junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Aug 19, 2006 21:59:31 GMT -5
Went to The Gem Shop today. All I can say is wow! I spent over 3 hours and didn't see everything. bought quite a bit of stuff, more than I should have. I'm definitely going to have to plan a trip back near the end of this job.
Today I bought a thin kerf blade for the Stone Hog I won a couple weeks back (if I bid against anyone here, sorry, I was bidding from my cell phone and it's limited what you can look at). I had won the auction and a friend of mine picked it up for me and brought it with him to the jobsite. So, I have grinding capabilities but living in an apartment again, don't know about cutting rock. might be too noisy. The unit itself is quiet. The one diamond wheel was good, the other was bare, but I won't be able to replace it until I get home. The Gem Shop didn't have a diamond wheel and I don't want to do the Silicon Carbon again.
It's amazing how behind you get when you haven't been online for a couple weeks. Looks like you all have been busy, creating some great stuff.
I've decided to save up for a slab saw. I saw a 10 incher today but I want something much bigger.
June
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Post by rockds on Aug 20, 2006 15:53:22 GMT -5
I've ordered from them and thanks God I don't live close to them or I'd be in big trouble
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Aug 21, 2006 1:08:32 GMT -5
My favorite was the dollar barrels where they had just a mixture of stuff they had thrown in for a dollar a pound. I got some nice stuff out of that. Also bought some other nice stuff. They had some wonderful Peruvian Pink Opal and China green opal.....didn't buy the green at $100 a pound. The pink was $20 a pound BUT it didn't have a ton of matrix like some of them do. Very nice people to deal with, very helpful.
June
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on Aug 22, 2006 22:32:19 GMT -5
Did you see any ocean jasper there? They usually have a lot of great stuff to choose from. I wanna head up there and get some ocean jasper. Much cheaper than than on Ebay.
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Aug 23, 2006 6:41:00 GMT -5
Yes they did and they had varying grade of ocean jasper. I bought some from the $12/lb that was very nice. They also had some more expensive, I believe, and some that was $4/lb. Most of their stuff was nice and the staff is friendly and helpful. We may head back down there this weekend.
June
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Post by rocklicker on Aug 25, 2006 0:05:54 GMT -5
Ocean Jasper? A $1 bin? Your description sounds like heaven. Hoo boy, I am glad that place is on the other side of the country.
Steve
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Aug 25, 2006 6:41:46 GMT -5
Although I did pick up some ocean jasper in the dollar bin, the good stuff is the $12/lb and the higher priced stuff. I really want to go back again and pick through some more. They have slabs for $8/lb. Unfortunately my daughter won't use something that she doesn't know what it is and I don't know what some of the stuff i bought was. i got a huge hunk of some rose colored rock for a buck a lb.....eventually i'll post some pictures but i don't really have time right now.
June
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earthdog
Cave Dweller 
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Aug 25, 2006 20:23:02 GMT -5
You must be talking about another Gem Shop than what I know of. I stopped going there because of the snotty attitudes from the younger workers there Gene and Karen are great people, but seldom there. The woman that sits behind the bench and does cabs, doesn't like to help anyone or even give advice. They do have some nice stuff but I found most of it way over priced.
I brought some of my ebay buys with us once and 2 of the little snotties talked so much crap about it that I was getting pissed. They told me there are no good deals on rock at ebay and anyone that buys off ebay are fools! They told me the Gem Shop was the only rock store that has quality rocks, I have found that to be B.S. When I first got into rocks, I talked the Gem Shop up also, till I got treated like crap. I have spent a few K up there and they all know me, no excuse for treating me like dirt. Gene and Karen would never stand for it.
I even emailed the Gem Shop about my last couple of trips there and the 30 year old woman who takes care of emails and their website wrote me a nasty letter back stating that they are the best rock shop in the nation. How arrogant!
