mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 10, 2016 21:37:02 GMT -5
Every summer I sell my winter crop of work at a small town outside of Yellowstone National Park. This is beyond fun, and I meet some of the most interesting and talented people one can imagine. Each summer I post a sign informing customers I am interested in possibly purchasing lapidary equipment and rock collections. As you might expect, there are a lot of posers out there, and maybe one lead in ten actually produces. This summer past I scored an 18-year collection of Montana petrified wood- I'm guessing at least six tons of material, and not one ounce of it was junk. This is more material than I will ever be able to work, but it was cheap! Other highlights of the summer: I traded a buffalo skull for a Ludlum 256 geiger counter, purchased about ten of the finest Damascus knives I have ever seen from my now-secret source in Wyoming, found a lead on a nice 46 Ford pickup, found a super source for free stromatolies (and brought a bunch home), was given some beautiful Tom Miner wood, a source of free Petoskey stones (we'll see how that one turns out)and found a beautiful Colt King Cobra.
The fun thing about my business is the stuff I learn from people in all walks of life, and not just rock stuff. I am in Montana from the beginning of June until Labor Day. I met the individual who trapped the first wolf (taken alive, not for the pelt) in the lower 48, and trapped the first Canadian wolf to be introduced into the Park. And it goes on and on. I wish I had started this 20 years ago.
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fredito
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2016
Posts: 21 
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Post by fredito on Oct 11, 2016 11:12:41 GMT -5
Good deal, sounds like you are lucking out! Do you happen to be talking about West Yellowstone by chance?
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 11, 2016 13:15:22 GMT -5
Northeast entrance- Cooke City
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fredito
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2016
Posts: 21
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Post by fredito on Oct 11, 2016 13:55:53 GMT -5
I don't make it to that of the park that often, but I am sure they have lots of visitors. I'm impressed with that much petrified wood...I'm still trying to fill a coffee can! Keep at it and I hope you have a good season next year!
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Mark K
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,817
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Post by Mark K on Oct 11, 2016 13:59:50 GMT -5
Go on the river and you could fill a bucket in less than an hour.
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fredito
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2016
Posts: 21
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Post by fredito on Oct 11, 2016 14:26:52 GMT -5
Go on the river and you could fill a bucket in less than an hour. Yeh, the rivers closest to me don't have to much in that way, at least the ones I've looked at. I could take a drive to a few about an hour away, but with little kids, I try to shy away from looking on rivers in general Out by me, it's mostly out on hill sides. I have found plenty of quarter sized pieces, but I would like something larger. I will come across a great spot eventually! |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,817
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Post by Mark K on Oct 11, 2016 14:35:45 GMT -5
I found a 200 pound chunk at Fallon a few years back. Gave it to a lady friend and she really liked it.
REALLY liked it.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 11, 2016 18:44:43 GMT -5
Mark K, not so much in western MT, and certainly not the sizes I ended up with. Four of us filled a 15,000 pound dump trailer nearly to capacity in four hours. This wood is from far eastern MT- the further east one goes, the nicer the stuff. Four hours to load it- I couldn't even drive one way to the collecting site in four hours! I still have two 300 pound pieces to get from the guy, plus another ton I wasn't comfortable putting in the trailer.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,817
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Post by Mark K on Oct 11, 2016 20:52:28 GMT -5
Yep. Glendive is covered in the stuff. Fallon is just a few miles down the road.
The chunk I found was about 2 1/2 feet long, 1 1/2 wide and about 1 foot thick over most of it, a little thicker in the middle.
It was really difficult to carry the 50 or so feet to the truck. If I couldn't have driven the truck there, it would have stayed right there and the smaller chunk would have gone with me instead. The smaller one was about 50 pounds, but I was too tired to go get it. The cool thing was that part of the wood had clearly been on fire at one point.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 12, 2016 20:22:46 GMT -5
Cooke City! I bought some Montanas from a stand there,he was from California.. Had Baculites fossils too,I was telling him to cut them and Double is money and also get to see the beauty inside the fossil..
Cooke City Rocks...
Is this you??
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 12, 2016 23:43:07 GMT -5
Fossilman, that was me! And I remember your great pictures of the sliced bacculites. I will have to look around and see if I have any here in CA to try slicing. If you are in Cooke again reintro yourself, and I'll give you some free wood!
