Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box | Rock Tumbling Hobby

helens
no longer being taken for granite

Member since January 2012
Posts: 8,794

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 19:11:32 GMT -5

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Post by helens on May 14, 2012 19:11:32 GMT -5

This is the first Traveling Newbie Box 2012!!

We've had a few bugs to work out because it is the first, but we are all set. I will be updating THIS page as we go, but the threads are where pictures are posted and updated, so hopefully you can keep up:).

I hope everyone participating is as excited as I am!!

The point of this box:
1. help fill in the gap of what we need or don't have to kick us further along in the hobby.

2. learn a bit more about each other and make friends who share the same crazy obsession we have too!!

Final Route list in shipping order:

Detailed Participant list w/ likes and has (Continually updated list):
indicates where the box has been (next up is person following those in red)

Helen - Florida (Swap Host starting the box)
- wants to ship to someone who can slice florida agates
Pictures:
First Box Photos So Far (reply #58):
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=52655&post=581053

First box - 2nd set of content photos (different from above):
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=9#582531

1. Wampidy (Jim) - Wyoming- likes druzy or translucent agates best
- has unique Wyoming rocks, cabs, slabbettes, is a stone carver
- has saw to cut florida agates:P
Pictures: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=12#584639

forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=12#584587

2. Pat- California
- likes carving stuff, cab stuff (jewelry maker) picture jaspers
- has a variety of good looking stuff (jewelry makers generally are picky about the quality of their rocks)
Pictures: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=13#585565

3. Meta99 (Sue) - Kentucky
- likes different stuff than flint, can wirewrap and has faceter, prefers smaller things and wants some room in box to add
- has beautiful flint ridge flint - uncut colorful roughs
- hounds with Kap sometimes
Pictures: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=14#586420

4. TonyTerner (Tony) - Pennsylvania
- has big variety and full equipment because he's been a rock person his whole life and is a true rock 'old timer'

5. PaulShiroma (Paul) - Ca
- likes variety, needs to receive from far away so he's not getting more California rocks since he hounds in Ca
-has preforms, small slabs, unique California self-hounded slabs
Pictures: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=16#588580

6. Ulstergeki (Zach) - Kansas
- newcomer who inherited full equipment and wants variety
- has variety too
Pictures: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=17#589792

7. xxxalisha91xxx (Alisha) - Ga
- likes moss agates, dino bone, opals, geodes/t-eggs, picture jaspers, obsidian, labradorite, carnelian and petrified wood (not from NV)
- has petrified wood, tigers eyes and welo opals, Ga milky white quartz, opalized (common opal, no "Sparklies") limb casts/twigs (Keith collects fossils, would probably like opal limb casts)
Pictures:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=19#590747

forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=20#590791

8. Kap (Keith) - Georgia
- did not specify likes, but has all equipment to slab/cab, so can cut rough
- has fossils and crystals
Pictures:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=22#591511

9. Rockingthenorth (Tammy) - North Dakota - skipped due to surgery
- likes fossils and rocks for jewelry, is a wire wrapper (but no cab machine)
- has unusual ND rocks and petwoods

10. Greyfingers (Bill) - Montana
- likes pet wood, agate, jaspers,
- has montanas and lots of clear/translucent agates
Pictures:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=23#592297

11. Geoff - Alaska
- likes not specified (variety)
- has Alaska Jaspers and agates, slabs of agate from Chicken, Alaska. It's petrified peat bog. Some jade, some thunder eggs, some gold ore, zinc ore
Pictures: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=26#594300

12. Roy - Oregon
- likes to be generous to someone (Roy's awsome), so shipping to the guy who's been generous to him, and getting first dibs on the Alaska rocks:P. He is closest to Alaska for shipping. And can slab up everything not a specimen for everyone following (Alaska rocks:P).
- Has picture jaspers and slabs
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=27#595610
and
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=27#595852

13. Catmandewe - Idaho
- this was a toughie for me, because Tony's got nearly every possible rock. I really gave this thought, but I want him to be near Alaska stuff because that's the only type I can think of he doesn't already have, and for a change, I'd like to see Tony get nice things instead of always being the giver of nice things. Tony wants things you made (for wife Chris), and Alaska rocks.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=28#598119

Shipped 2 boxes out - so adding Tela into the swap
Rockjunquie
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=30#599144

