Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2009 20:16:43 GMT -5
While I completely understand the time, money and effort the Birnie's put into collecting, I do have to disagree with the "results will surely be disappointing" part. Many materials are sold in the rough with absolutely no clue as to what is inside. This is part of the fun of the hobby.......cutting open a stone that looks like nothing on the outside, only to find something beautiful on the inside. Also, anyone in the hobby knows that there could be duds as it is a natural material. Every single one could be a dud, but thats the chance you take when you buy rough. If you dont want to take the chance, you buy cut materials. Its nice to have options.
Shannon
|
|
|
Post by bobby1 on Sept 9, 2009 20:47:41 GMT -5
I'm curious. What do the duds look like inside?? Just clear agate?? Bob
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Sept 9, 2009 21:03:21 GMT -5
I agree with Shannon, that's part of the fun of most other agates, especially ThunderEggs. Slicing them open and seeing what is there.
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Sept 9, 2009 21:58:55 GMT -5
I also agree with Shannon. By not selling rough, IMHO, you're missing out on some easier income too.
Nate
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2009 22:11:40 GMT -5
I think when it comes to rare agates, vendors arent wanting the easy income. By offering lower/tumbling grades or broken pieces for cabbing, they are turning their rare agates into a not so rare thing, and that also makes the high grade specimens a not so rare thing as well. That means less profit at the big shows like Tucson.
Again, nothing against the Birnie's......their agates are insanely beautiful. I also know they love their rocks and a lot of effort gets put into collecting in such a desolate, hard to access area. I just think that saying "the results would be disappointing" to a bunch of rock people is incorrect no matter how you look at it LOL. Sit me in front of a rock saw with a bunch of "ugly on the outside" agates....let me have at em for a few hours and I could care less if they are all duds. Besides, what is a dud when it comes to rocks? I personally have a "lower grade" Patagonian agate slab. Its nearly solid yellow with a bit of red in the center and I absolutely love it.
Just my two cents.......
Shannon
|
|
|
Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2009 23:25:28 GMT -5
i agree completely with shannon...............i cut rocks all day everyday, why? becuasue i love to see whats inside. Sometimes its not as good as i hoped but then again its pretty in its own way. But then when i cut something and "oh wow" comes out of my mouth. Its makes it worthwhile.
mary ann
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
|
Post by Sabre52 on Sept 10, 2009 7:00:09 GMT -5
Wow! Some of those nodules are amazingly smooth and symmetrical. Got to throw in my two cents too. The big thrill, aside from the initial finding of the rough, is when you first saw open a rough nodule to discover what's inside. If it weren't for the gulldarned stinky rocksaws, that's probably all I would do. Most folks know if you buy rough, you'll get some duds but to sell only cut material is to spoil a lot of the thrill of discovery that most of us love......Mel
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Sept 10, 2009 7:23:54 GMT -5
Another one who agrees with Shannon here. But I've been to their web-site and didn't see any option to buy even the cut stuff. Just a bunch of beautiful pictures. Do they only sell at shows?
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Sept 10, 2009 8:27:50 GMT -5
Selling rough makes more sense when international shipping is not involved, and if you have more rough than you can cut, polish, and sell. Still, selling some of the cut nodules that are deemed not worth working, would let people see the lower end, as well as get some idea of the dud potential. But again, who wants to eat the shipping on lower grade material?
I would find something interesting, if not beautiful, in every nodule I cut. I would tumble the pieces no matter what, and some pieces would still make a freeform cab. Even the polished pebbles would go to some kids. But not every buyer is a true rock lover - some have unreal expectations of cash-n-treasure. They might also whine in disproportinate volume.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2009 10:12:13 GMT -5
Yes.......they have a room at Tucson every year that they sell at, usually cut nodules that are face polished for specimens.
I guess it is just a difference of opinion, which we all certainly have. Every one of those "duds" could make beautiful cabs. Seems sad to haul them all that way, clean them, cut them.......and then.........throw them away.
I did try to get some from them a couple of years ago on another board. I specified that I was looking to ship a parcel over. I knew shipping would be high but for me it was all about having some unique cabbing material from a far away place (like I once did with some Scottish agates). I mentioned that smaller, broken pieces were fine, nothing high grade. I knew from reading posts on various boards that they didnt seem to want their agates cut into cabs, that they preferred them to be kept as specimens.......but then I saw them post a necklace made out of their material (?) so I thought I would ask. Cant remember if I ever got a response. It was either no response or I was told "we dont sell rough".
Shan
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Sept 10, 2009 10:38:58 GMT -5
Clearly, the "duds" are not as good as the winners, but I would be quite happy with most of them, not only because of their source, but because they have some very pretty areas.
