 13:52:59 GMT -5
I don't think it's stupid, Chad. There's a long process for us to get the rocks from where they started to where they end up. Most "outsiders" don't realize this, think about it, or even care. To them, they are just a bunch of shiny rocks. I view the act of tumbling rocks as a craft, because the rock already existed before we altered it. When we create cut out shapes, cabs, jewelry items and find other uses for them, then we become artists. It's kind of like loggers. They aren't artists because they cut down trees, but if they take a log and use a chainsaw to carve out a bear, then they become an artist. I think your friend is a bit presumptuous in his request, because in the world, rocks cost money, and if they are manipulated or rare, they cost more. If he is under the impression you got them for free, he doesn't understand the amount of time, knowledge, gas, equipment, etc it took to acquire them and get them to where they are today. There is nothing free about any of that. I really like Brent's approach of the 3 levels or rocks he has. By doing it that way, you can justify having rocks to share generally, rocks to give away for special occasions, and rocks to keep for your personal collection. You might even come up with rocks you are willing to sell to others, for a profit. Don't be afraid to tell your co-worker you misspoke, and you don't have any free rocks for him. However, he may be able to go to a rock company and buy some for the purposes he wants. As for me, I'm going to follow Brent's approach and separate my rocks into 3 levels. I really enjoy giving polished rocks to children by letting them pick out their favorite one, or occasionally to friends who appreciate them. I still remember the first rock I got in some tourist shop somewhere, when I was a kid. It was a palm sized tumbled red rock, probably jasper, and I loved it. After that I began to notice the beauty of rocks. markb
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Sept 8, 2022 14:05:49 GMT -5
The Wheel of Time :-)
I can't even bring myself to throw out the rocks that have not tumbled nicely yet :-)
The only ones I've used or given away so far were for family members to put on gravestones.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Post by LazerFlash on Sept 8, 2022 15:43:32 GMT -5
A co-worker asked me about if I'd be willing to part with my tumbles, I think he said something about putting them around trees or posts, some kind of circle.
It's stupid, because they are just rocks, and these aren't even my favorites per se, but they are works of mine. Time, effort, a little bit of "craftmanship" I guess. I dunno, when he asked I was all on board. But every container I opened to see what was inside was like ripping a band-aid off lol There all sorted by type, color, etc. Each one was as good as I could get it... I know there have been other threads in similar fashion. Can't keep them all, right?? LOL
I'm having a similar emotional issue, as well. However, the recipient in my case isn't a stranger and the ultimate end-result will be in our own house. As some know, one of my ongoing tumble projects has been to create smooth and smooth-and-shiny stones for my wife's kitchen backsplash project. I recently decided that we have enough to start sorting, so I put a bunch of finished stones in several plastic containers for her to look through. I gave her three containers to sort things into, labelled "NOPE", "MAYBE", and "FOR SURE!". Well, after her first pass, there was nothing in "NOPE", a VERY small handful in "FOR SURE!", with everything else in "MAYBE". Additionally, she asked me if this was all that I'd been working on for the past year plus. My response was to the effect of that there were a bunch more. (Many of those not initially shared with her are not within the original scope of the project; the scope was to be mainly landscape rocks, pieces of local quartz, and other finds from our garden and other gardens.) When I brought her downstairs to look at these 'other' stones, she immediately set about picking and choosing from things like my Tiger's Eye, Jasper, Lapis and Sanskrit stones (both kinds smoothed, but not polished), various agates, and several other treasures.
As I began sputtering, she looked up from my work counter and matter-of-factly stated that she had thought that I intended for everything coming out of the tumblers to be considered for the backsplash project. Not sure how I wanted to respond to that truly loaded comment, I simply replied that I'd have to think on it and get back to her.
OY!
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Post by miket on Sept 8, 2022 16:18:57 GMT -5
A co-worker asked me about if I'd be willing to part with my tumbles, I think he said something about putting them around trees or posts, some kind of circle.
It's stupid, because they are just rocks, and these aren't even my favorites per se, but they are works of mine. Time, effort, a little bit of "craftmanship" I guess. I dunno, when he asked I was all on board. But every container I opened to see what was inside was like ripping a band-aid off lol There all sorted by type, color, etc. Each one was as good as I could get it... I know there have been other threads in similar fashion. Can't keep them all, right?? LOL
I'm having a similar emotional issue, as well. However, the recipient in my case isn't a stranger and the ultimate end-result will be in our own house. As some know, one of my ongoing tumble projects has been to create smooth and smooth-and-shiny stones for my wife's kitchen backsplash project. I recently decided that we have enough to start sorting, so I put a bunch of finished stones in several plastic containers for her to look through. I gave her three containers to sort things into, labelled "NOPE", "MAYBE", and "FOR SURE!". Well, after her first pass, there was nothing in "NOPE", a VERY small handful in "FOR SURE!", with everything else in "MAYBE". Additionally, she asked me if this was all that I'd been working on for the past year plus. My response was to the effect of that there were a bunch more. (Many of those not initially shared with her are not within the original scope of the project; the scope was to be mainly landscape rocks, pieces of local quartz, and other finds from our garden and other gardens.) When I brought her downstairs to look at these 'other' stones, she immediately set about picking and choosing from things like my Tiger's Eye, Jasper, Lapis and Sanskrit stones (both kinds smoothed, but not polished), various agates, and several other treasures.
