gemfreak95
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 109
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Post by gemfreak95 on Mar 13, 2020 15:34:24 GMT -5
Trying to sort through all the different lapidary supply sites is giving me a headache. Generally speaking, who has the best prices on grit? Or rough? Or new equipment? Which sites have great customer service? What about shipping charges? Thanks for your help!
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Post by RocksInNJ on Mar 13, 2020 15:52:04 GMT -5
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Post by knave on Mar 13, 2020 16:11:52 GMT -5
KN has the 80 grit 45 lb for 76$ shipped
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Post by aDave on Mar 13, 2020 18:32:04 GMT -5
Kingsley North has the 80 grit 45 lb for 76$ shipped Fixed it for you. The OP, being relatively new, might not know what the abbreviation is. Seller Abrasive Armory on Ebay also has decent grit prices, and the service is excellent. Good variety and size options.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,332
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Post by quartz on Mar 13, 2020 22:35:14 GMT -5
I get my grit at Kleen-Blast, an industrial supply along the west coast, 50 pound lots but cheaper than anywhere else for me.
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reynedrop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 204
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Post by reynedrop on Mar 13, 2020 23:17:37 GMT -5
To piggyback off of this:
Those of you who buy tens of pounds of grit at a time, how do you store it? I know most of you have shops/garages where you do your rock stuff, but do these come in bags and you just keep them in the bags? Do they come in buckets? Do you buy your own plastic wear?
Those of you who use smaller quantities (eg, buying 1-5# from Rock Shed), how do you store that?
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Mar 14, 2020 0:48:02 GMT -5
I buy from Minnesota lapidary supply and I get the grit in plastic tubs.
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Mar 14, 2020 1:04:39 GMT -5
Those of you who buy tens of pounds of grit at a time, how do you store it? Plastic bottle, near half gallon size, used for tea and fruit juices. 5 lb bag fits nicely in there. I did end up getting the 4 pack lortone grit kit from a local shop out of desperation. I reuse the containers, refilling them as needed. It's easier to handle when it's in the smaller bottle. Bags of grit that have been opened but not used yet get closed with small clips. Like bag clips, except in the style of clamps from the hardware section, strong as hell, 70 cents each, bulletproof. All the bags, grit, beads, ceramics, etc go into a plastic storage container with a lid. Related to the thread, I hit up therockshed quite often. Beats what the local guy wants in person... $7.50/lb 60/90... $45/lb labradorite, $90/lb blue lace agate... I've stopped going there...
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reynedrop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 204
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Post by reynedrop on Mar 14, 2020 1:11:15 GMT -5
Those of you who buy tens of pounds of grit at a time, how do you store it? Plastic bottle, near half gallon size, used for tea and fruit juices. 5 lb bag fits nicely in there. I did end up getting the 4 pack lortone grit kit from a local shop out of desperation. I reuse the containers, refilling them as needed. It's easier to handle when it's in the smaller bottle. Bags of grit that have been opened but not used yet get closed with small clips. Like bag clips, except in the style of clamps from the hardware section, strong as hell, 70 cents each, bulletproof. All the bags, grit, beads, ceramics, etc go into a plastic storage container with a lid. What containers do you use? Knowing that I have limited space (everything is indoors and in a carpeted office) and won’t be tumbling large amounts, I bought 8 32-oz HDPE containers with screw top lids. They are not big enough for the 5# bags, and while I’m sure I should get 64oz now, I’m not sure about storing used ceramics or plastic beads (as I know it is best to only reuse in same grit).
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Mar 14, 2020 1:37:21 GMT -5
Pretty much whatever I can get my hands on. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, ya know? Half gallon milk jugs and juice bottles can hold 5 lbs of SiC. Add a sharpie label. Can convert an old measuring cup, pudding cup, whatever, into a single dose measuring cup by measuring water into it and marking the level you want. Plastic beads go into ziploc bags, labeled by stage, and all the bags go into the bigger storage containers. Peanut butter pretzel container holds ceramics that have made it all the way through polish. Big white containers are housemate's protein shake containers. Usually reserve those for rough quartz (white rock in white container). I tape sticky notes to coffee cans regarding what is in them. I only keep cans of specific dimension so they all stack nicely. Some pencil boxes (cheap AF during a walmart back to school sale) hold stones that have been rough ground, ready for stage 2. Each container holding something different. Occasional box here and there. Large bags just get clipped shut and moved around as needed.
