unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 15, 2011 9:21:39 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I am just wondering whether most of you are into this as a hobby or are doing it as a business. As a hobby I have come to learn that this can become a very expensive endeavor. My shopping cart at the Rock Shed is almost $500.00 and that doesn't include rough stones to fill the 15lb model B and UV10 or the grit and polish to tumble them. Than there must come the time when one realizes that they, as well as their friends and family, have enough tumbled stones. What does one do with all of these beautiful polished stones than? I know that there was one member who would throw them into the park for the children to find but as another member stated that could be taken the wrong way.LOL I than thought that a natural progression to tumbling would be cabbing and possibly wrapping. However it appears that the cost of getting set up to do cabbing is even more expensive than tumbling. Plus cabbing requires a much longer learning curve.
From what I can see even if you have deep pockets and money is not an issue this hobby seems to have a limited life expectancy. It seems inevitable that there will come a time when enough is enough when it comes to the number of tumbled or cabbed stones one has.
This brings me to the next evolution. Can this addiction become self sustaining? By that I mean is it feasible for one to, at a certain point in time, be able to sell some of his work to recover the operating costs of the hobby?
As a I am a person on disability with not the largest network of friends and family I would hate to make this investment and only find that after a not to long a period of time I have no one who wants any more of my tumbled stones.
I am looking forward to hear from all of you
Stu
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 15, 2011 10:20:22 GMT -5
I have it as a hobby and a business! I love working with the rock and tumbling, cutting, cabbing and carving it into jewelry and works of art. The place I list on has a free basic account so if you want you can join up and list some of your stones to help make some bucks to spend on supplies and stone. I have been into my hobby/business for over 25 years and still going strong
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Post by gr on Apr 15, 2011 10:37:51 GMT -5
Stu, I think you're looking at this in the wrong way. Don't look at this interest as a means to an end. It is a hobbie for fun and for some, has progressed to a profitable point. Do what you can afford and if it progresses to selling, then do that. Have fun with it Stu and enjoy the beauty in the rock. I only say all of this as encouragement to not walk away from this. That's just my gr
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Post by Roller on Apr 15, 2011 10:40:10 GMT -5
Iam about 3 years deep and I try and sell a tiny little bit to get a little tiny bit back to help support the habit ... Do I think I will ever get it all back? l ...I highly doubt it unless I find a huge diamond or something ...
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mp166
starting to shine!
Member since March 2011
Posts: 30
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Post by mp166 on Apr 15, 2011 10:55:20 GMT -5
I've been tumbling for about 8 months now, small set up so still not huge collection yet, but i've diversified and we now go fossil hunting, which is good excuse to spend day digging around on beach finding fossils and stones for polishing, this has given me other ideas (see my question about Pyrite in this forum), it's a hobby thats expanding, and we hope during summer to have a stall in a craft market to sell stones/creations, if this covers cost of some grit it's a bonus. Have a look through the many pictures on this site, lots you can do with polished stones, finding the time is the biggest problem.
