kaldorlon
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2013
Posts: 413
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Post by kaldorlon on Oct 17, 2013 18:51:50 GMT -5
Ok...as I start to get into this. Give me some ideas of rough you like, very workable and give me 2 choices of decent stuff you can find for slabs in the $10 range and stuff you like in the $20 range. I have been searching ebay and buying a few things, but want to get some ideas from the forum.
So post you favorite $10 slab range mats and something a little better that runs in the $20 range. Maybe I have missed something that I ought to check into...
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 17, 2013 20:26:09 GMT -5
I think that's a very difficult question to answer because it has so many variables, including what I like, quality of the material, size of the material, rarity of the material, etc. For example, you won't find me buying picture jaspers because they just aren't my thing, but they're the favorites of many. Once you get into picture jaspers, there is an incredible variety, including Ohwyhee (and subtypes), Biggs, Deschutes, Gary Green, Willow Creek, Vistaite, Morrisonite, etc., etc. Within each of those varieties you quality of the picture, size of the slab, uniformity, etc.
My favorite rough tends to come in nodules, rather than slabs, as I prefer nodular agates.
Sorry, not trying to be a jerk. It's just not as straightforward as it might appear. On the other hand, if you like it and the price is right, buy it. That's all it really comes down to.
Chuck
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kaldorlon
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2013
Posts: 413
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Post by kaldorlon on Oct 17, 2013 20:59:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply Chuck...hoping more will chime in. I know I will get preferences all over the board, and that is fine. I like picture Jaspers, but I think they look better as slabs, more so than cabs. They can be nice, but sometimes it's kind of like taking a beautiful mural and chopping it up.
Come on folks...give me some more!
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
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Post by Thunder69 on Oct 17, 2013 21:05:52 GMT -5
I would agree with Chuck ...If you like it ,try to get some and cab it....I tend to like agates and the materials are as varied as any ...Prices can be like that too..If you are just starting I would suggest start with some inexpensive material..Try different materials to start with...You can get the feel of the way the rock cuts and it will grow from there..I started with Brazilian agate..That's how I learned....John
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Post by orrum on Oct 17, 2013 21:09:40 GMT -5
So call me tight but my limit is $2.00 prr slab cause I am a.newbie and until u get good at seeing a cab in a slab most times there is only one or two super cabs in a whole slab. Also really great slabs seem to be small, murphys law? Also pic jsper is real bad for.only having one pic cab per slab. There is a guy on here named Tony, Catmandew, he has every rock known to man. Tell him what you want and what you can afford and he will make it happen. It wont be $10-20 per slab either! Hope this helps, oh yes it wont be $2 per slab either. Watch for folks selling saw scrap on here it will have lots of one cab wonders!
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Post by pghram on Oct 17, 2013 21:21:59 GMT -5
A higher price doesn't always mean better in this hobby. I like to find "one cab wonders" that are reasonably priced that have great color & pattern. This way, I've been able to cab some stuff I could never afford in larger slabs, i.e. Morrisonite, Rhodocrosite, Morgan hill poppy jasper, Dino bone, to name a few.
Rich
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Post by roy on Oct 17, 2013 22:58:46 GMT -5
this is what iam in to at the moment got a couple of boxes of walker ranch plume and this one is next on my list ocean jasper is hard to find good slabs anymore but a good one is worth the money
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kaldorlon
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2013
Posts: 413
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Post by kaldorlon on Oct 18, 2013 5:18:39 GMT -5
I definitely like plum agate, showing the depths in cabs is great. I also like the ocean jasper, but agree that the price is high for the really good stuff.
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Post by orrum on Oct 18, 2013 6:08:49 GMT -5
Hey I got a great medium flat rate box from Roy of a selection of slabs, big nice slabs and not a single one broke in shipment! There ar ed a lot.of folks that sell reasonable stuff on here. Plus if you get some rough and want it slabbed you can work a deal with someone on here that has a big slab saw!
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Post by sheltie on Oct 18, 2013 7:39:41 GMT -5
When I started slabbing a couple years ago, all I was interested in was basically the process of cutting rocks. I didn't particularly care that much about the quality as long as it had some color and some texture. I've since upped my game and now only slab that rough which has a particular interest tome in terms of color, patterns, and quality. It won't take you very long to realize what is quality and what isn't. that said, I truly believe that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If you are doing something for yourself, it makes no difference if someone else doesn't like it.
