10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 22, 2009 9:12:53 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 22, 2009 19:55:40 GMT -5
Two or three it is still cheap. It is a starting bid. I traded some rock for some stabilized Fox Mine pebbles two years ago. It was $80/lb. then If you can get it that cheap you really couldn't go wrong. Even if you have to stabilize it you could make a couple of cabs and make your money back. You wouldn't know how solid it is without seeing it or how much is matrix.
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rockdude
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 187
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Post by rockdude on Mar 22, 2009 20:59:54 GMT -5
The way it looks in the pics, some of it has a lot of matrix and some is about ALL matrix. By the time you high-grade you won't have as much but hey if it's cheap.....
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Post by Michael John on Mar 23, 2009 5:47:46 GMT -5
I agree, looks like a lot of matrix, and I don't see anything in there that looks like it has much potential. You'd be better off with a couple of decent looking chunks than two or three pounds of rubbish.
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 23, 2009 9:13:51 GMT -5
Even if you have to stabilize it you could make a couple of cabs and make your money back. Two questions: 1) What do you mean by "stabilize it"? I know you mean do something to keep softer stones from from crumbling or shattering. I don't think I've read anything on that process in any of the lapidary books I've bought or borrowed from the library. 2) How do you make your money back? I saw piles of beautiful cabs for $1-$2 at the last rock show I visited. It would seem that our "global" economy would have destroyed the market for all but custom pieces of lapidary art. |
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 23, 2009 9:20:38 GMT -5
Okay I found this thread in the forum: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=display&thread=15452&page=1So I have some idea about stabilization but it's super complicated and I have no way to maintain the temperatures and vent the caustic fumes. So stabilization is probably not an option for my lapidary pursuits. Which is unfortunate because I've ordered a pile of softer stones from some of the folks on this site. I figured softer stones would tumble polish more quickly. |
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 23, 2009 9:33:54 GMT -5
For slabbing you can clean the turquoise, heat slightly, and pour Star Bond CA Very Thin over it. It will saturate the chalky turquoise and make it usable. Not sure about tumbling but I have tumbled stabilized turquoise I have bought. Some people thin 330 epoxy with acetone and soak it as well. It is too bad there isn't enough good turquoise around to keep the price affordable but that's life. You are also right about making money on cabs. I had a Kingman turquoise cab I cut that I was pretty proud of. I figured it was worth $25. I mean I was really proud of it and didn't care if I sold it so priced it at $35. It took a year (that's 25 shows) but the right person saw it and "had to have it". It is possible to sell cabs but they have to be unique to separate them from the mass produced foreign junk.
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kentuckyrocker
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 217 
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Post by kentuckyrocker on Mar 23, 2009 16:38:00 GMT -5
Softer stone turquoise is going to crumble if you put it in the tumbler.
Honestly, just by looking , 15 is a fair price. I really wouldn't go much higher.
I did see a couple with promise- but just by looking and not holding, I really can not be sure.
You know, IMO, you are better off to go for smaller pieces in the hopes of stabilizing and drilling them into beads. That would be your best bet at turning a profit.
The cabs for me have value if 1-looks, has to grab my eye and hold it-
2- location. But if it doesn't have the looks , forget it. I don't care if it is "rare", it will stay rare lol!
Bid on this by all means if you want - just keep in mind most do know the value of turquoise. So if it seems too good to be true, wellllll........
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 23, 2009 20:51:45 GMT -5
Oh I have no intention of trying to make any of my money back. I lack talent, time, artistic flare, etc. I also won't bid or buy any of the more expense flavors of rock until I learn what the heck I'm doing (unless I'm getting a really exceptional deal). I'm reminded of a transmission shop commercial ran on TV way back when. It had two chimpanzees jumping up and down and whacking a transmission with bats. That's roughly where I stand on the lapidary scale.
What is the recipe for that stabilizing concoction? I have a couple pounds of variscite (thanks to stonesthatrock) ordered and I just got a couple pounds of chrysocolla (thanks to squirrel_girl). Both flavors are supposed to be difficult tumbles.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Mar 23, 2009 22:27:06 GMT -5
i have so much turquoise that no one can use cause it just falls apart if you try to cut it. Its the same for chrysocola. I don't even try to stablize it cause the pieces are so small already.
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kentuckyrocker
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 217
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Post by kentuckyrocker on Mar 24, 2009 7:04:33 GMT -5
I hear ya Stones. About the only thing you could do with it is block turquoise.
I don't know about you but block holds absolute no appeal to me.
It is difficult to come across the good stuff. It is a sure bet if you luck up on it, you are going to have to pay for it.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Mar 27, 2009 14:27:30 GMT -5
i heard about the blocking but i'm not sure how or if i want to do that either. I have some very nice slabs in my flickr but if we cut it and it doesn't stay together we put that in another shoe box for another day. lol
Ralphs thinking of coving a cows head with it, a dead cow. lmao
I already bought him the head.
ralph and mary ann
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kentuckyrocker
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 217
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Post by kentuckyrocker on Mar 27, 2009 14:38:36 GMT -5
LOL! Now I happen to think that's a cool idea there!
From what I understand of block you take the turquoise dust , mix it with glue, form it, cut it and call it turquoise.
For me is the content is more glue that rock, it's glue.
Myself, as with most, natural is and will always be my first pick. However my wallet doesn't match my first pick so I settle for my 2nd which is clear stabilized.
That as much wax/glue/ parrafin as I will accept and still call turquoise.
It's difficult to find the high grade these days and it is going to cost, that is for sure.
Still so beautiful though.
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