rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Jan 27, 2016 16:23:38 GMT -5
Seems to be one of the problems with tumbling is the cost of shipping grit and rock. Those of you in rock rich areas don't feel this. The rest of us, well we wait for the day we can pick up buckets of Rios or Lakers.
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zrock1
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2016
Posts: 24
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Post by zrock1 on Jan 27, 2016 20:39:43 GMT -5
Guess it depends on where u shop. I found my last order of supplies quite reasonable. But of course I was comparing to local where it would have cost 10x the amount
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 27, 2016 21:06:33 GMT -5
The most expensive rocks I own are the ones I hounded myself. Unless you live right near some good stuff that you won't get bored with then you need to travel to collect stuff. Add up all the gas, meals and possibly lodging. This week I got cutting rough that had origins like Brazil, India, Morocco, and Australia. Shipping is much cheaper then self collecting those ? A large usps flat rate box holds about 45-50 pounds of tumbling rough and ships for $20. Still the best deal going. Small flat rate only holds about three pounds of tumbles at $6 so that is a little harder to swallow per pound. Chuck
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rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Jan 27, 2016 23:11:59 GMT -5
I'm like that Charlie Brown character......everything should be a nickel! First let me say I'm in awe of your tumbles. Next, every usps box above 25 lbs arrives damaged... "non machinable". They get here, but just barely, and I give my postal guy a box of cookies for Xmas.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 28, 2016 5:15:45 GMT -5
Call it a vacation with collecting so costs are justified. Try to travel to a spot where you can bring 500-1000 pounds of rock back.
Cost to Rio from Atlanta in 2013
38 hours round trip to Rio Grande (gas) $800 11 nights dive hotel $800 Shipping 60 MFRB's(1500 pounds) $800 Food $300 Total $2700
2000 pound(1500 lbs shipped/500 lbs. in Honda Civic) of fine varied Rio Grande agates @ a cost of $1.35/pound
Value and pleasure of trip- can't put a dollar amount
Next time I will secure a minimum of four open top 55 gallon drums sitting on the dock at the local freight carrier. Fill them daily with field collections and have them shipped back to Atlanta at end of trip. 600-700 pounds per barrel. Shipping costs and time spent boxing greatly reduced.
Could fill eight 55 gallon drums estimated in 12 days. That would be 5000 pounds. Bring a partner and share (better)room and gas. Cost of rocks well under $1/pound. More than enough rocks to resale/trade if so desired.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 28, 2016 7:25:00 GMT -5
I'm like that Charlie Brown character......everything should be a nickel! First let me say I'm in awe of your tumbles. Next, every usps box above 25 lbs arrives damaged... "non machinable". They get here, but just barely, and I give my postal guy a box of cookies for Xmas. You are right about the 25 pound deal. Most medium flat rates dont have problems if care was taken in packing but large flat rates can be a problem. Sellers that know what they are doing create a double thickness box and completely wrap the outside in good packing tape. I have even had a couple people put the rocks in burlap potato sacks then put that in the box so if any holes are put in the box the rocks stay in. I think everyone hates paying shipping. Always feel like that's money that could have been spent on more rocks and equipment Out of everything I purchase online grit is the one I hate the most. Not very exciting opening a $100 box of grit but $100 worth of rocks from the rock shed is a box full of fun. Here in Michigan the collecting is not nearly as easy as out west. Unless of course you want beach rocks. We also have a 25 pound per year limit on collecting on state land so showing up with shovels and buckets at the beach is frowned upon. Chuck
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,690
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 28, 2016 10:25:50 GMT -5
I'm on the lucky side I guess-I horsetrade a lot with rocks....Have tumbling material laying around everywhere....Plus living in prime rock country,I pick everything up and put it in piles for later.... I have family in different states (Montana, one of them) that know I'm a rock nut,so they find and save me all and any type of rocks.. Put the word out with your rock buddies in different states, do some horsetrading...The postal costs aren't anything compared to good hounding friends...
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