robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 17, 2013 21:39:42 GMT -5
This will perhaps go down as one of the biggest fish stories in the rockhound world, or at least mine lol. A couple of you know that I do a bit of the 'picking' type thing and have done that off and on well before there were any tv shows about it. Not just lapidary stuff but anything in general. So before I tell this story I would like to say that when you are actually out looking for stuff the odds favor that every now and then some oddball situation will arise. It's pure luck but the odds are greatly improved. This isn't the only 'screwy' situation i've encountered over the years but it ranks high. I wouldn't say it's the BEST deal i've ever got in terms of profit in one lot but it is the luckiest, non-planned event by far. You can call BS all you want but i'm here to tell you it's the truth. Ok..........so I bid on some small lapidary items at some farm about 60 miles from my home on an online only auction. Nothing major but the stuff was ultra cheap and worth the gas, maybe a $150 profit when it was all said and done. Heh......we're talking about a couple hours work so lay off lol. Imagine me surprise, and esp my neighbor who was with me, when we were out in the country about 10 miles before the auction pickup site and i'm going about 60mph and could've sworn I just seen a clear hood highland park slab saw sitting in someones front yard with a for sale sign on it. I nearly, literally, locked them up and my partner was like what the hell! Did a uturn, went back and sure as hell there sits a 18"HP saw with a $500 for sale sign. No kidding. The guy came out and claims he was a retired blocklayer, didn't even know what it was and that he bought it 20 years ago in AZ thinking it was a fancy block cutter. I said yeah it looks old will it even power up? Are you firm on $500? How about $300? Guy said sure it's yours. So basically I just turned a $150 profit run into over $1000. The odd part is this claims he didn't know anything about the auction up the road? What are the odds of that? Not sure what was going on but I wasn't going to argue. Just one problem........after I cleaned it I ended up yanking the sale ad. I'm breaking one of my rules which is to not get attached but it happened. If anyone has one of these, like Daniels and mine 16", with the clear plastic hoods I found that oven cleaner will make them spotless. But do NOT get it on the paint on the tank, vise or anywhere else because it will eat the paint off. Here's a vid of what it looked like before in which I will post in the am it's been sold lol: And after an hour of cleaning today. I can see the red and black sticker on the inner rim of the blade that tells me it's a Congo Blade. That would be something if it's the original blade and I have come to thought by the condition of the vise boards that it very well may be this saw hasn't been used a whole lot I don't think: The hood has some cracks but I have some corner stiffners I will put on it later and I went ahead and scrapped the front gear cover as it fell off in pieces I will make something for that later don't really need to buy one just make something to cover it and pack it full of grease. I apologize if your excitement isn't on par with mine right at the moment lol.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Sept 17, 2013 21:47:29 GMT -5
Geez!
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Post by roy on Sept 17, 2013 22:09:58 GMT -5
you can still get new parts for these saws i bought a new geer cover the other day you did good for sure
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 17, 2013 22:12:50 GMT -5
LOL, I know some guys have all the luck. I could write a small book on 'oddball' finds. One time around 15 years ago I answered an ad for vintage go karts. Went to the address and an old schoolmate answered the door and she was still looking good lol. At any rate, it wasn't even her ad. She had the same address but was on terrace and I was looking for the same number but didn't realize it was 'street' which was 1 block past her place. So we chatted, she was nervous as hell thinking someone had died, and I left to go look at the karts. And there they were.........the dual MC91 Model J Dart Kart, single engine MC91 sidewinder Margay and the twin MC101AA's (these are McCulloch racing engines for those that don't know) mounted on a Dart Chapperal with twin side mount aluminum gas tanks. $200 Each, discounted to $500 for buying all 3. The auction went crazy on ebay and some millionaire collector(of all sorts of stuff and had over 100karts) from Indiana called me and dispatched a driver before the auction was even over telling me they were his regardless and I ended up getting $5877.00 for all 3 of them. Got to be really good friends with this guy too unfort he had a really bad hard liquor problem and died of liver disease at only 42.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 17, 2013 22:14:36 GMT -5
you can still get new parts for these saws i bought a new geer cover the other day you did good for sure Yeah I was just looking at one, probably go ahead and buy it and just be done with it. I also still need to get the idler arm and pulley for my 16" HP. I ordered a new hood from them for another 18"HP a few years ago, took awhile to get it but it did end up fitting good. Of course the cover won't have the same mounting pattern on my saw but this is no big deal.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2013 22:54:37 GMT -5
The wood in the vice is "like new" the saw blade, while rusty, has little to no where from stones. The "teeth" to support the vice screw look pristine. I'll put a nickel on "used once and put away for good".
Score.
Didya go back and get the girls number. Stay in touch? lol
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Post by catmandewe on Sept 19, 2013 0:54:42 GMT -5
Nice find, I have one just like it, it is a great saw.
Tony
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Sept 19, 2013 5:21:21 GMT -5
Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo! Now that what I call a SCORE!!!!! Big Time!!!!!! Who knows, maybe I'll come across something like that down here, only not that big! I'd be happy with a 12" or 14"............
