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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 30, 2012 18:25:12 GMT -5
Can anyone point me toward my closest rock shop for buying tools, rock, maybe books? Mostly tools and rock.
I've gotten my stuff from RockShed.com so far (who are great), but for some things I'd like to have an actual brick and morter store.
Bonus points for open on the weekend.
Google is failing me here - finding lots of places to buy crystals, tile and brick, but not so much for rock hammers, chisels, and stuff I'm going to need when I start using the club's power equipment.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 30, 2012 18:40:27 GMT -5
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 30, 2012 19:24:57 GMT -5
Thanks. That's the kind of list I was talking about though -- mostly industrial stuff or places selling crystals to . . . people who like crystals I guess.
Does anybody have a personal recommendation? Usually there's a consensus of a couple most useful shops in any particular trade in the area . . . at least that's how it is in photography.
Of those on the list, I see the following. Maybe the problem is that there just aren't any proper rock shops any more.
(Possiblity? Probably just sell specimens but don't answer the phone)
Shale's Gems & Minerals
9562 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
(Industrial?) Tenco Enterprises
8489 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(Crystals, been there) Wonders of the World
1460 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401ยป Get Directions
(Tourist shop) Santa Monica Pier Shop Inc
321 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(Rock Music Teachers) Revel Rock
320 E 12th St Ste 6, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(Industrial) Vulcan Materials Company
3200 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
(Industrial) A & A Ready Mixed Concrete
134 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248
(Industrial) Vulcan Materials Co
11401 Tuxford St, Sun Valley, CA 91352
(Industrial) Valley Base Materials
9050 Norris Ave, Sun Valley, CA 91352
(Industrial) Recycled Aggregate Material Company
9005 Bradley Ave, Sun Valley, CA 91352
(Retired science teacher who sells rock and jewelry) Rockineers
24327 Lucille Ave, Lomita, CA 90717
(Industrial) Active Liquid Minerals
9018 Balboa Blvd # 567, Northridge, CA 91325
(Crystals) Crystal Vision
529 E Valley Blvd Ste 188B, San Gabriel, CA 91776
(Industrial) D N J Engine Components Inc
8960 Lurline Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311
(Industrial) Flamingo Sand & Gravel
12000 Paxton st., Sylmar, CA 91342
(Industrial) Chemetall Oakite
16961 Knott Ave, La Mirada, CA 90638
(Tourist shop I'm pretty sure) The Geode Shop
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
(Industrial) Tapo Rock & Sand Products
5141 Tapo Canyon Rd, Simi Valley, CA 93063
(?) John B Ewles Inc
8182 Katella Ave, Stanton, CA 90680
(Industrial) S M Sales
17524 Sierra Hwy, Canyon Country, CA 91351
Supplier of Rock, Sand, Decomposed Granite, Base, and other Aggregate Materials
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 30, 2012 19:39:36 GMT -5
Used to be a good rock shop on La Cadena Dr. in Riverside, called the Shamrock Rock Shop. That was 16 years ago, and the 2 little old ladies that ran it were in their 70's. Probably closed now. Another place that used to sell rocks, but no tools was the Jurupa Mts. Cultural Center. You can google them to get the address. I left about a ton of material with them when I moved to S.D.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 30, 2012 19:41:21 GMT -5
Cool, will check on those, thanks.
May have to get my "consult the expert" info from the club, and the actual stuff off the internet I guess. Would be nice to support an actual store though.
Thanks for your help.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 30, 2012 19:54:55 GMT -5
No problem. I'm sure others who still live in Ca. will have more up to date info for you. At least you have rock shops out there. My nearest rock shop is 3 hours away. And if I want to get into decent rock hounding grounds, it's a 7 hour drive.
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steveo
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 273
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Post by steveo on Apr 30, 2012 20:46:44 GMT -5
Check for a rock and mineral club in your area, they will know and some of them will have rocks for sell at a good price.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 1, 2012 7:45:26 GMT -5
If you can make the drive to Barstow go to Diamond Pacific. They carry tools, books, and rocks. I'll have tools and supplies at the Yucaipa show this month.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2012 17:51:45 GMT -5
The Geode Shop in Buena Park is likely the overpriced geode guy at Knott's Berry Farm. Charges $30+++ for geodes but he'll cut them open for free!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on May 15, 2012 15:44:00 GMT -5
Thanks all. I've noted Diamond Pacific - I'm sure I'll be in Barstow many more times in the coming . . um . . lot of years, as that's where most of the good rocks are!
