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Post by rockjunquie on May 12, 2019 8:15:55 GMT -5
I have followed one rule that has worked very well for me, let the seller dictate what's to be sold and the price. I never grab the rocks, let them point and say "let's look at those" or "pull out that crate". Having bought over 3 tons in the last 3 or 4 years using this rule it has allowed me to get some fantastic material at $1 per pound or less. Have also managed to bring home several hundred pounds for free, "just take those". I have occasionally paid more than that for a few selected pieces that I really wanted. If you dealing with the original collector, remember that they put the effort into accumulating the material and in a most cases they still want to hold on to some of it. Someone grabbing rocks and then low-balling them is a sure way to get the door shut on you. Another advantage to cultivating a relationship is that you will will benefit from the transfer of knowledge as most of the folks I have found are more than willing to talk about the material and the trips to collect or purchase them. There's also a big advantage to buying rocks that have already been cut, you have a better idea of what you are getting and how to proceed with future cuts. I must have 10 to 12 buckets of "cut" material. Been polishing cut Geodes and Brazilians for the last 6 months and still have some waiting in the queue. Good luck Great advice! |
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Post by fernwood on May 12, 2019 9:02:58 GMT -5
All you can do is make an offer, but say you are willing to negotiate. Start low, say the $125.00, but be willing to go up if needed. You do not want to offend the seller. From what you posted, this material be worth a whole lot more. I would also consider the cost of making the connection with such a knowledgeable person. That can be priceless.
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 12, 2019 10:37:03 GMT -5
Hello everyone. Thank you for the advice. A little more about the rocks. The man who sold them to me did not collect them him self. He was doing a job for the original owner. He gave them to him along with a good home made saw. At the time he was interested in lapidary, but over the next 25-30 years he never really did nothing with them. Then we met,we made some trades for some wire wrapped pendants, then I didn't hear from him for almost a year. A couple weeks ago he contacted me to see if I was interested in the material, honestly my curiosity got the better of me, for what I had already got made me hope for some special stuff in them barrels. It was kinda frustrating to finish the deal but in the end we shook hands, and he watched as I loaded the rocks. I need to go back for the saw that suckered heavy. In the end it was a good deal for both of use, cross my fingers hope for some surprises,  Evey good rock trip starts here. Lol. |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 12, 2019 10:52:26 GMT -5
Hello everyone. Thank you for the advice. A little more about the rocks. The man who sold them to me did not collect them him self. He was doing a job for the original owner. He gave them to him along with a good home made saw. At the time he was interested in lapidary, but over the next 25-30 years he never really did nothing with them. Then we met,we made some trades for some wire wrapped pendants, then I didn't hear from him for almost a year. A couple weeks ago he contacted me to see if I was interested in the material, honestly my curiosity got the better of me, for what I had already got made me hope for some special stuff in them barrels. It was kinda frustrating to finish the deal but in the end we shook hands, and he watched as I loaded the rocks. I need to go back for the saw that suckered heavy. In the end it was a good deal for both of use, cross my fingers hope for some surprises, Evey good rock trip starts here. Lol. LOL! Perfect! Good to know you closed the deal.... good for us, I mean. Now we get to see the unveiling. Keep us posted..... |
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Post by MsAli on May 12, 2019 11:15:21 GMT -5
Yeah! That makes me happy for you.
Now to see what is in the barrels!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 12, 2019 11:33:20 GMT -5
So glad you were able to acquire the drums 'o rocks. How exciting! And a rock saw to cut them on!
Please do show us the unveiling of the rocks as you can. We want to see what's in there, too.  |
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 12, 2019 23:28:05 GMT -5
Scratching my head, wondering why why why. More weight than I thought, when I went to drive away all I could see is asphalt in the rear view mirror.  Hope it was worth it?  Got it unloaded. Not bad minimum mess. I will be going back tomorrow for the saw. Can't wait to start going through them. |
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Post by fernwood on May 13, 2019 4:28:36 GMT -5
If you are happy, then it was worth it. Can't wait to see some close up photos.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 13, 2019 6:42:01 GMT -5
How's your suspension doing?
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 17, 2019 20:08:10 GMT -5
Sorry for the delay. I have been washing off the rocks and separating slabblets from rocks. I also picked up the saw today. A beastly little thing. I have picked out a bunch of junk rock . I really hope it was worth it.  Rock hounding in your own yard seems like cheating. Lol.  I seen that bureno nodule right away it's a little bigger than a baseball. That is the only I seen so far. And it is not cut. Just about every rock is at least windowed. |
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Post by fernwood on May 18, 2019 5:09:39 GMT -5
A nice pile of rocks.
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 24, 2019 13:21:51 GMT -5
A little slow to post.so far the sorting is slow and tedious. I have been cleaning rocks and small slabs. I had to wash every single one to see what it was . I was expecting a little more than what I have been finding, but I am happy with what I like out of it. There is a bunch of little 1 timers of colorful material. After examining the lot and taking in consideration of what I was told. I believe this is a combination of the rocks this guy collected and the rocks and slabs he obtained from therapy he did work for. Some of the bigger piece's look to be collected locally mostly common petrified wood, opalized wood, common river rocks and what I would see around the creeks and rivers, the other part of came from the other guy. He must have been heavy in to lapidary and I imagine silversmithing. I can tell buy the quality of material that was being worked and some of the cutting rough. That's where the nice moss agates and Jasper's , and the nicer material came from, I will post pictures of the material I think is worth showing.  I found a nice cutter piece of this material and later came across a few slabs that where cut from it. The slabs look solid and will cut a few or more cabbs, colors are very spot on the pyrite shines brighter.  This is a shoe box size tote I picked out a bunch of nice 1 timers, the big pinkish piece looks like pink Tiffany stone. It is very hard porcelain like. I wish I could have found nice cutters of any of this stuff. |
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Post by MsAli on May 24, 2019 13:25:52 GMT -5
Yeah we get to see the fun stuff now
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 24, 2019 15:42:44 GMT -5
Sorted out a small pile of rosebud agate jasper, this is a fun material to work with.  Is there any one here interested in this material that can do tumbles 2-3 inches? If so watch for the competition . |
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Post by MsAli on May 24, 2019 15:57:50 GMT -5
Is that the same stuff as the slab I got?
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Post by rockjunquie on May 24, 2019 16:28:19 GMT -5
Holy MOLEY!! I SEE COLOR! I see A LOT of really nice stuff! Goodness. And even a big ole piece of gem silica. Hell, I'd have fun just going through it all, let alone cutting it. Thanks for the pictures and keep them coming...
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 24, 2019 17:08:16 GMT -5
Is that the same stuff as the slab I got? I believe so. |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 24, 2019 17:10:31 GMT -5
He hit the rosebud motherlode!!!
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Post by MsAli on May 24, 2019 17:13:49 GMT -5
Is that the same stuff as the slab I got? I believe so. Someone is going to be VERY lucky! This stuff is so beautiful |
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Post by accidentalrockhound on May 24, 2019 22:14:51 GMT -5
I found a few piece's of this pinkish purple material I think is pink Tiffany stone. What do you think.  This is the biggest piece of it seems to be very hard and porcelain like. |
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