14. Bluesky78987 (Susan) - Southern California
- Susan is the newest to RTH, but she's making up for it with mad enthusiasm! But, she's not seen a whole lot of variety, so this is the position she should see the most variety and quality. Tony will ensure a big variety of slabs. Update: "I have access to the lapidary shop and an Ameritool at home now, but am still a beginner cab maker, carver and silversmith!"
Pix:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=33#602995

15. DeeDolce (Dee) - Northern California
- Dee has a saw, likes variety and makes jewelry. I put those with the least variety of rocks at the end, that's Susan and Dee.
Pix:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=34#603750

16. Helen - Florida
- I am happy with everyone's leftovers, and the satisfaction that everyone had a wonderful time with this:)! Plus, I go after Dee, who has the saw and can help me cut up anything not cut!

Pix (what a conclusion!!) - Thanks for Participating Everyone!!
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=52655&page=35#604823
_____________________
How it works:

Each person on the shipping list who receives the box goes through the box (taking pix of the total contents for posting),

takes what they would like out of the box (taking pix of what they took),

then gathers what they will be replacing what they took with (taking pix of what they are putting in).

Post the photos on the forum (3 min, see above), along with the tracking # for the next person on the list so everyone can track them.

This repeats for each person, with the idea that we are all going to see items in the box we may have not seen before and will be a lot of fun:).
________________
Clarified rules:

1. 'established' rock people in the chain will retop and repack box as needed.

2. What can I take out? You can take out ANYTHING in the box not addressed to someone else specifically. BUT! for the sake of the people after you, try not to take out everything that one person sent, so that others will get more variety, and see something from everyone ahead of them if possible.

What can you put in? EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE to what you took out. The people further down the line are entitled to a nice box too, so we need to keep the value up. If someone would not buy it, don't put it in the box please, this is meant to be a quality box.

Traditionally, the box gets better and better to help offset the patience of those further down the list for waiting longer.

3. The box will be a Med Flat rate box, shipping will cost everyone $11.35 PLUS TRACKING (every box MUST be tracked, with tracking posted).

4. Photos are Required!! We want everyone to get a chance to see what you got, what you are taking, what you are adding, to build excitement:).
Need to Post:
a. Complete Box Contents
(just open everything and spread it out and shoot a clear pix)
b. Group shot of what you are taking out
c. Group shot of what you are putting in
- more pix are more fun of course, but you MUST post the above 3 so there's no 'where's this item' type questions later

5. 48 turnaround time is what we are shooting for. That is 48 hours from the time you get the box, you should get the box back out. Delays and emergencies happen, but lets try to keep it moving along, because there is also shipping time to think of.

6. PM the person next on the list for their shipping address when you get the box. If you have the box, it's your responsibility to get it to the next person. If you cannot reach the next person, I will try to reach them too (As host, I have contact info for all participants).

7. That's it:). This should be LOTS of fun with goodies for all:).
____________________
First Box Contents (So far. I will update this before actual shipping).

These are the small gifts I made everyone. 1 pair per person. The earring wires are Sterling Silver, stamped 925. Everything else is plated Silver (can't make memory wire in sterling). You can take them off the earring wires also and put the spirals on a keychain, cell phone dangles, rear view mirror, and charm bracelet.

The reason I think they'd make a great souvenir is because you can put 2 small tumbles/pieces that you got from this box inside the spirals as a keepsake of the first box. I have not filled them, leaving you to fill them with small bits of whatever favorite rock you got:). Also, the stones in them can be changed out at will.

Note: Have to add, I made the earrings by putting the parts together. I did NOT make the spiral wire part, I bought those. They are silver plated memory wire that will stretch to 1.5x their size, so you can put bigger rocks in them than they are.

I am sending 2 sizes, small or tiny. The teeny ones are ADORABLE. Pick the size you prefer, there's a pair for everyone:).

Please help keep the photos up, that's part of what makes the box exciting for everyone!

Krystee (TNTMOM) and Don (JAKESROCKS) have both generously donated items to the first box going out. Don's donation is posted on the link page above, and I will post Krystee's soon as it gets here.

Thanks for participating, I hope this turns out to be a WONDERFUL experience for everyone:)!

Last Edit: Nov 12, 2012 8:11:21 GMT -5 by helens

helens
no longer being taken for granite

Member since January 2012
Posts: 8,794

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 19:36:46 GMT -5

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Post by helens on May 14, 2012 19:36:46 GMT -5

So since I'm hosting this, here's some info:).