MP
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 15, 2011 11:16:50 GMT -5
I've been tumbling for about 8 months now, small set up so still not huge collection yet, but i've diversified and we now go fossil hunting, which is good excuse to spend day digging around on beach finding fossils and stones for polishing, this has given me other ideas (see my question about Pyrite in this forum), it's a hobby thats expanding, and we hope during summer to have a stall in a craft market to sell stones/creations, if this covers cost of some grit it's a bonus. Have a look through the many pictures on this site, lots you can do with polished stones, finding the time is the biggest problem. MP Thanks for the reply. For me time is not a problem. LOL
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Apr 15, 2011 11:22:18 GMT -5
Howdy Stu. This is only a hobby for me. I only have rotary tumblers, no expensive equipment. The only extra equiptment I have is a WF tile saw and a Estwing rock hammer. I think most start out as a hobby. Selling Their work to help pay for some of their cost. We do it for the enjoyment. Turning a rough rock into work of art. If this is a business adventure for you, I dont think it will become self sustaning. I know about disability, being disabled myself. This hobby helps keep my mind off of other things. Blessed
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Post by rocklicker on Apr 15, 2011 11:22:50 GMT -5
It's been primarily a hobby for many years. I've sold a few things here and there but nothing to consider it a business. I have been telling my wife for years that I will start selling rocks one day to at least make back some of what I spent over the years. I think she's figured me out by now ;D
I have been saving up tumbled rocks and wraps recently in hopes of doing a craft booth this year. Maybe this will be the year. Steve
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 15, 2011 13:17:01 GMT -5
Stu, I think you're looking at this in the wrong way. Don't look at this interest as a means to an end. It is a hobbie for fun and for some, has progressed to a profitable point. Do what you can afford and if it progresses to selling, then do that. Have fun with it Stu and enjoy the beauty in the rock. I only say all of this as encouragement to not walk away from this. That's just my gr I hear what you are saying. I don't think I have a problem with staying within a budget. What I am trying to get my arms around is exactly what do you do with all of the beautiful stones your tumbling produces. I know that you obviously start a collection of the best pieces, you display them as works of art and you use them as decorating accents. You also give them away as gifts to friends and relatives. However does there ever come a time when you realize that more is not always better, when your collecting starts to look more like hording? What do you do with all of the excess? It is than that you have to decide to expand your horizons and branch off into more advanced levels of the hobby. It is at this point when the acquisition of equipment and supplies to get to the next level appears to be very expensive. Probably because this type of equipment is primarily for the professional who uses it commercially. It was with regard to this particular point in the future that I was refering to in my thread. Is it posible for a non professional to purchase this type of equipment and anticipate being able to over time recover the cost/cost of operation.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 15, 2011 15:14:42 GMT -5
I started with a Fordom flex shaft tool and a five gallon bucket. I bought over several months the items needed to carve and cab with the above mentioned set up. For around about the same amount that you said you spent on stone($500.00) you can get started making small cabs or carvings.
I bought the cheapie diamond carving bits and they worked well. I learned to have a light touch with them to make them last and still enjoy carving and shaping.
it does not break the bank to go to the next level in small steps!
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playin4funami
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2011
Posts: 87
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Post by playin4funami on Apr 15, 2011 15:44:07 GMT -5
Well I have less than 100.00 bucks in equipment and gear, We build our own stuff whenever possible and it works well. we have done some trading for rocks and the like. But mainly we collect our own material and try to combine collection trips with other trips to save on gas and expense. As far as selling stuff we have a couple friends that are always doing craft shows and other stuff like that and we try to have a box of rocks with each of them when they go to the shows/sales. It doesn't generate a lot of $$$ but it does pay for some essentials like grit and other supplies. it might have a couple dollars profit left over but I have never really fiqured it out, won't be getting rich thats for sure,lol
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Post by gr on Apr 15, 2011 17:59:32 GMT -5
Yes Stu, it is possiable to recoup the costs of whatever you set before yourself to do. How far do you want to take it? If you're going to one day invest in commercial grade equiptment, you can get your $ back but , you had better have a game plan to do that. otherwise it's just an expensive hobbie. Just like FrogAndBear said in her last line statment.........good luck
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 15, 2011 18:20:52 GMT -5
