jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Jun 8, 2016 10:56:08 GMT -5
Anyone going to the Agate Expo in Cedarburg WI? www.agateexpos.comAny recommendations for other sites to see while in the area?
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 8, 2016 12:14:32 GMT -5
Not in WI, but a don't miss for agate lovers the following weekend in MN - 47th Annual Agate Days, July 17 & 18, 2016 at Moose Lake High School gymnasium. Moose Lake is 105 miles north of the Twin Cities and 45 miles south of Duluth. I have been unable to find an actual address for the high school. I guess once you've made it to the town, it will become obvious.
www.mooselakechamber.com/agate-days-and-art-in-the-park.php
FREE ADMISSION Gem & Mineral Show Moose Lake High School Sat. 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Sun. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
This sounds interesting -
Clark-Olsen AGATE STAMPEDE 2:00 pm – Saturday July 16th, 2016 400 lbs. of Agates & $400 in quarters from local donors are added to a truck full of gravel and spread on Elm Avenue for a wild scramble of Finders-Keepers
More tourist info, what to do, where to go, hounding maps, camping, lodging, print out agate hunting permits, etc. midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/nature/beaches/agate_stampede_moose_lake.html
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 8, 2016 13:05:12 GMT -5
The agate stampede is supposed to be for the kids. There are a lot of assholes who push the kids away from agates to get them. Adults always seem to ruin things for the kids...
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Post by Toad on Jun 9, 2016 11:09:40 GMT -5
Paramedics on standby. ..
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jun 12, 2016 16:03:43 GMT -5
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Post by parfive on Jun 12, 2016 23:22:54 GMT -5
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jun 13, 2016 23:15:19 GMT -5
Stopped there just over a year ago. This is so much more than your ordinary collection of rocks and gems. Truly astonishing.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 3, 2016 19:43:20 GMT -5
Ok since this got off topic let's get it back on....
Who's going to the agate expo? Would be cool to meet some other RTHers.
As far as other other stuff going on, if you're a music lover, Summerfest is well worth a visit!
I saw something in the paper about the Manitowoc Maritime Museum having some shindigs going on. Not sure of dates or times.
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Post by fernwood on Jul 3, 2016 20:42:50 GMT -5
Might be going to agate expo.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 11, 2016 19:01:39 GMT -5
This was a nice show. I enjoyed several talks from various collectors/experts, oogled over many fabulous agates (among other rocks) and bought a few things. Kinda disappointed I didn't buy any rough Chinese agate, but at $85/lb I didn't feel like gambling lol.
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doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
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Post by doublet83 on Jul 12, 2016 9:58:57 GMT -5
Really wanted to go to the show but its quite far from me. I was wondering if anyone could share the market rate for rough, uncut, laguna or condor agate? I'm on the east coast and new to the hobby. Doesn't seem like there's anywhere to buy rough rock near me, although I've been buying a lot on Ebay.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 445
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Post by herb on Jul 14, 2016 14:35:56 GMT -5
We went to the show. I didn't see this topic until after we returned, so I'm just replying now. The show was really great! So many beautiful agates in one place! I took over 400 pictures! We attended a few of the talks, spent a lot of time drooling at the exhibit cases, and spent a fair amount of time looking at all the things the dealers had. Didn't end up buying much, but it was great to look at all the fantastic stones that were on display!
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 16, 2016 10:52:37 GMT -5
I don't know if this was by design, but I was surprised there was no tailgate sale in the parking lot or close by. Maybe there was and I just wasn't invited lol.
I know the show was centered around agates, so a side show for all other lapidary material would've been cool.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,623
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Post by QuailRiver on Jul 16, 2016 13:53:29 GMT -5
Really wanted to go to the show but its quite far from me. I was wondering if anyone could share the market rate for rough, uncut, laguna or condor agate? I'm on the east coast and new to the hobby. Doesn't seem like there's anywhere to buy rough rock near me, although I've been buying a lot on Ebay. The last time I bought decent quality Aqua rough was four or five years ago for $15 per pound. I haven't seen any good aqua rough since then. You didn't specify what area of the East you are in but if you are within reasonable driving distance of Franklin, NC July 28-31 there are a few dealers who sell rough at the G&LW show outside of the main tent: El Paso Rock Shop, Gem Center USA, Enter the Earth,... The G&LW show is a wholesale show and to get into the main tent you have to have a resale tax number. But most (not all) of the dealers outside the main tent of that show will also sell retail. Also during this same week in Franklin there are four other shows. Two outdoor shows where some cabbing rough and slabs can be found, and two indoor shows including the Franklin Faceter's Frolic where faceting rough and supplies can be found. The indoor show at the High School usually has a slab dealer or two but very little if any rough. The following week (first week of August)in Spruce Pines, NC the G&LW show travels there plus there are two other shows including the Grassy Creek show. It's been many years since I've gone to the Spruce Pines show but the last time I did there were lots of rough and slab dealers at the Grassy Creek show. But I couldn't say if there still are. Maybe someone else here on the list has attended the Grassy Creek Show in the last couple of years and can update us on that? www.xpopress.com/north-carolina-gem-mineral-fossil-jewelry-shows-schedule.htmlLarry C.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 445
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Post by herb on Jul 17, 2016 11:30:44 GMT -5
I don't know if this was by design, but I was surprised there was no tailgate sale in the parking lot or close by. Maybe there was and I just wasn't invited lol. I know the show was centered around agates, so a side show for all other lapidary material would've been cool. Yeah, a tailgate for non-agate material would have been nice! Lots of shows prohibit extra-curricular selling though.