I am a glass artist. My website is www.azenglass.com. You can tell it hasn't been updated very recently because rather than work on glass, for the last few months, all I've been obsessing about is ROCKS!!! I'm about to start a blog on my rocks, which I will link to my site soon as I get it going.

My interests:
I have never gotten into wire-wrapping, but because of my torch size, I do make a lot of glass beads... which means I make jewelry as well. Mostly, I make simple beaded pieces using headpins and flex wires finished with clasps, incorporating glass. So I have a lot of findings of every type, plus beads of every type and materials.

Rock Equipment owned:
Lot-O Vibe Tumbler
Cabmate all in 1 (grinding wheels, and just got a blade from JSgems)
Dremel Multipro
No saw, but my cabmate blade can now cut slabs into smaller pieces to polish:)

Rocks:
I am fascinated by all rocks! So far, my biggest interest with the rocks is examining the minute intricacies of rock surfaces... so my primary interest so far has been picture rocks (the jaspers) or intricate agates, in specimen slab form.

I have recently gotten into cabbing, because I got a CabMate machine, which allows me to grind. My vibe tumbler has been invaluable in helping me polish smaller specimen slabs and pre-formed pieces made on my cabmate. But I'm really not nuts about the finished shapes of rough tumbles, I prefer tumbling slabs or preforms.

Want to see:
Other people's work
small slabs I don't already have
finished cabs
pre-forms
Different jewelry findings (bolo materials?)

Can put in box depending on interests expressed here
- whole small rocks to slab - if we have several people with saws. I have some unusual types of rocks, which I will label and baggy.
(whole small rock types I have: hickorite, mozarkite, agates, owyhees, ohio flint ridge flint, various jaspers)
- slabs - big or small - I have lots of 'spare' pieces that are multiples of rocks I already have
- tumbling finished glass pieces - imperfect finished pieces that can be reworked in tumbler or cab machine
- Jewelry findings - I have all types of findings, and can/will put some of many types into the box
- beads - to help you decorate your rock jewelry/wirework/etc in various materials/sizes/shapes
- finished glass cabs or beads if we have a lot of jewelry makers who want to try some new material
- smaller gemmy stuff (opals mostly)

I think that's about it, will edit if I think of something else to add:).

Last Edit: May 14, 2012 19:42:11 GMT -5 by helens

rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher

Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 20:39:00 GMT -5

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Post by rockingthenorth on May 14, 2012 20:39:00 GMT -5

My interest are rocks LOL any rocks slabs cabs rough or what ever. i collect fossils and I do wire wrapping and I do some wood turning but haven't done that for a few months it takes a good week or two to finish something unless I rush it (Don't put as nice a coat of polish on it) but they are still nice.

Rock equiptment owned: 18 in. vibe tumbler and a tile saw (4 1/2 in, blade so I can't cut too big of peices. I do have a dremel but haven't tried it yet for rocks.

when looking for rocks I pick up odd peices of glass. and odd rocks that I don't polish and fossils

Want to see: other people rocks and slabs, cabs
or whatever you want to send I'm open.

Tammy T.

helens no longer being taken for granite Member since January 2012 Posts: 8,794	Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 20:52:58 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by helens on May 14, 2012 20:52:58 GMT -5 Awesome! Thanks for getting the posts started Tammy!!

deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher

Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 21:28:19 GMT -5

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Post by deedolce on May 14, 2012 21:28:19 GMT -5

Way to go Helen!! Like I said, I'm willing to send you some slabs to start, or put me in the middle somewhere, whatever you think is best.

I'm Dee/Diana and I see I've been on here since 2006, although ever since I was a wee kiddie, I always had her head looking at the ground for rocks! I have a couple of Etsy sites, and my own (albeit a bit neglected) is Copperends.com, where you can see things I've made.

I have a WF 7" tile saw, a Genie, and am about to pull the trigger on a 10 or 12" saw.

I want to reach the 'Creator of the Universe and Rock God' status, which means I really have to post more than I do.

I have more rock than I could possibly work.

I hang out in the Wire Wrapping, Creating Cabochons, and Slabs and Saws, and the Buy Swap and Sell threads there.