I live in a region of almost no decent rocks (central Texas). So either I gather my rough via rock hounding while on trips for that purpose or a I buy, preferably in bulk. It generally takes me one or two slabs before I know whether a particular piece of rough is worth it for me to continue. I like Mexican lace and all its forms, tigereye, some picture jaspers, Picasso marble, both moss and plume agates, and many more that I could list.
As far as cost is concerned, there is no set price for any slab. The seller sets the price and if you like it you will pay the price.
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 18, 2013 9:15:32 GMT -5
Like folks have said, a very broad question and almost too many to name. *S*. In cheaper stuff, I really like the agates like Botswanas, Brazilians, Montana, Indian Blackskins and various mosses and plumes of the less expensive sort. This group would also include lots of nice pet wood types.
Higher end stuff is of course much nicer and usually harder to obtain in good slabs. Here, I like Ammey Sage, Bruneau, Willow Creek, Royal Imperial Jasper, Biggs, Deschuttes and of course the Rolls Royces of Agates like Coyamiitos, Lagunas, and Fancy Laces and plume types I'm also nuts about orbicular jaspers so all the poppies, Ocean Jasper etc would also go here. Fossil material wise, I'd throw in that beautiful South American petrified fern, real good palm root or fiber, and Indonesian fossil coral.....Mel
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 9:41:45 GMT -5
I really like Binghamite, but the quality is extremely variable. Blues and greens in solid pieces command premium prices.
My favorite rocks are the ones I've collected. :-) Having said that, I'm crazy about Crazy Lace, like Flint Ridge, my son loves Tiger Eye, Kaleidoscope Jasper looks awesome...
In general I'm really fond of SW Texas material (Stillwell Ranch varieties, Woodward Ranch varieties, Marfa bouquet and plume).
Chuck
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Don
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He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
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Post by Don on Oct 18, 2013 9:51:34 GMT -5
I don't know why folk are bustin' your balls over this; it sounded like a good topic to chat about to me. Here's some ideas on very workable, plentiful materials that can be found by the slab for not a lot of money:
montana agate brazilian agate graveyard point plume agate noreena jasper golden tigereye variegated tigereye tiger iron mahogany obsidian gold sheen obsidian snowflake obsidian picasso stone/marble petrified wood moss agate indian fancy jasper indian green moss agatge indian green tree agate black skin agate
$20+ for a slab gets you into the world of rare and premium materials;
indonesian agates, porcelain jaspers, picture jaspers, plume agates, flame agates, malachite, chrysocholla, etc.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 18, 2013 10:23:43 GMT -5
I try it all,than filter out what I dislike,problem is I don't dislike rocks........But as said,more expensive,doesn't mean better!!!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 18, 2013 11:43:04 GMT -5
Welcome to the hobby! IMHO the easiest stones on learn to cab with are the ones that are 6-7 on the mohs hardness scale. Most any Agates, Jaspers or Tigereye are good to begin with. And when sanded properly these materials will polish easily with cerium oxide. Just try to avoid material with a lot of pitting and fractures until you get the hang of cabbing. You can always learn to use Opticon and Hxtal epoxies later.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 13:32:37 GMT -5
Wasn't trying to bust any balls. Maybe I just over thought the pricing angle. If he's just looking for recommendations of rock to try, then yes, anything in the Mohs 6-7 range that is solid would be fine. Price is what he's willing to pay.
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kaldorlon
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2013
Posts: 413
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Post by kaldorlon on Oct 18, 2013 14:01:31 GMT -5
Thanks for all the input.
Don- you gave me the information I was really after, maybe I just didn't phrase it right in the end.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 21, 2013 17:12:55 GMT -5
I'd actually vote for something a little softer than most agates. I'd spend some time with some nice black or mahogony obsidian. It's reasonably priced and abundant. It's also soft, so it doesn't take forever, and it is great for training you to look for scratches. After that, anything is good, just watch out for cracks. The list Don provided is a great list. Also, don't be afraid to use "real" slabs in the beginning. You end up spending so much time on each cab that the cost of the material pales next to the value of your time and effort. After you've done like maybe max 2 or 3 cabs on "boring throw away rock", start using real rocks that you actually like, so you don't end up with a bunch of cabs you don't like.
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Post by Tony W on Oct 22, 2013 20:43:32 GMT -5
Koroit Boulder Opal Pietersite Velvet obsidian star sapphire labradorite fire agate lapis
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kaldorlon
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2013
Posts: 413
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Post by kaldorlon on Oct 22, 2013 20:47:34 GMT -5
Got some high end mats on that list Tony W (Boulder opal, pietersite and if you spend the money for AAA lapis). But I do like that stuff.
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