Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 13:23:58 GMT -5
We have one show that comes here. Not many cabs or slabs- mostly beads and jewelry.  Oh, the pitfalls of living on the East Coast. I've heard that tale of woe many times over the years. When the traveling rock dealers fan out each year from Quartzsite and Tucson, they seem to generally go north through the west and central parts of the country. Maybe they don't trust the Mississippi bridges to hold up under their heavy trailers? Certainly there are a few good ones on the east coast, though. It's unfortunate, too, that so many eastern shows expect you to pay to get in and buy (plus parking fees, in some cases). In the past, I've reminded some eastern cousins that covered wagons are no longer necessary to get to the west side, and that Amtrak allows you to haul 150 pounds of luggage home free (split among 4 bags)  |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 5, 2018 13:41:06 GMT -5
We have one show that comes here. Not many cabs or slabs- mostly beads and jewelry. Oh, the pitfalls of living on the East Coast. I've heard that tale of woe many times over the years. When the traveling rock dealers fan out each year from Quartzsite and Tucson, they seem to generally go north through the west and central parts of the country. Maybe they don't trust the Mississippi bridges to hold up under their heavy trailers? Certainly there are a few good ones on the east coast, though. It's unfortunate, too, that so many eastern shows expect you to pay to get in and buy (plus parking fees, in some cases). In the past, I've reminded some eastern cousins that covered wagons are no longer necessary to get to the west side, and that Amtrak allows you to haul 150 pounds of luggage home free (split among 4 bags) Must be the bridges.  If anyone out there made the trek here, they could double their prices and we'd all still be happy AND getting a better deal. But, I must say- there are not nearly as many lapidaries out here to sell to. Maybe that's the problem. I do try to catch our show at least once a year. It comes twice. There is a Russian dealer from NC with some really nice stuff. |
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 5, 2018 17:17:39 GMT -5
You might like tumbling. Search on here for tumble cabs, they are awesome!!! DrummondIsland rocks has great pics and directions on how he makes them. Ask Tony/catmandew or one of the other slabbers for a selection of slabbets, they can be tumbled without trimming the edges for live edge cabs or you can grind and shape the edges first. Also you can buy the 4.5 inch tile saw from Harbor Freight and do like Rob/jugglerguy and saw the cabs out and as you saw you can grind the edges off. Rob is the undisputed master at tile saw cabbing!!! Enjoy the hobby, there is a place in lapidary for any persons desires!!! Sorry orrum, I don’t have a tile saw and never have. I have a couple of trim saws that I use to cut shapes, but I don’t make many traditional cabs. When I do make cabs, I use a six wheel arbor like most others do. I’m glad you’re impressed though! |
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Post by glennz01 on May 6, 2018 12:19:33 GMT -5
(I know all of the folks with saws all have their hands raised with frantic waving saying "ME-ME-ME"... Well we shall see...) I do not have the mobility to rock hound or even go to any of the shows... I am a couch potato... with a dremel tool. I do not buy from ebay or etsy because I have a high level of paranoia. I do not use PayPal or crypto-currencies. I mainly purchase with a charge-card on a secure site. (Wow... what a looser!) Given the above criteria, where would YOU purchase cabbing slabs from? ... and WHY? Glenn Local rock shop, i get a special deal for $5 / lb for slabs for most materials. However I do cutting of my own as well and dont use the materials (old stock / high quality) as i prefer to work with local rocks. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller 
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,622 
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Post by RWA3006 on May 6, 2018 16:17:18 GMT -5
(I know all of the folks with saws all have their hands raised with frantic waving saying "ME-ME-ME"... Well we shall see...) I do not have the mobility to rock hound or even go to any of the shows... I am a couch potato... with a dremel tool. I do not buy from ebay or etsy because I have a high level of paranoia. I do not use PayPal or crypto-currencies. I mainly purchase with a charge-card on a secure site. (Wow... what a looser!) Given the above criteria, where would YOU purchase cabbing slabs from? ... and WHY? Glenn Glenn, check your messages. |
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Post by glennz01 on May 7, 2018 1:46:18 GMT -5
(I know all of the folks with saws all have their hands raised with frantic waving saying "ME-ME-ME"... Well we shall see...) I do not have the mobility to rock hound or even go to any of the shows... I am a couch potato... with a dremel tool. I do not buy from ebay or etsy because I have a high level of paranoia. I do not use PayPal or crypto-currencies. I mainly purchase with a charge-card on a secure site. (Wow... what a looser!) Given the above criteria, where would YOU purchase cabbing slabs from? ... and WHY? Glenn Glenn, check your messages. I dont see any messages |
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Post by stardiamond on May 10, 2018 11:28:21 GMT -5
I would start out here and post what you want or need.
Over the years, I have bought on ebay, sites I found doing web searches on specific material, rock shows. I haven't had much luck at rock shows of the ones I attended most recently. ebay has been my greatest source for slabs and rough. I have had issues with ebay over the years but good experiences with the lapidary sellers.
I have a lot of material and when I wanted to sell it, I would probably offer it here. The biggest issue is pricing. Many others here have a lot of cabbing material that they might want to sell.