My vacation home would be in Arizona and Oregon so I can go rockhounding ALL the TIME~~

Cheers!

www.etsy.com/shop/studiodct

ulstergeki
starting to spend too much on rocks

Member since April 2012
Posts: 111

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 22:21:38 GMT -5

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Post by ulstergeki on May 14, 2012 22:21:38 GMT -5

Hi, im Zach, im interested in Cabachons, i very much enjoy cutting cabs, i inherited a few pieces of equipment and some rock, i probably will never cut it all.
I inherited :
A raytech gem lab cabber II it was mounted with a 100 and 220 wheels, but i removed them, and mounted an expanding wheel and the 100 wheel to rough it out with. I have the 6" diamond saw for this also, though i havent been using it much recently. I also inherited a kiln, casting machine, and a flat lap machine i have not even tried to use.
I bought a 10" Beacon Star saw, it works wonderfully, i use mineral oil in it, and have had no problems. With the saw, i got a raytilt, i had no idea what to do with this for quite some time, then i mounted a felt wheel on it and have been using tin oxide in it to do the final polish on my cabs. also with the saw, i got a raytech 15" vibrating lap extra pan and some weight, i still need to use this also. And it came with a slik tumbler.
I also had bought a lortone 3# tumbler at a goodwill type store, and a lortone 33b from ebay, which i occasionally use to tumble glass, i very rarely tumble stone, i just like to cut it too much.

I started cutting in college, with opals, i was in a metals class, and in the classroom we had a large set of lapidary wheels, and one of my fellow students showed me how to cut opals on it. Opals are still my favorite thing to cut, but im trying diffrent stones right now.

I think that sums up my rock status haha

Zach

Deleted
Deleted Member

Member since January 1970
Posts: 0

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 14, 2012 23:08:39 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2012 23:08:39 GMT -5

I am Jim (wampidy) on here. I will donate what ever it takes to fill the box. I have slabs, cabs, rough, soft carving stone, findings, wire, wire wrapping tools, beads, tooth pics, toe nails, etc etc.

My interests run from carving soft stone (alabaster) to making jade rings and everything in between. My greatest interests at this time is jade and nephrite from around the USA to make rings out of. I also slab a lot of rocks just to see what is inside and to give to my friends. I have just found out that I have some unique agate and I am in the process of getting it out to some of the people on RTH to play with. Besides being new to RTH I am fairly new to rocks since I have only been hounding and working with rocks for two years.

Am I supposed to say anything else? Can I take this mic off now? Was the interview ok? I hope that I did not screw up and say something wrong. Man, I hate interviews and you can see that they make me nervous as hell. I am sure glad that I had two Margaritas before I came. Wow, I do not drink and two is one and a half too many. Are we finished now so I can lay down.

Great idea on this "earn your trust and get to know me so we can be friends box" Helen. Put me down for everything.

Good night
Jim

roy gets rocks for Christmas no rock gets left behind Member since October 2010 Posts: 6,390	Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 0:09:06 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by roy on May 15, 2012 0:09:06 GMT -5 helen if you need some stuff for your box let me know !
	facebook -R&B ROCK SHOP Full moon rockshop www.rbrockshop.com

helens no longer being taken for granite Member since January 2012 Posts: 8,794	Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 0:16:50 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by helens on May 15, 2012 0:16:50 GMT -5 Roy, want to just sign up for the box:)? I added you to the list, so if you don't want to do it, I'll remove you:P
	Last Edit: May 15, 2012 0:23:18 GMT -5 by helens

Bluesky78987
driving up their electric bill

You can rest . . . later!

Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,503

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 2:00:56 GMT -5

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Post by Bluesky78987 on May 15, 2012 2:00:56 GMT -5

Hi All!

My name is Bluesky (Susan) and I can't stop picking up (literally and on ebay) rocks.

Always been interested in rocks and geology, but only started hounding this year (and dangit, it's getting too hot already). I have already spent too much on rocks (and tupperwares to hold rocks, and buckets to carry rocks, and more tupperware, and etc etc etc.) But it's crazy fun, and this board makes it so much more so! Everybody's pictures of shiny shiny rocks are so inspiring!

I have rotary tumblers (33b and QT66), but nothing to saw up or shape rocks with (yet). My club, however, which I just joined, has a shop with all this stuff in it that I can use (I think), and someone to teach me how, so I intend to make use of that awesome resource as soon as a saturday rolls around which is truly too hot to go pick up rocks in the desert.