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wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
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Post by wampidytoo on Oct 13, 2016 7:28:46 GMT -5
Hi Mike. I wanted to make it up to see you but family and moving kept me grounded. I am in Billings now but still within driving distance so maybe next summer.
Looks like you had a really good summer (from all angles) this year. I have switched to carving wood but I just sliced up an awesome fist sized piece of pet wood for my son-in-law that was found near the Yellowstone river where it passes through Billings. Back lit, a cross section, shows the rings and every cell structure perfectly so I am going to make a window piece for him. If that piece is any kind of indicator you have some mint pet wood and a lot of it. Should be a great seller next summer if you get a bunch of it worked up this winter.
Did you get the huge flat lap up and working? Seems like you were working on it when we last communicated.
A few days ago I slid my carving knife through my thumb, flat, right next to the bone so I am one handed for a while. Went through the lower side where it made about a one inch long cut then exited the upper side leaving a three eighths of an inch long cut. I have been butterfly bandaging it but may have to go get stitches (what I should have done in the first place) if I can not keep it together. Tempted to try the super glue route if I do not see any infection coming on. After inspecting the wood I could see that the knife did not slip, it had to be one of my arm jerks that have started coming on more frequently over the past year. Being cautious now and keeping knives away from my neck. hahaha
Jim
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 13, 2016 9:27:22 GMT -5
Jim,you visiting in Billings or living there now? Your in my old stomping grounds,I was raised in Roundup and hung my hat there for 30 odd years....
Great place your in now,rock heaven my friend!!!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 13, 2016 9:29:32 GMT -5
Fossilman, that was me! And I remember your great pictures of the sliced bacculites. I will have to look around and see if I have any here in CA to try slicing. If you are in Cooke again reintro yourself, and I'll give you some free wood! I still have the Montana moss agate I bought from you...LOL We where in Gardiner this last August,but didn't go any further into Yellowstone..... When I go to Cooke City we take the Beartooth Pass (love that mountain) and drop in on the back side of town...LOL |
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 13, 2016 10:24:43 GMT -5
Jim, nice to hear from you! Yes, I did get my laps. I have a 36" grinding and 36" polishing lap. This was the best money I have spent on lapidary equipment- only wish I had done it 15 years ago.
I was wondering if you might drop in this summer- hope to see you next year!
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Post by roy on Oct 13, 2016 10:28:49 GMT -5
Every summer I sell my winter crop of work at a small town outside of Yellowstone National Park. This is beyond fun, and I meet some of the most interesting and talented people one can imagine. Each summer I post a sign informing customers I am interested in possibly purchasing lapidary equipment and rock collections. As you might expect, there are a lot of posers out there, and maybe one lead in ten actually produces. This summer past I scored an 18-year collection of Montana petrified wood- I'm guessing at least six tons of material, and not one ounce of it was junk. This is more material than I will ever be able to work, but it was cheap! Other highlights of the summer: I traded a buffalo skull for a Ludlum 256 geiger counter, purchased about ten of the finest Damascus knives I have ever seen from my now-secret source in Wyoming, found a lead on a nice 46 Ford pickup, found a super source for free stromatolies (and brought a bunch home), was given some beautiful Tom Miner wood, a source of free Petoskey stones (we'll see how that one turns out)and found a beautiful Colt King Cobra. The fun thing about my business is the stuff I learn from people in all walks of life, and not just rock stuff. I am in Montana from the beginning of June until Labor Day. I met the individual who trapped the first wolf (taken alive, not for the pelt) in the lower 48, and trapped the first Canadian wolf to be introduced into the Park. And it goes on and on. I wish I had started this 20 years ago. geez sound like one hell of a summer |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 10:36:49 GMT -5
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Post by drocknut on Oct 17, 2016 18:25:11 GMT -5
Gee, wish I had known you before I moved to Arizona last year.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 28, 2016 10:20:35 GMT -5
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 28, 2016 16:32:08 GMT -5
Fossilman, in your last picture, the red-roof bldg is where I sell.
We bought a home in Cooke about 15 years ago, before we started selling. A few summers ago, we had about a hundred buffalo walk beside the house. Last summer there was a black bear in my dog pen. Always buffalo piles in my yard and driveway. It's fun.
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