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Jul 19, 2016 14:16:20 GMT -5
They were watching for people selling in the parking lots. I was in the parking lot with a dealer who was showing me a limb cast and we were approached by one of the event staff.
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doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
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Post by doublet83 on Jul 20, 2016 19:42:31 GMT -5
QuailRiver: Thanks for the info. I'm in eastern PA, so unfortunately a still a bit far from that show you mentioned, but I'll keep it in mind if I'm ever in the area around that time. I've bought some Agua Nueva rough on EBay for $10 a pound, but seems like mixed quality material. Looks like thegemshop sells Agua for $6 to $25 a pound, but no idea of the quality since I've never bought or been to the store. I've also bought a bunch of rough Condor or Laguna on Ebay for around $15 a pound on average.
Wonder if Ebay is a decent place to get a fair deal (if you wait around), and whether these prices seem fair to people? Or whether shows or dealers can offer better prices or selection?
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,623
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Post by QuailRiver on Jul 21, 2016 13:49:01 GMT -5
QuailRiver: Thanks for the info. I'm in eastern PA, so unfortunately a still a bit far from that show you mentioned, but I'll keep it in mind if I'm ever in the area around that time. I've bought some Agua Nueva rough on EBay for $10 a pound, but seems like mixed quality material. Looks like thegemshop sells Agua for $6 to $25 a pound, but no idea of the quality since I've never bought or been to the store. I've also bought a bunch of rough Condor or Laguna on Ebay for around $15 a pound on average. Wonder if Ebay is a decent place to get a fair deal (if you wait around), and whether these prices seem fair to people? Or whether shows or dealers can offer better prices or selection? Not a big fan of buying rough sight-unseen. The few times I bought cutting rough via mail order, which was many years ago (1970s) only a small percentage of the lots would be of good quality and the rest junk that they couldn't sell in their shops or at retail shows. Don't mind buying cutting rough on eBay as long as there are good photos of every piece in the lot. Much prefer to buy in person. But unfortunately there are not nearly as many good shows in the Eastern U.S. as there used to be 25+ years ago. Due to the general public not having the level of disposable income they used to have affecting vendor's sale totals, plus the rising costs of traveling, motels, and show vendor spaces, it has become uneconomical for dealers to travel around the entire country's gem show circuit. So now we must travel to where the bulk rough dealers can be found to have the opportunity to cherry-pick good rough. Larry C.
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Post by broseph82 on Jul 23, 2016 22:47:32 GMT -5
Not in WI, but a don't miss for agate lovers the following weekend in MN - 47th Annual Agate Days, July 17 & 18, 2016 at Moose Lake High School gymnasium. Moose Lake is 105 miles north of the Twin Cities and 45 miles south of Duluth. I have been unable to find an actual address for the high school. I guess once you've made it to the town, it will become obvious.
www.mooselakechamber.com/agate-days-and-art-in-the-park.php
FREE ADMISSION Gem & Mineral Show Moose Lake High School Sat. 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Sun. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
This sounds interesting -
Clark-Olsen AGATE STAMPEDE 2:00 pm – Saturday July 16th, 2016 400 lbs. of Agates & $400 in quarters from local donors are added to a truck full of gravel and spread on Elm Avenue for a wild scramble of Finders-Keepers
More tourist info, what to do, where to go, hounding maps, camping, lodging, print out agate hunting permits, etc. midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/nature/beaches/agate_stampede_moose_lake.html
We were in this area this week. Duluth was hit with a nasty storm and lots were without power. Love the Duluth area!
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jul 28, 2016 6:16:53 GMT -5
Moose Lake had lots of wind damage and severe flooding just days before the event. But on show day everything was open and a wonderful time was had by all. Duluth was hit by a second storm a week ago and.just last night power was restored to 100%.
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