So right now I'm actively doing only rockhounding and tumbling, but I'm interested in slabbing and shaping for some decorative arts type projects I want to do. Constructing things out of slabs, weaving polished stones into wire basketry (i.e., wire baskets with little holes for the stones), making little "bricks" out of stone and building something like a candle holder out of them, that sort of thing. I have a lot of half baked ideas right now.

Once I determine that I have the actual tools to make cabs, I'm sure I'll rapidly start doing a lot of that, since it seems to have quite a big artistic element in what shape you make it and how you position the stencil on the stone. I like that (I'm a photographer as one of my other hobbies, so it is sort of the same in some ways). Then, once I have a couple of cabs, I'll either have to learn wire wrapping or silver working . . . it will never end, I know it!

I'm also starting to carve soapstone, based on my great experience with a beginner's kit I got from Mountain Pipes. I have a whole bunch of ideas and enthusiasm, and only one little (awesome!) dolphin under my belt. I'm interested in maybe doing fine detail work, but who really knows at this point? I've only worked with the softest soapstone, but would like to move up to harder soapstone or alabaster to minimize the risk of fingernail scratches whenever a friend touches the carving. Plus it comes in prettier colors, at least judging by Wampidy's avatar!

Finally (?) I'd like to try tumbling glass. Not sure what I would do with it other than make a big ole bucket of it to put on my desk at work, but I'm sure I could come up with something.

As for what I have that I could contribute, I've collected a whole bunch of pretty cool rough, mostly tumbling sized pieces, a few slabbable. Rough I have for the box includes local jaspers, jasp-agates, green common opal and some agate from the Socal desert, some tourmaline specimens in matrix of unknown quality (they look cool at least), lepidolite, and a bunch of fancy agates I just practically bankrupted myself buying on ebay this morning! (oops). I have a beginner's rockhounding "supplemental kit" that I'll also contribute, which contains three items you need that nobody tells you you need (wait and find out!). I also do flower and landscape photography, but that's not really related to rocks, not sure what I would put in the box.

Things I'd like to get from the box: Rough primarily, carving or dental (?) tools for small detail work, carving stone, GPS coordinates for sweet spots in CA, bales, glass bits to tumble, slabs to build things out of.

Thanks all, and thanks Helen for organizing! I'm really looking forward to getting to know everybody more!

Susan

Susan

Take me to Quartzsite or lose me forever!

kap
driving up their electric bill

I know the voices in my head are not real but man do they come up with some great ideas!

Member since June 2007
Posts: 2,224

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 7:49:22 GMT -5

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Post by kap on May 15, 2012 7:49:22 GMT -5

I am a rockaholic!
I love all thing rock. My Mom and Dad got me started when I was a wee lad and I have been doing it ever since. I have saws from a 20" down to a 4", a diamond bandsaw, grinders and a Star Diamond cab machine. My shop is a 12X21 building full of rocks so I have a few

. I cut slabs and make cabs and other jewelry and knives.
I also dig Crystals and Fossils.
If you want to throw me in some where I will be glad to help out stuffing the box with goodies.
Keith

www.kapsrocks.com

helens no longer being taken for granite Member since January 2012 Posts: 8,794	Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 9:23:22 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by helens on May 15, 2012 9:23:22 GMT -5 Oh great!!! And thanks for joining too Keith!!

unclestu
Cave Dweller

WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE

Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 11:36:26 GMT -5

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Post by unclestu on May 15, 2012 11:36:26 GMT -5

Well I wouldn't consider myself a total nube though I am far from a seasoned pro so I guess I fall some place in the middle. I have been a membber for a little over a year and so far my rock experience has been limited to cabbing. However I have just started carving (thank you Wampidy). I will be starting wrapping as well (thank you Randy).
I use a Kingsley North diamond wheel cab machine and a Rock Rascal trim saw for my cabbing.
I love helping new people in need as some of you already know and I am sure I will have something that can be pulled out of my bag of tricks to help a new member make it through their trials and tribulations of nubity.
Stu

MAY THE SHINE BE WITH YOU

helens
no longer being taken for granite

Member since January 2012
Posts: 8,794

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 20:08:44 GMT -5

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Post by helens on May 15, 2012 20:08:44 GMT -5

Kewl, welcome aboard UncleStu:). Will add you now. We have room for about 6 more people!!

Quick note, please add your location to your Profile, so I can figure out what state you're in for the box planning. If for some reason your state is a secret, pm me, and I'll post it publicly on the first note anyway

.