I started with a Fordom flex shaft tool and a five gallon bucket. I bought over several months the items needed to carve and cab with the above mentioned set up. For around about the same amount that you said you spent on stone($500.00) you can get started making small cabs or carvings. I bought the cheapie diamond carving bits and they worked well. I learned to have a light touch with them to make them last and still enjoy carving and shaping. it does not break the bank to go to the next level in small steps! Hi and thanks for the lead on the Fordom flex shaft tool. I googled them and in so doing I also found some sites that offered instructional videos on cabbing. I am encouraged that it is possible to get involved in cabbing without breaking the bank.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 15, 2011 18:25:49 GMT -5
Yes Stu, it is possiable to recoup the costs of whatever you set before yourself to do. How far do you want to take it? If you're going to one day invest in commercial grade equiptment, you can get your $ back but , you had better have a game plan to do that. otherwise it's just an expensive hobbie. Just like FrogAndBear said in her last line statment.........good luck I am not quite sure yet just how far I will end up going beyond tumbling. But it is good to know that if I do decide to expand my horizons it would be possible to recoup my expenses and opperating costs going forward. Thanks again for the feed back
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Post by stonesthatrock on Apr 15, 2011 19:46:22 GMT -5
i won't repeat everything, but i will add....... if this was our only income, ralph and i would have been found died in our home from starvation....... lol mary ann
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Apr 15, 2011 21:52:08 GMT -5
MaryAnn How long have you fed Ralph rock soap? He seem to live well with your cooking.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Apr 16, 2011 0:36:16 GMT -5
If you want to set things up as a profitable business, then you need to decide that early on and set up a business plan, investigate markets etc. In Canada (and I suspect it is very similar in the US), if you are setting up a business with reasonable expectations of a profit, then you can deduct your business expenses (ie all your equipment, rocks, grit, etc., plus expenses for the portion of your house that is used exclusively for your business) from your business income. That's a far better way to go than buying all your equipment for a hobby, then using it in your business later and not being able to claim the expenses for any of those items. There are of course hassles with setting up a business and you would have to submit a business income return along with your regular tax return, so it's something you'd want to consider pretty carefully.
If you just want to sell some items to get back some of your investment, well, many members here do that, so it is certainly possible. And if your disability restricts you from selling at markets, then there is always ebay.
Personally, I've only ever tumbled stones as a hobby and given some away either as tumbled stones or as small crafts made from tumbled stones. I've invested at least several thousand bucks in my hobby but I figure that's a small price to pay for several years of interest and satisfaction. Heck, a new car probably depreciates more in the first year than everything I've spent on rock tumbling over the past 7 years, and in the end that car depreciation has vanished but I've still got most of my rocks and equipment!
Don
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Apr 16, 2011 5:41:54 GMT -5
Don, You sound like an accountant. I don't think I will be looking to do this as a full time business just yet. I am a long way away from that level. I am happy to just have a nice hobby were I can meet nice people such as yourself and all the others on the forum. If when the time comes that I can recoup some of the money that I spent that would be great. That would mean that I can by more rock from MARY ANN and RALPH LOL ;D After all I wouldn't want to see them die of starvation LOL (see preceding post to this thread by Mary Ann)
Stu
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Post by connrock on Apr 16, 2011 8:15:55 GMT -5
Stu,,,, Over the years(before I retired) I've bought several thousands of dollars worth of rocks/gems and equipment to be used in this hobby. I,like many others,started out with a single tumbler which in time lead me down a long path to siversmithing and actually making jewelery.
I had thought about selling some of my rocks,gems,jewelery and knives from time to time but I'm not much of a salesman,couldn't sell water in the middle of the Sahara Desert and mostly didn't want to make another job out of something I just love to do.
Well,,,,,,times change ,,, my financial situation isn't what it used to be and the cost of everything has gone up so much that I'm in sort of a "Limbo" now.
We can't turn back the hands of time nor can we see into the future but if I could do it all over again I would do as rollingstone may have eluded to and started a small (legal) business before I spent all of this money.
When I bought my 1st tumbler many years ago for 25 bucks I had NO idea what I was about to experience in the years to come . Sterling Silver alone has gone up from about $4.00/oz to the current market price of $42.84.
Why do I mention the cost of Sterling Silver when you are asking questions about tumbled rocks and maybe selling them?
Because if you get bit by this hobby's "bug" and progress as many of us have,,,,,you may be asking yourself why you didn't find a way to make a few bucks while still enjoying it?
connrock
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