jdmaney
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2003
Posts: 16
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Post by jdmaney on Aug 6, 2003 10:37:34 GMT -5
Hi,
I actually have 2 questions.
1) Is there a website or directory that will help me find a local store that sells supplies? I live near Orlando and am having a hard time finding a local hobby store that has Rock Tumbling Supplies.
2) I have a Rayteck 115v Vibrating Tumble 5.... Is it imperitive that I have different bowls for different grits... what is the experience in this out there... is it different if I tumble wet or dry?
Sorry for the bonehead questions...
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Djinjuice
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 47
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Post by Djinjuice on Aug 9, 2003 0:42:22 GMT -5
Hi jd. I had the same problem you did while I was searching for a decent tumbler. I finally ended up purchasing one online, along with grit and extra barrels. The prices weren't too bad, and my stuff came within 10 days. If you are interested, the web site is www.facetit.com
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WilliamC
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2003
Posts: 416
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Post by WilliamC on Aug 18, 2003 19:58:59 GMT -5
Greetings All, Hey JD, try Rocks/Gemarts Inc, tel# 407-351-5569. Lortone lists them as one of their dealers. This seems like a good time for me to recount my experiences with a couple of rock shops, not really bad experiences but a little dissappointing. First is Wrights Rock Shop in Hot Springs Arkansas. That's where my son and I went to get our rock tumbler and rough. Since we live in Northern Mississippi it was a good 3.5 hour drive each way, it was a day trip for us so we had a good time visiting Hot Springs National Park as well. Anyway, I had emailed the store more than 3 weeks before we went, asking if they had the model tumbler I wanted in stock. They emailed right back saying they could order it if I wanted, so I emailed back asking them to do so. A week goes by, I email them again to make sure they have ordered it. Another week goes by, no reply, and I finally call, speak to someone, and confirm that yes I will indeed be there next week to get the tumbler. Well we got there, but they had not even ordered the tumbler yet, and as it was a Saturday the person working there didn't seem to know I had even asked for it to be ordered. I went ahead and paid for the tumbler, two extra barrels, some grit and about $300 worth of rough, and requested that they have Lortone ship the tumbler directly to me instead of to the store. Didn't happen, in fact it was near another month before I did get the tumbler . Now I understand that the rock shop doesn't stock the tumblers, and it isn't as if they weren't friendly, but my overall impression was that they just weren't very interested in my business, even though I spent close to $600 at their store. I certainly don't intend to buy anything else from them. Closer to home, in Memphis Tennessee, is Riddle's Gem and Mineral, which is more of a jewlery store than a lapidary store, and though they do have very nice mineral specimens they don't carry rough, at least not more than a few pounds of prepackaged mixed material. I went there today to get some more grit, already knowing already they only stock the 4-pack of 1 pound each from Lortone. So I asked if they could order me some 5lb buckets, even offering to prepay for the order. They said yes, but it would be a month or so before they placed the order since they don't do much business with Lortone, and they weren't willing to make a special order for me. Again, not that they weren't friendly, just didn't seem that interested in my repeat business. So now I've emailed Lortone to see if I can either buy bulk grit directly from them or order it through a store but have it shipped to me. I'll see how it goes. Of course if anyone here knows a store that stocks bulk amounts of the various Lortone grits and polishes I'll be quite happy to talk to them. Sorry for the long post, but I'm just curious if anyone else has met with some reluctance on the part of storeowners to take an active role in supplying equipment and such. Either way, I plan to keep on tumbling WilliamC
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Djinjuice
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 47
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Post by Djinjuice on Aug 29, 2003 2:02:09 GMT -5
Hey WilliamC, eastern Tennessee is absolutely LOADED with rock shops ! Check out the Johnson City, Kingsport areas. Unfortunately I currently live in Nevada, so my rough pickings are slim, even if I can get them for free. I am not real fond of rattle snakes, so I haven't gone rockhounding here. But when I visit my friends up in the mountains of North Carolina they hardly see me since I am all over the place picking up rough!
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