Helen

Last Edit: May 15, 2012 20:12:32 GMT -5 by helens

roy gets rocks for Christmas no rock gets left behind Member since October 2010 Posts: 6,390	Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 20:18:51 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by roy on May 15, 2012 20:18:51 GMT -5 helen let the people that dont get a chance do this i just wanted to help you with some goodys if you need!
	facebook -R&B ROCK SHOP Full moon rockshop www.rbrockshop.com

helens
no longer being taken for granite

Member since January 2012
Posts: 8,794

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 21:37:17 GMT -5

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Post by helens on May 15, 2012 21:37:17 GMT -5

Tell you what Roy, if we have MORE than 6 signups, we can bump you... but right now, we have lots of room, so you should stay in:).

I realized that perhaps some people who have never done this kind of box before may not fully understand how it works.... and frankly, I haven't done it with rocks before either, so I'm doing this the glass traveling box way.

The way I've done traveling box before is...
1. you get the box in the mail

2. you paw through the box, (oohing and ahhing at how kewl everything is)

3. you take a picture of the entire content you received first, all laid out (that you post). If you can't take pix, don't sign up for this. Pix are the most important part of the swap, that it's public, and EVERYONE gets to see what's going on!

4. you pick out the things you like best in the box or think you can use, trying to save something from all the people before you for others down the line. This works because everyone is considerate of those who come after. Don't clean out every single item from the previous people unless it's only 1 of a kind.

5. You take a pix of what you are taking out (that you post)

6. You gather the things up that you will replace these with. Take pix (that you will post).

7. Post all your photos (minimum 3 photos per person: the whole box content. 2. the items you are taking. 3. the items you are putting in) on the thread, and mail the box to the next person on the list,
WITH the TRACKING #, which you post with the pictures.

This way, at all times, the rest of the participants can see where the box is, so they can anticipate how long it will be to get to them.

8. Typically, you get 48 hours from the time you receive the box to get it back out again to the next person, unless there's an emergency.
The faster each person ships, the faster everyone else gets their box, and it keeps the excitement going, because no matter what, we're going to have transit time that will slow it down. And everyone will want their box sooner, so be nice and ship out faster:).

If you are leaving town, going on vacation, etc, and cannot handle the box when your turn is up, just ask and we swap you with someone on the list below you, so you can enjoy the box when you are able to, and not rushed.

Some points:
Generally it's item for item, but if say you take a jewelry item, and have no jewelry items to replace it with, you will put in a like valued slab or specimen or cuttable rock, and vice versa.

The main idea here is that you are trying to keep the value up on the box so that those below you don't end up with nothing good. Typically, the box gets better as it goes from person to person. With most boxes, being near the end is the best place to be, because you get to see something from everyone (but obviously not the most interesting except from the person immediately before you).

NO JUNK please! If it's something you were going to throw out, DO NOT put it in the box. Throw it out! If no one would buy it on ebay, no one will wants it in this box either.

NO tarnished unusable findings, NO 1/2" rock bits (unless they are opals or peridot or garnets), NO poop.

But you should figure that out when you get the box. If the box delights you (and it SHOULD), then delight the next person too! That's what friends are for:).

Replacement value OR BETTER. The most experienced will be alternated with the newbies on the list, so that there will be more rock variety for the newbies to pick from.

If you don't have tons of rocks as newbies, we still expect fair value, jewelry, or other things you make are OK, just keep in mind the person that is getting your box and what they would like to receive. Just because an experienced rock person is getting your box, doesn't mean they don't deserve to see nice things. Put nice things in:). This is a 'get to know each other', but also a make each other happy box:).

Shipping is expensive, and every single person should be able to find good stuff in the box worth that shipping, to be replaced with something worth the shipping for the next person. Thus the photos... your forum pride is at stake here, and 1/2 the fun is OOOHING over the treasures you found, and seeing the next person OOHING over the treasures they found:P. There is no substitute for SEEING and touching certain things, rock types, patterns, textures, etc. That's what makes this so great:).

Be fair, do not take someone's polished cab, and put in a plain rock you hit in your garden while planting your tomatoes (unless it's a thunderegg)! Jim, no one wants your toenail clippings! You do that, and we'll torment you! I'll pm everyone your phone # to give you a piece of their mind! (I'm kidding, Jim has some fantastic unique wyoming rocks few people have even seen before, plus he's a very talented artist, and I'm tickled he wants to join:)).