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 19, 2013 8:25:49 GMT -5
Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo! Now that what I call a SCORE!!!!! Big Time!!!!!! Who knows, maybe I'll come across something like that down here, only not that big! I'd be happy with a 12" or 14"............ All the slabbing you do and you don't have a 12"?? I was thinking you had an LS12 maybe my memory is bad. Well wait, I know it is. Yeah you def need an upgrade. Unless you were talking about a 12" in an Highland Park model.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 19, 2013 8:30:20 GMT -5
The wood in the vice is "like new" the saw blade, while rusty, has little to no where from stones. The "teeth" to support the vice screw look pristine. I'll put a nickel on "used once and put away for good". Score. Didya go back and get the girls number. Stay in touch? lol It's been used more than once however I think it's the original blade, too much other evidence like you say. I actually moved it to my back area of the shop and thru a door that was only 1/2" wider yesterday afternoon, by myself, and i'll say it wasn't the funnest thing i've done lately. Worked on the hood a bit. Put in coolant and made one cut and it worked flawlessly. Still need to get the gear cover though. LOL as far as her number no she's married and so am I would just end up in disaster.
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 19, 2013 9:21:15 GMT -5
I have to try and clean my hood. Was it spray on oven cleaner?
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 19, 2013 9:48:39 GMT -5
I have to try and clean my hood. Was it spray on oven cleaner? Yes I used the yellow can Easy Off, the less stout stuff might work I don't know I already had it so I used it. It doesn't have to sit for long, maybe a minute and it should wipe right off. The hood on this 18" saw was as yellow, dirty as yours. I assumed you've used oven cleaner but just in case it will burn your skin really bad and you may want to cover the vise as it will eat paint too. I also used it to clean the railways. This saw was used for awhile and then just put away I think and shoved off into a corner and left there so they had old pella stuck all over them now the are shiny and new looking.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Sept 19, 2013 10:02:27 GMT -5
Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo! Now that what I call a SCORE!!!!! Big Time!!!!!! Who knows, maybe I'll come across something like that down here, only not that big! I'd be happy with a 12" or 14"............ All the slabbing you do and you don't have a 12"?? I was thinking you had an LS12 maybe my memory is bad. Well wait, I know it is. Yeah you def need an upgrade. Unless you were talking about a 12" in an Highland Park model. No, I have an old 10" HP & yes, desperately in need of an upgrade!!!!!!!
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 19, 2013 12:03:29 GMT -5
Amazing to find one that still has the clear hood. Most are in pieces or missing. Once when we lived at our old place I had a nice pick up truck so was called in to haul rocks for our club whenever they picked up estate rocks. They were contacted by a guy that was clearing his folk's place to sell. Tons of rocks, make an offer. The club paid I think $500. While loading up the rocks he said there was some old metal things by the garage we could have to if we hauled them away. Turned out to be a 24" and 18" slab saw. A little rusty from being outside but still cutting in their work shop. Sometimes good deals find you.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2013 12:47:25 GMT -5
No, I have an old 10" HP & yes, desperately in need of an upgrade!!!!!!! Rob, make her a 14". You need to visit Florida anyways. Winter is coming and it's warmer there. Plus they have more snakes.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 20, 2013 9:21:02 GMT -5
Amazing to find one that still has the clear hood. Most are in pieces or missing. Once when we lived at our old place I had a nice pick up truck so was called in to haul rocks for our club whenever they picked up estate rocks. They were contacted by a guy that was clearing his folk's place to sell. Tons of rocks, make an offer. The club paid I think $500. While loading up the rocks he said there was some old metal things by the garage we could have to if we hauled them away. Turned out to be a 24" and 18" slab saw. A little rusty from being outside but still cutting in their work shop. Sometimes good deals find you. That's awesome and just goes to show that it can and does happen. I have so many similar stories I could write a small book. I'm still waiting on the tons of rocks for $500 though and living in KS and not some rockhound locale that's likely to never happen.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 20, 2013 9:23:55 GMT -5
Yes, Rob, write that book, while everything is still fresh in your young mind, LOL!
It's always great to be in the right place at the right time, and to have the $$ on hand to be able to take advantage of it. Nice finds!
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Sept 20, 2013 9:24:12 GMT -5
No, I have an old 10" HP & yes, desperately in need of an upgrade!!!!!!! Rob, make her a 14". You need to visit Florida anyways. Winter is coming and it's warmer there. Plus they have more snakes. If I weren't so busy at the moment I would consider that. I won't say it's something that might not happen in the future. Best thing would be if I sumble across another gold mine and send it away before I realize it's gone lol. I'm a sucker for rockhound charity cases. You all anywhere near Tampa? I don't know if we can make it this winter wifes already had a couple weeks off but her sister lives there and if whenever we come we would be using that for homebase.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Sept 20, 2013 9:57:07 GMT -5
Quite a ways from Tampa! You would have to head to the Keys, which is a great place when weather changes up north. This is the place to be when you want the tropics without having to leave the country. I'm in the first key, Key Largo. If you ever do head down this way be sure to drop by!
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Sept 20, 2013 11:04:37 GMT -5
What great luck Rob. But I bet you have put in your time, so it really wasn't all luck. Payback for all those dead ends you probably have gone thru. Excellent saw!
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