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Slydog
has rocks in the head
Member since February 2006
Posts: 555
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Post by Slydog on Aug 25, 2006 21:41:19 GMT -5
Sad but true--I agree with Edog. Had an experience with them a few months ago, I was not afraid to spend $, but I was not treated well. I won't be going back.
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Aug 26, 2006 12:08:08 GMT -5
The girl that helped me hadn't been working there all that long, didn't know a whole lot about rocks, but was not afraid to admit it. There was an older gentleman working on something but he didn't really deal with the customers. The other gal who helped my friend also said she had only been there about 9 months. Maybe they had a turnaround of personnel or something. At any rate, not going back this weekend. I ended up working nights sooner than I expected and at the rate things are going I probably won't make it back before I leave here the end of Sept. Anyplace else that would be worth the trip? I only get one day off per week so it can't be too far.
June
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Aug 26, 2006 21:19:27 GMT -5
I have a place in East Troy Wi. called Sticks and Stones. the owner, Pete has become quite a good friend. He doesn't have alot as far as rough goes, maybe a couple thousand pounds at his store, but he has a mountian in the driveway at his house. I have bought 2 saws from him and my flat lap. A great place to go and talk rocks. Other than that I don't really know of any other places around here. The old guy you saw at the G.S. was probly Gene, the owner and one of the 3 people that discovered ocean jasper. Thats why he has so much of it at his store. When you were there, did he still have all those huge chunks outside? I'm talkin about 200/ 400 pounders.
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Aug 26, 2006 22:16:08 GMT -5
Well I don't know how much they weighed but he did have some really big chunks. I buy a lot online but there is nothing like picking out the pieces you want. I was on the look out for any stores that were within driving distance of Two Rivers. I had planned to go back down to the Gem Shop before I left but I probably won't have time. Work keeps getting in the way of my hobbies......
June
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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 Sept 5, 2006 3:11:52 GMT -5
Can you make the time?.... You'll have a lifetime of opportunity for more work, but it sounds like this might be your only opportunity to make it back to the Gem Shop.
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Sept 5, 2006 12:51:19 GMT -5
Actually, no. I can't just take off. BUT since my folks live in Wis. I do get to the state every couple of years. I just happened to plan this trip with the job I'm on. I may still get a chance on a day off to go back but I'm not sure. If I don't work I don't have money for rocks, if I don't have money, no point in going....viscious cycle don't you think?
June
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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 Sept 5, 2006 14:12:29 GMT -5
Yes, not sure how to break that cycle. Sounds like it will work out well for you though -- since you have future chances to make it to the Gem Shop, you can build up your shopping list over the next year or two (and the resources to fund it).  |
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Sept 18, 2006 21:49:43 GMT -5
Well I went back to The Gem Shop today. Bought lots of pretty rocks.....or I hope they will be when I get done with them. I really like digging through the bins and picking out what I want. I think some stuff is really pricey, but I tended to stick with stuff that was $10 or less per pound. Now if I would just get enough time to actually finish some of this stuff.
June
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 19, 2006 9:45:57 GMT -5
June you still in NY??? or did you move?
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Sept 19, 2006 15:06:12 GMT -5
I live in NY but I work on the road, so I'm generally gone about 6-7 months out of the year.
June
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 20, 2006 12:31:30 GMT -5
Oh I musta forgot that- Cool that you can find the time to visit rock shops- When I was on the road (god I hatted that!) All I had time to do in the evening was eat and sleep- The pay was nice- But I'm a homebody- and hated being gone even overnight!
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junerev
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 265
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Post by junerev on Sept 20, 2006 12:42:27 GMT -5
Well I don't always have time. I get one day off a week and I ALWAYS work nights. It was a bit of a stretch for me to go to The Gem Shop but I had been there earlier in August when I first got here. Last spring when I started all this rock thing I was working in Seneca, SC and I got to go to Franklin, NC. now THAT was a great time, I could have spent days there. Many shops and mines. I have a small grinder/saw combo unit with me so I do get to do some playing, but not much. I will probably be home around Thanksgiving until the first of the year.
June
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