This is not a 'replace the whole box' type of box. You are selecting the things you most want, but leaving some things from everyone for those farther down. Try not to take all of one person's stuff, so as the box goes down the line, everyone gets to see something from all before them, right to the end.

Of course, the best choices are from the person ahead of you in line, but if everyone puts nothing but nice things in the box as replacements, it should be a very hard decision of what to keep:). Traveling boxes from EVERY hobby are usually WONDERS. You open them up and go... omg... and that's the whole point of it:).

I think it may be easiest to label and bag your entire contents going in so everyone knows who sent what. This would be most helpful for people sending geographic type of rocks from a certain region (like Jim), just so when they see Jim's bag, they know it's wyoming rocks for example. Packing is up to the person who has the box.

In the box, you can also put in something specific for someone further down the list. Ie., you are #3 on the list, but you want to give a surprise to the person that's #14 on the list. You just put the item in a baggie addressed to that person, and the others before can see it, but not take it. Keep these relatively small please, so everyone can have a bigger selection:).

From the traveling boxes I've participated in (glass ones), the boxes usually contain tools that people bought but don't like (nothing wrong with the tool, but doesn't fit that person's applications), or bought several of at crazy sales, and can trade them in these boxes. This allows swapping the tools they have too much of for a new tool to try that they may not have. Glass tools are EXPENSIVE, each tool often being $100 or more, so a glass traveling box can be worth up to $5000. We never had any losses of the box, even with the newbies (but the glass community is relatively small, so nearly everyone knows everyone).

It would work the same here... you may have cut up a gorgeous agate... but you don't NEED 6 slabs of it, you only needed 1. You can take 3 slabs that someone else sent that you don't have, and replace it with 3 slabs you have 6 of. It works out great, and everyone ends up with a much bigger variety than they had:).

If you dont' HAVE the same type for trade (slab for slab), then you replace it with roughly the same value in what you DO have. Being newbie is no excuse for being unfair, kk:)? Equal or better value.

I am happy to change any rules that people don't like, or discuss anything. This is OUR box, not MY box, so I hope for more input before we start:).

Bluesky78987
driving up their electric bill

You can rest . . . later!

Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,503

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 21:44:51 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Bluesky78987 on May 15, 2012 21:44:51 GMT -5

Sounds great Helen. My only request is that we use a medium size box rather than a small box (I'm not sure that's been decided yet?). A nice uncut rough rock won't fit in a small box, and I don't have any tools to cut one up with just yet. ;-) A nice uncut small rock isn't very valuable, but a nice uncut big rock (big enough for somebody else to slab) can be. At least I think so.

Last Edit: May 15, 2012 21:46:00 GMT -5 by Bluesky78987

Susan

Take me to Quartzsite or lose me forever!

helens
no longer being taken for granite

Member since January 2012
Posts: 8,794

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 21:59:50 GMT -5

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Post by helens on May 15, 2012 21:59:50 GMT -5

Hi Sue:). My only hesitation with that is that I may not have enough to fill it. BUT... I DO have some great uncut rock varieties, and I'm relieved to know that there are going to be participants with saws already.

So sounds good, Med box it is:).

Helen

Bluesky78987 driving up their electric bill You can rest . . . later! Member since April 2012 Posts: 2,503	Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 22:01:50 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Bluesky78987 on May 15, 2012 22:01:50 GMT -5 Just fill any extra space up with, oh, I don't know, Candy. :-) Everybody likes candy.
	Susan Take me to Quartzsite or lose me forever!

unclestu
Cave Dweller

WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE

Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298

Newbie Rock Swap - Traveling Box May 15, 2012 22:07:31 GMT -5

Quote

Post by unclestu on May 15, 2012 22:07:31 GMT -5

May 15, 2012 20:08:44 GMT -5 helens said:

Kewl, welcome aboard UncleStu:). Will add you now. We have room for about 6 more people!!

Quick note, please add your location to your Profile, so I can figure out what state you're in for the box planning. If for some reason your state is a secret, pm me, and I'll post it publicly on the first note anyway

.

Helen

Helen there is one thing which you must remember in order to properly coordinate an activity such as this. That is:
You must make sure your brain is engaged before you run your mouth ;D
If I wanted my location to be a secret it wouldn't be posted under my avatar LMAO
I must say I find your sarcasm quite becoming. However, we both know that you would know better than to expose something that was shared with you in confidence.