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Post by helens on May 17, 2012 15:06:50 GMT -5
Ok, I was curious about answers to this question too... but seeing as you may have to go online to buy tools anyway, here are some of the things I've found from my research on rockhounding tools. List of stuff you will find useful (scroll down the page to see it): mcrocks.websitetoolbox.com/post/Rockhounding-Equipment-for-Newbie-What-and-where-to-purchase-2825635- because the above note is old, some of his recommended links are no longer in business. He mentions this particular crowbar as 'the best': www.judyscrystals.com/diggingtools.htmlBecause the above are custom hand made, they don't list a price. Estwing is supposed to carry 'the best' geological tools (per many forums and sites). Not sure if this is the best pricing, but it's a place to start, and gives you a quick overview of Estwing tools and what's available: www.4facets.com/estwing.htmlThe biggest deal out of my research is the 'Estwing Gem Scoop', which had been discontinued in 2004... it appears they are making it again, scroll down above page to see it. Here's an imitation of the Estwing Gem Scoop (there's quite a few imitations of the above scoop, apparently it's a very helpful tool): geo-tools.com/scoop.htmI'd get one of these (but I think I'd rather have the real Estwing one) ... I don't know the weight, but swung like a golf club, it's surely helpful:P. (sorry, had to stick that in there). If it's too light, then I'd get the crowbar too because that's steel (and will swing like a bat), but probably a pain to lug far if it's really heavy. Looks useful for digging rocks out of veins, and maybe double as a chisel without having to bend much. And here's a site that also sells Estwing geology tools: www.jbfc.com/products/Rockhounding-Tools.htmlOf course, there's Ebay too, but the above sites are fun to see the variety and names of the tools to search for a better buy on:). I have NO idea how useful these 2 tools in particular are, but they LOOK useful (besides a rock hammer of course), and I was going to get them when I eventually gear for hounding myself:). |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on May 17, 2012 16:01:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the links Helen. It's a pity that the local shops have all been driven out of business!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2012 12:11:20 GMT -5
Glendora gems meets on tuesday nights. They have TONS and TONS of stuff to buy at very fair prices.
glendoragems.ning.com
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Post by Bluesky78987 on May 24, 2012 13:58:54 GMT -5
Thanks! Will check them out.
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Post by paulshiroma on Jun 23, 2012 14:12:19 GMT -5
Susan - check out Nevada Book and Mineral over in Orange (http://www.minbooks.net/). It's a regular haunt of mine and the proprietor, Walt Lombardo knows his stuff. He used to be the Nevada State Geologist (or some such title) and also worked over at UNLV. He's about 80% specimens and 20% tumbling supplies. Very family friendly as well and has got lots of stuff for teachers and kids. About every other month he takes groups down to the Oceanview Mine towards San Diego. A while back, I purchased a load of uncut geodes from him (http://forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=Vendors&action=display&thread=50469) which had some beautiful interiors. The geodes that I added to the traveling rock box are from his story.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jun 27, 2012 10:40:56 GMT -5
Thanks Paul.
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rxscram
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 519
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Post by rxscram on Jun 27, 2012 10:56:23 GMT -5
Susan... I would recommend "Rusty's Gold and Treasure Hunting Supply", located in Anaheim. They carry a large variety of rock hammers, picks, etc., as well as being an authorized Lortone distributor. If you are looking for something from Lortone, he can order it for you (if he doesn't already have it in stock). The URL for his website is: www.rustysgold.com |
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Post by atomicgirl1968 on Apr 25, 2013 15:42:09 GMT -5
I've purchased tumbling supplies, including cool rough from Reynoso's Lapidary and Jewelry Repair, 6741 Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, CA
787-3108
He's got some used equipment for sale, too.
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billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Apr 25, 2013 17:59:13 GMT -5
Hi Susan, There are a couple of places on Beach Blvd in Stanton. One is a gold prospector store that has all kinds of tools and books. The other sells lots of rocks (collectable) near Adventure City. I'm at work, I'll check tonight when I get home.
Bill G
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on May 2, 2013 21:29:21 GMT -5
Thank you all for the good info! I am down in San Diego and have been looking for good rock stores somewhere in SoCal.
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