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Post by stardiamond on May 10, 2018 11:52:45 GMT -5
Here's a place I bought slabs from and wasn't disappointed: www.minersgallery.com/This site has anti sniper sales and have ordered a few times: RareRocksAndGems.com I only buy slabs that I believe will make beautiful cabs and that material is expensive. The prices are higher than I would like to pay but not high enough to stop me from buying. |
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Post by gmitch067 on May 11, 2018 0:51:32 GMT -5
Thank you stardiamond. The Miner's Gallery looks promising Glenn |
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 11, 2018 8:04:50 GMT -5
Here's a place I bought slabs from and wasn't disappointed: www.minersgallery.com/This site has anti sniper sales and have ordered a few times: RareRocksAndGems.com I only buy slabs that I believe will make beautiful cabs and that material is expensive. The prices are higher than I would like to pay but not high enough to stop me from buying.
I will also vouch for Miner's Gallery. I have never been disappointed with a purchase from them. I have the added bonus of knowing the owner personally (in the rock club I was in, as well as my prospecting association), and since he is local, I can see the slabs in hand. He sells at the PowWow every year, and a lot of other shows. He was just at the BBQ and Silent Auction in San Diego a couple weeks ago. Highly recommend them!
I just took a look at rarerocksandgems.com/ - Wow! Have never purchased from them before, but it looks like they have some nice stuff. Like the idea of anti-sniper sales. Jean
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Post by fernwood on May 11, 2018 8:20:48 GMT -5
If you have rocks to be cut there are lots of great people here who would do that for you for postage only. Maybe a couple of slices for themselves. Please post specifically what you are looking for in finished slabs. Specific types of rocks, size, etc.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 11, 2018 11:50:48 GMT -5
Here's a place I bought slabs from and wasn't disappointed: www.minersgallery.com/This site has anti sniper sales and have ordered a few times: RareRocksAndGems.com I only buy slabs that I believe will make beautiful cabs and that material is expensive. The prices are higher than I would like to pay but not high enough to stop me from buying.
I will also vouch for Miner's Gallery. I have never been disappointed with a purchase from them. I have the added bonus of knowing the owner personally (in the rock club I was in, as well as my prospecting association), and since he is local, I can see the slabs in hand. He sells at the PowWow every year, and a lot of other shows. He was just at the BBQ and Silent Auction in San Diego a couple weeks ago. Highly recommend them!
I just took a look at rarerocksandgems.com/ - Wow! Have never purchased from them before, but it looks like they have some nice stuff. Like the idea of anti-sniper sales. Jean
The way his anti sniper sales work is for a period of time he posts groups of buy it now rocks. I'm afraid my mouse isn't quick enough and my pockets too shallow, I just called him and bought a box of rough. I was happy with what I got and it cost me considerably less in the rough form. |
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Post by stardiamond on May 11, 2018 13:29:46 GMT -5
This is what I got at the anti sniper sale last year. $55 shipped. The slab on the left was being cut into two slices and my saw crapped out. The small piece will produce 3 slabettes, the lot will produce 7-10 cabs. I wish things were less expensive. Finding reasonably priced material originating in the Oregon region is a lot more difficult.  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on May 11, 2018 17:14:41 GMT -5
As soon as I get things together here, I will be selling Oregon material and other.. Won't be charging an arm and leg either.. LOL
I usually sell to the RTH'ers first, than take it to F/B.... It goes fast too.. Some will go to Tommy for the RTH auctions also... My contribute to the forum.. He has seen the material already..
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rads
spending too much on rocks
Making clay each day!
Member since April 2018
Posts: 319
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Post by rads on May 13, 2018 12:06:49 GMT -5
I would suggest that you look into joining a local (to you) Lapidary Club.
You will meet many folks with the same interests and who have a great deal of knowledge to share. Our club has silent auctions each month and hosts a large show each year. Trading minerals/slabs/rough, field collecting and cutting for each other are just some of the benefits of joining like minded folks in the quest for that perfect cab.
Members who are getting out of the game due to age or any number of reasons will offer their collections to the membership first, our ex-president just did the exact thing and I brought home a truckload of stellar material for very little money last weekend. He wanted it to go to people who would use it, not resale it.
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Post by gmitch067 on May 14, 2018 0:53:34 GMT -5
As soon as I get things together here, I will be selling Oregon material and other.. Won't be charging an arm and leg either.. LOL I usually sell to the RTH'ers first, than take it to F/B.... It goes fast too.. Some will go to Tommy for the RTH auctions also... My contribute to the forum.. He has seen the material already.. When you do get going with the Oregon material fossilman, please give us a thread here at the RTH. I do not have a facebook account (the RTH is my only social media site), but would still like to know. Thank you. Glenn |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on May 14, 2018 18:15:54 GMT -5
As soon as I get things together here, I will be selling Oregon material and other.. Won't be charging an arm and leg either.. LOL I usually sell to the RTH'ers first, than take it to F/B.... It goes fast too.. Some will go to Tommy for the RTH auctions also... My contribute to the forum.. He has seen the material already.. When you do get going with the Oregon material fossilman, please give us a thread here at the RTH. I do not have a facebook account (the RTH is my only social media site), but would still like to know. Thank you. Glenn RTH is always my 1st place to go.... No worries.. |
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Oh, the pitfalls of living on the East Coast.
