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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 20, 2010 21:10:36 GMT -5
We are setting up tomorrow for the Austin, TX show Fri, Sat, Sun at Palmer Events Center. Hope to see some of the Texas RTH'ers there. We should be the only tool/equipment dealers there so look us up.
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Oct 22, 2010 9:11:03 GMT -5
I'll be there on Saturday John. Looking forward to seeing you again. www.gemcapers.com/Dan |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,503
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 22, 2010 16:44:01 GMT -5
*L* I went today as I'd never been before. Hate to complain but mainly another mineral specimen, fossil, jewelry and gemcrack/geegaw show. Unlike the San Antonio show, extremely thin on rough rock or slabs for the lapidary which I found disappointing. There were a couple of good supply booths though, especially Johns'. More beads, imported finished junk and jewelry than anything else though. To top it off, I screwed up and chose kiddies day and the place was swarming with screaming, scurvy little rugrats and houseapes who tromped on my toes, elbowed me and I'm sure gave the shopkeepers the willies with shoplifting concerns. The smart sellers covered their pocketable stuff with plastic sheeting. After ninety minutes, I had to leave to avoid doing mass murder.
And then there was the map provided with the show flier which was obviously designed by someone used to the Austin maze or IMHO, the criminally insane. No mention was made of the proper off ramp for an incredibly confusing piece of freeway so we drove along looking for the one on their drawing which did not exist, overshot and got a tour of the Austin burbs.
I returned home with not a single slab or piece of rough but at least a few of the showcases were interesting as pet wood was the theme. Another day older and wiser, I'll cross this one off my future show list. Oh how I miss the California tailgater type shows like Bakersfield, Stoddard and Snyder's which always yielded a treasure of slabs and rough!....Mel
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Post by tkrueger3 on Oct 22, 2010 20:03:54 GMT -5
Mel, thanks for the info - I was planning to go tomorrow, but you talked me out of it. Besides, last year, I had to walk about 3/4 mile from the parking garage all the way around the dadgum building to the door to the show, opposite the garage. With shot knees, spinal stenosis, etc., that's not a lot of fun.
I'll be going to the San Antonio show, though, for sure! I just wish there were more than one a year here.
Tom
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Oct 22, 2010 22:24:21 GMT -5
*grin*
Mel... did you find the Nature's Treasures booth? Was the only vendor who had rough the last time I was there but they sure had some fine rough...
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Oct 23, 2010 7:22:54 GMT -5
Dan, if you cant find anything there, stop in at Smithville. I've got coupla hundred slabs there.
snuffy
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Oct 23, 2010 7:55:57 GMT -5
I was there last week, bought some Gary Green slabs. I bet those were your slabs! Loreen said she just calls you Gary now. That's some great stone! I picked through the slab trays and made a pretty good dent.. lol..  |
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Oct 23, 2010 7:56:37 GMT -5
Mel, I now remember last year I was discussing this show with the lady from the rock shop and she said, DONT GO ON FRIDAY, swarms of kids. ;D
snuffy
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Oct 23, 2010 8:00:49 GMT -5
Thanks, Dan.
snuffy
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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 23, 2010 8:36:50 GMT -5
This year they had only about half as many kids as normal School districts too broke to provide buses or something. Normally it is wave after wave (maybe 5,000 kids) from 9:00 to about 3:00. Then it gets spooky quiet like a hospital corridor in middle of the night. I brought Australian jade and John that makes the Chinese HP 18 always brings rough. I saw a little here and there but you have to look. We have a smaller booth which is close to $700 so hard to find a dealer that can sell enough rough to pay his expenses.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,503
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 23, 2010 9:10:07 GMT -5
Tom: Yep it was a long walk from the garage and $7 parking fee too.
Dan, I went through the entire show three times and did see some nice dino bone slabs etc but nothing I'd didn't have and prices were fairly high too. The high expense of tables at this kind of show usually precludes finding any reasonable deals.
Snuffy: Didn't remember the kiddie day thing until we finally found the joint and I saw the buses lined up. Then my heart froze with dread as I am not a fan of kids when they are in swarming hoards.
By the way. I looked at the new Barranca 14" saw at the show. Looks like an excellent rig and if I buy a new one, that's the one I'll be getting........Mel
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Oct 23, 2010 9:15:56 GMT -5
I'm balking now... don't want to do all that driving again this weekend...
The HGMS show is the same... it's best to avoid field trip Friday for sure... lol...
Snuffy~ I posted some pics from the shop over in the Specimens section.
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