I suppose with all of the great ones that you've found, it's easy to start thinking that the not so good ones are junk. I still think the "approximate agate" is very cool.
I also enjoy cutting open the stones. It's the same thrill I get when cutting geodes. I may cut dud after dud, but when I hit a good one it makes it that much more special.
I would absolutely love to cut open some of your agates and if only 1 out of 20 was a keeper, then at least I got the one. As Shannon said, I am sure the others would not go to waste: I'd cut cabs out of them.
Chuck
|
|
|
Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 10, 2009 10:40:45 GMT -5
Ralph and Sheri and I drove down to tucson to see their agates. and i must tell you they are beautiful. Way out of my price range, though. From the ones you cut i too can see some nice cabs that i wouldn't mind making. As for the clear ones. grrrrrrrrrrr. i would have not thrown them away. I had some and still have more of a bunch of clear white agates that i couldn't bring myself to throw in the trash..........so i offer them here for free. Its like the old saying " one mans trash is another mans treasure" and how can you say that one was nothing to be carried away...........i think its beautiful. mary ann
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Sept 10, 2009 10:41:44 GMT -5
I'd just like to know where I can buy their stuff without traveling to Tucson - or is that the only place?
|
|
|
Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 10, 2009 10:50:09 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2009 11:27:48 GMT -5
Hey guys,
When I couldnt get any from the Birnie's,I talked to a forum owner friend of mine and he had a contact for a vendor that WOULD sell Patagonian agates and not just halves for specimens but cutters. Let me see if I can find the contact again.
Shannon
|
|
Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by Wolfden on Sept 10, 2009 11:58:38 GMT -5
ok ok its time for me too throw my 2 pennys in hehehe .. yes i agree wiff my Honey ..... I do have a question though ... how and where does one '' throw away '' a rock ...? is there a '' rock dump '' some place for all the low grade ones ? or ones that one person '' thinks '' is not up to par ?
and IMHO if you are making the kind of money that they are making from the agates and traveling the World I think / feel the '' hobby '' was left behind long ago .... it is a money driven hobby IMHO which is fine .. but call a rose a rose or in this case call a rock a rock
ok let the flaming begin hehehe
Wolf
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2009 13:26:17 GMT -5
patagonianstar:
The "throw away" comment was only based on you saying you "throw away" agates......not decorate walls with them. Thank you for the clarification.
No, we do not personally know you.......but we dont have to. The opinions that we have chosen to share are not about you personally, they are about your business. You say you dont sell rough because it would turn it into a business instead of a hobby. Facts: You sell agates at some of the largest shows in the world. You are members of many, many forums (including one that I am a moderator of) and the bulk of your posts are only to show photos of material (advertising) but yet when questioned you then say you do not sell rough....but you arent JUST sharing photos for the sake of sharing because you DO sell. Your agates are rare and high priced, this I know from multiple friends who have seen you in your room at Tucson.
Dont get me wrong, I LOVE your photos, the agates are beautiful and I appreciate you sharing them. I have also said multiple times that I understand the time/effort involved in collecting them. However, all of the things above point towards not wanting the masses to have your material as rarity would then not be a driving force for sales. Its more than a hobby if you are traveling to the largest shows in the world. It IS a business if you are selling them.
When something is kept from others, its often for financial gain. For instance, not many people make a lot of doublet and triplet cabochons. Not only do they take extra time and effort, but many do not know how to make them. I could have said "Im not going to post a tutorial. I want to keep this to myself because then I can sell more of them because they are more "uncommon and rare". However, I chose to post a tutorial to show EVERYONE how to make them. I have also given away my very best rare materials before, ones that cost me more money than I care to mention, for the sake of sharing. Its this SHARING that we all do that makes this HOBBY so great.
No one has to agree with me and I dont feel Im being rude. This is just my opinion.
Shannon
|
|
|
Post by parfive on Sept 10, 2009 13:37:12 GMT -5
Well said, Ricardo.
FOR THE RECORD: When Ricardo and Claudia first joined the board, they were gracious enough to send a box of polished agate specimens to Rallyrocks, to be distributed amongst members of the board. Rally paid for shipping, and the agates were free, generously donated to be enjoyed by many of us.
Ricardo and Claudia – Thank you once again.
The current discussion is tasteless, to say the least.
Rich
|
|
WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
|
Post by WyckedWyre on Sept 10, 2009 13:40:43 GMT -5
+1.
S
PS: I didn't get any agate.
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Sept 10, 2009 13:44:11 GMT -5
I wouldn't say anything tasteless has occured. A few people asking questions about the possibility to buy rocks. And discussion over what constitutes a business. Just looks like dialogue and information gathering.
|
|