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Post by knave on Mar 14, 2020 6:07:46 GMT -5
Nice clean counter Ben!
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reynedrop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 204
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Post by reynedrop on Mar 15, 2020 0:01:36 GMT -5
Pretty much whatever I can get my hands on. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, ya know? Half gallon milk jugs and juice bottles can hold 5 lbs of SiC. Add a sharpie label. Can convert an old measuring cup, pudding cup, whatever, into a single dose measuring cup by measuring water into it and marking the level you want. Plastic beads go into ziploc bags, labeled by stage, and all the bags go into the bigger storage containers. Peanut butter pretzel container holds ceramics that have made it all the way through polish. Big white containers are housemate's protein shake containers. Usually reserve those for rough quartz (white rock in white container). I tape sticky notes to coffee cans regarding what is in them. I only keep cans of specific dimension so they all stack nicely. Some pencil boxes (cheap AF during a walmart back to school sale) hold stones that have been rough ground, ready for stage 2. Each container holding something different. Occasional box here and there. Large bags just get clipped shut and moved around as needed. Definitely a good way to reuse "trash" items. I don't usually have plastic containers larger enough to reuse for rocks though... Most of my stuff is either bagged or in cardboard containers. But knowing that 64 oz is a good size for 5# of grit does make planning purchases easier
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Post by RocksInNJ on Mar 15, 2020 21:36:55 GMT -5
The Dollar store is your friend. I bought a bunch of round plastic containers with lids for all my grit, ceramics and plastic beads. Also a bunch of colanders, measuring spoons and cups as well as scrub brushes.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Mar 16, 2020 3:35:51 GMT -5
A lot of abrasives out live plastic containers. And their labels. Especially if kept near sunlight or outside. Many abrasives are often difficult to identify if label is lost. These blue steel containers have their specs engraved into the steel with a grinder. Each holds 10 pounds. Great way to store them indoors and outdoors. These were purchased at a junkyard. Even AO polish stays dry stored outdoors in them. Another nice long lasting container is a 1 to 2 gallon plastic gasoline canister. Thick enough to be engraved with an awl or solder gun.
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Mar 16, 2020 7:14:49 GMT -5
I buy the 5lb grits from Minn. Lapidary Supply or Kingsley North and keep them in the bag-in-box. For loose grits I use the quart containers that BBQ comes in, or from Ricotta Cheese. For polished rocks I have some organizer containers from Harbor Freight, and lots of Hillshire Farms deli meat containers. For bulk rocks I have some plastic bins, and lots of 5 gallon buckets. The best bulk rock containers I think are the Coca Cola crates, but those are hard to come by. I lucked out on some of those. I'll post some shop pictures when I get a chance.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 16, 2020 10:08:15 GMT -5
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JBe
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Post by JBe on Mar 16, 2020 11:01:48 GMT -5
I buy grit from The Rock Shed and Abrasive Armory.
Abrasive Armory has had some good sales on 25lb sacks of coarse grit. I usually keep my eye out for the sales and take advantage of them when the opportunity arises.
The coarse grit is what I burn through the most of. I keep the larger quantities of it in a bucket with a lid.
I usually only buy 5 lb quantities of 220 grit and up so I keep them in gallon ziplock freezer bags.
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reynedrop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 204
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Post by reynedrop on Mar 16, 2020 17:03:05 GMT -5
Some day, I hope to have a place where it's feasible to tumble enough to warrant buying 25# of grit at a time. Instead, I keep everything inside in my office, which is small and also full of all my other hobbies.
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Post by broseph82 on Mar 19, 2020 12:28:21 GMT -5
KN has the 80 grit 45 lb for 76$ shipped Who needs 80 when you can buy 30g for just a little more?
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shardy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2019
Posts: 110
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Post by shardy on Mar 19, 2020 15:22:03 GMT -5
.57/lb more. It would be great to get that shipped price on 30 grit. KN has the 80 grit 45 lb for 76$ shipped Who needs 80 when you can buy 30g for just a little more?
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