As I began sputtering, she looked up from my work counter and matter-of-factly stated that she had thought that I intended for everything coming out of the tumblers to be considered for the backsplash project. Not sure how I wanted to respond to that truly loaded comment, I simply replied that I'd have to think on it and get back to her.
OY!
🤣 Good luck!
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,198
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Post by quartzilla on Sept 8, 2022 16:30:50 GMT -5
No way! That’s like giving away your kids! Lol!
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 8, 2022 19:11:26 GMT -5
No way! That’s like giving away your kids! Lol! Yes it is! "No...not that one...it's a good one...take THAT one...it's kinda jacked up!" LOL
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 8, 2022 19:22:49 GMT -5
A co-worker asked me about if I'd be willing to part with my tumbles, I think he said something about putting them around trees or posts, some kind of circle.
It's stupid, because they are just rocks, and these aren't even my favorites per se, but they are works of mine. Time, effort, a little bit of "craftmanship" I guess. I dunno, when he asked I was all on board. But every container I opened to see what was inside was like ripping a band-aid off lol There all sorted by type, color, etc. Each one was as good as I could get it... I know there have been other threads in similar fashion. Can't keep them all, right?? LOL
I'm having a similar emotional issue, as well. However, the recipient in my case isn't a stranger and the ultimate end-result will be in our own house. As some know, one of my ongoing tumble projects has been to create smooth and smooth-and-shiny stones for my wife's kitchen backsplash project. I recently decided that we have enough to start sorting, so I put a bunch of finished stones in several plastic containers for her to look through. I gave her three containers to sort things into, labelled "NOPE", "MAYBE", and "FOR SURE!". Well, after her first pass, there was nothing in "NOPE", a VERY small handful in "FOR SURE!", with everything else in "MAYBE". Additionally, she asked me if this was all that I'd been working on for the past year plus. My response was to the effect of that there were a bunch more. (Many of those not initially shared with her are not within the original scope of the project; the scope was to be mainly landscape rocks, pieces of local quartz, and other finds from our garden and other gardens.) When I brought her downstairs to look at these 'other' stones, she immediately set about picking and choosing from things like my Tiger's Eye, Jasper, Lapis and Sanskrit stones (both kinds smoothed, but not polished), various agates, and several other treasures.
As I began sputtering, she looked up from my work counter and matter-of-factly stated that she had thought that I intended for everything coming out of the tumblers to be considered for the backsplash project. Not sure how I wanted to respond to that truly loaded comment, I simply replied that I'd have to think on it and get back to her.
OY!
Boy oh boy, she's kinda got ya between a rock and a hard place, doesn't she?
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Post by Son Of Beach on Sept 8, 2022 19:55:37 GMT -5
Thanks all for the feedback, I was feeling a bit stingy, but apparently I'm not alone in holding on to them. But you guys brought up good points about giving them to someone who want's them or enjoys the little stuff. I have gifted rocks or necklaces in the past and have told my family it might the only gifts I give the rest of their days Maybe I worded it wrong, but I didn't get the impression he was expecting me to just hand them over because he asked, nor do I believe he under appreciates the work put in, just something about the project and not really knowing the end product or what it would look like made a difference. I think I'll hold onto them for now, when the time or person is right, I'm sure the giving will have a little more meaning behind it. Besides, I'm sure there is nowhere near enough for what he's intending them for
I do think they are unique, I'm trying hard not to pick up the same style of rock more than once, the variety is what makes them special. I still recognize each one I tumbled when I look back on them.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Placed another order in rockshed. Happy 2024 everyone!
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,308
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 8, 2022 22:00:39 GMT -5
Although I do not have any of my rock polished yet, I totally feel your feeling😄
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 846
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Post by dshanpnw on Sept 11, 2022 18:06:55 GMT -5
No one has ever asked me for free rocks or if I would sell them. I always tell myself NFS or NFGiveaway, out loud when I think this or that one is special. I have only given rocks away to my family and one other relative and they were not "grade 3". I'm not ready to part with most of mine except maybe the first few batches which weren't spectacular. I did sell about 10 pounds of tumbled beach rocks for our club at our club's booth during our show. They were from my very first tumbles. They were granite and other beach rocks that did not polish well but did shine. I was going to get rid of them anyway, but I thought someone might want them. I priced them for $30 and they sat there for about half the first day. Then a mom and her daughters saw them and just fell in love and said they had the perfect use for them. I probably would give them away to someone like that.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 21, 2022 12:01:22 GMT -5
Most of my rocks head out the door, I have a life time supply to play with... Wife and I pick a few to keep...
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