L.L.
starting to spend too much on rocks
Great Pyrenee?s Lover Extraordinaire
Member since January 2008
Posts: 135
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Post by L.L. on Apr 29, 2008 20:28:00 GMT -5
I got tired of having no rotary tumblers going if something went wrong with the big tumbler. The one motor on that runs all my barrels. Anyway I just had to go ahead and order a Thumler's A-R2 to supplement it. Let's see, so far this year it's been a WF saw and a couple of blades, an All-You-Need cabber, A Lot-O vibe along with extra barrels, a couple of diamond grinding wheels, steady supply of tumbling grits and polishes, the current tumbler purchase, and I don't know how many boxes of rocks. And it's not even May yet. What else can I get this year I wonder?
Lee H
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snivlem
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 167
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Post by snivlem on Apr 29, 2008 22:08:43 GMT -5
do you make any money doing your hobby?
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Post by deb193redux on Apr 29, 2008 22:35:51 GMT -5
Hobbies that make money become something else.
Lee - Just think how much you save versus someone who pays several hundred a month in greens fees, or pays $2000 for a high-end bike, or who drops $4500 on a cruse for two, or ... all in all rocks is a fairly mid-priced hobby.
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snivlem
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 167
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Post by snivlem on Apr 29, 2008 23:15:53 GMT -5
I work at a golf course, covering my main hobby #1(unlimited free golf:}). Now I'm hoping to make enough $$$ selling cabs/pendants to cover my rock habit. Not to make $$$, just to cover my rock habit/. I used to buy big bags of "green" in high school, break it up and sell it, and keep the rest for myself. If you pay $$$ for a habit, get some back. Just a hustla at heart, Deb.(j/k)
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L.L.
starting to spend too much on rocks
Great Pyrenee?s Lover Extraordinaire
Member since January 2008
Posts: 135
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Post by L.L. on Apr 30, 2008 0:44:19 GMT -5
I just do it for fun. A lot of the finished stuff I give away or add to my collection. If the rocks ever start getting out of hand then I may start selling stuff.
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fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Apr 30, 2008 5:29:55 GMT -5
Deb is right. I've had two hobbies ruined because I tried to make money at them. At one time I had a Charter Fishing business and a Golf Club repair shop. Now I prospect for gold and tumble rocks and go camping with the grandkids.
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holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
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Post by holdemplyer on Apr 30, 2008 7:41:29 GMT -5
my #1 hobby is fishing, I know i'll never make money at that, but the looks on my girls face when they hook a big bull gill is payment enough! Although i'm still waiting on that pro bluegill fishing tour..... then i'm set!
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Apr 30, 2008 11:57:09 GMT -5
I turned my hobby into a business back in 2000. It has had it's ups and downs. The problem is you start out selling your work too cheap because of your love for the work. People will take advantage of that and you end up losing money when you think you are making money. But once you get your perspective right it can be enjoyable. I can't wait until my 9-5 workday is over so I can get out in my shop.
Doing shows gets me out and among people. And there is nothing like the thrill of selling your first high end piece. It's one thing to give your work away as gifts and have that appreciation but when some pulls out their check book and buys something you made it gives a whole new meaning to appreciation.
Just my thoughts. I agree you can kill something you enjoyed as a hobby my making it a business. But remember it's your business to run. Don't let the business run you.
Rick
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matt111399
starting to shine!
Member since April 2008
Posts: 26
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Post by matt111399 on Apr 30, 2008 22:46:05 GMT -5
For me, it will stay as a hobby (plus, being a newbie, I haven't created anything worth diddle-squat as far as trying to sell). The fun for me is seeing my 2 girls (ages 6 & 8) get all excited when it's time to go rock hounding with Dad (they are worse than me, they bring home bags and bags of stuff from the field).
But you should have seen their faces when my first batch came out of the tumbler...they looked like they were holding a diamond.
I took my Boy Scout troop out last weekend and same kind of deal happened....saw me picking up rocks around our camp, asked what I was up to, and then proceeded to bring me loads of stuff. After I told them I was gonna load up the tumbler, a few boys talked about getting their tumblers out and giving it a whirl...isn't that what it's about?
It's also amazing to sit and wonder how all these rocks were created and think that most people would walk right by and not even give a second look at what's on the ground.
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