turtleman
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2018
Posts: 23
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Post by turtleman on Sept 20, 2018 11:36:33 GMT -5
Hello Everyone,
So many places, and so many prices! I have gone through so many different sites and found some with decent prices, and other with outrageous amounts. What sites and/or vendors do you all buy from for your lapidary rough? I am looking to by rough to turn into slabs, but I am hoping you all can help shed some light on some good sources.
Thanks for your time!
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Post by Pat on Sept 20, 2018 11:53:07 GMT -5
Look at the front page. There is a section on vendor reviews, and a section on RTH sellers.
I’ve been happy with all the members who sell here.
Welcome and good luck!
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Post by MsAli on Sept 20, 2018 11:58:03 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2018 12:30:21 GMT -5
You can also check your local Yellow Pages directories for rock shops and lapidary supplies. Depending on where you live, you may not find much of a selection, as they've been replaced by boutique-type stores with outrageous prices in many areas. However, if you find one, they can often have good bulk prices (plus you don't have to pay postage).
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Dr DG
fully equipped rock polisher
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,848
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Post by Dr DG on Sept 20, 2018 13:59:34 GMT -5
I sell lots of rough. what are you looking for?
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,982
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Post by Tommy on Sept 20, 2018 14:54:50 GMT -5
Greetings turtleman, welcome to the forum. Lots of great boxes of rocks changes hands right here on the forum in the Marketplace as someone posted already. Forum purchases are great because there is the accountability of being a group of like minded members. Sub-standard exchanges are rare here but they do happen, so as always in life it's buyer/trader beware. Where are you located geographically? It makes a difference because some regions such as AZ, Socal, and Oregon are blessed with rock sale events that you can travel to and load up on just about everything imaginable. The first that comes to most mind is Quartzsite and Tucson AZ in January and February of each year - there is very much diversity between the shows that occur here. From a personal stand point I collect more rough than I buy, but if I didn't collect it I probably bought it at an estate sale, or in our yearly trips to Quartzsite AZ or Madras OR. In a general sense I tend to stay away from buying rough rock that I cannot see, feel, and lick before plunking down my money. A lot of lapidary folks buy rocks on Facebook groups but speaking only for myself, there are only about three people on Facebook that I trust enough to buy rough from. Two of them are members here - roy ( RB Rockshop) and Tony catmandewe ( Idaho Rock Shop), and the third is Chris the admin on I <3 Rocks Facebook group. Seems like when I venture out of my comfort zone and buy from others I have regretted it for various reasons from deceptive photos, to overall quality, to spidery fractures etc. I also trust The Gem Shop in Wisconsin but that comes with a precaution that I have found that the rocks are picked out of bins and shipped without anywhere near the time and care that I take when picking my own rocks. Not saying I've received poor quality from them, just that in ordering sight unseen you need to carefully spell out any and all expectations in advance or be prepared for those expectations to not be met. Edited to add: Can't believe I didn't mention that I've gotten a fair amount of rough rock from my local rock shop. There aren't very many good rock shops left in the area but I'm blessed to live within reasonable distance from Consolidated Rocks in Vacaville, CA. |
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Post by MsAli on Sept 20, 2018 15:11:17 GMT -5
I love The Gem Shop & The Rock Shed. Have had good stuff come from Gems by Mail as well.
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 20, 2018 17:15:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 20, 2018 21:17:04 GMT -5
What ^ Tommy said. A Craigslist search of applicable terms like... Lapidary rocks estate Agate Jasper and so many more can net you some really good deals, or bad ones if you are unaware of the values. Welcome |
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Post by roy on Sept 21, 2018 10:49:01 GMT -5
Greetings turtleman, welcome to the forum. Lots of great boxes of rocks changes hands right here on the forum in the Marketplace as someone posted already. Forum purchases are great because there is the accountability of being a group of like minded members. Sub-standard exchanges are rare here but they do happen, so as always in life it's buyer/trader beware. Where are you located geographically? It makes a difference because some regions such as AZ, Socal, and Oregon are blessed with rock sale events that you can travel to and load up on just about everything imaginable. The first that comes to most mind is Quartzsite and Tucson AZ in January and February of each year - there is very much diversity between the shows that occur here. From a personal stand point I collect more rough than I buy, but if I didn't collect it I probably bought it at an estate sale, or in our yearly trips to Quartzsite AZ or Madras OR. In a general sense I tend to stay away from buying rough rock that I cannot see, feel, and lick before plunking down my money. A lot of lapidary folks buy rocks on Facebook groups but speaking only for myself, there are only about three people on Facebook that I trust enough to buy rough from. Two of them are members here - roy ( RB Rockshop) and Tony catmandewe ( Idaho Rock Shop), and the third is Chris the admin on I <3 Rocks Facebook group. Seems like when I venture out of my comfort zone and buy from others I have regretted it for various reasons from deceptive photos, to overall quality, to spidery fractures etc. I also trust The Gem Shop in Wisconsin but that comes with a precaution that I have found that the rocks are picked out of bins and shipped without anywhere near the time and care that I take when picking my own rocks. Not saying I've received poor quality from them, just that in ordering sight unseen you need to carefully spell out any and all expectations in advance or be prepared for those expectations to not be met. Edited to add: Can't believe I didn't mention that I've gotten a fair amount of rough rock from my local rock shop. There aren't very many good rock shops left in the area but I'm blessed to live within reasonable distance from Consolidated Rocks in Vacaville, CA. thanks for the trust my Friend |
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 566
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Post by vwfence on Sept 24, 2018 9:18:49 GMT -5
what kind of rock are you looking for and where are you located ?
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Post by fernwood on Sept 24, 2018 18:02:52 GMT -5
I agree with the rest. Start looking at the for sales on RTH first.
Craigs List is another place I have had some luck. Was able to see in person before purchasing.
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Post by stephan on Oct 4, 2018 1:06:08 GMT -5
Greetings turtleman , welcome to the forum. Lots of great boxes of rocks changes hands right here on the forum in the Marketplace as someone posted already. Forum purchases are great because there is the accountability of being a group of like minded members. Sub-standard exchanges are rare here but they do happen, so as always in life it's buyer/trader beware. Where are you located geographically? It makes a difference because some regions such as AZ, Socal, and Oregon are blessed with rock sale events that you can travel to and load up on just about everything imaginable. The first that comes to most mind is Quartzsite and Tucson AZ in January and February of each year - there is very much diversity between the shows that occur here. From a personal stand point I collect more rough than I buy, but if I didn't collect it I probably bought it at an estate sale, or in our yearly trips to Quartzsite AZ or Madras OR. In a general sense I tend to stay away from buying rough rock that I cannot see, feel, and lick before plunking down my money. A lot of lapidary folks buy rocks on Facebook groups but speaking only for myself, there are only about three people on Facebook that I trust enough to buy rough from. Two of them are members here - roy ( RB Rockshop) and Tony catmandewe ( Idaho Rock Shop), and the third is Chris the admin on I <3 Rocks Facebook group. Seems like when I venture out of my comfort zone and buy from others I have regretted it for various reasons from deceptive photos, to overall quality, to spidery fractures etc. I also trust The Gem Shop in Wisconsin but that comes with a precaution that I have found that the rocks are picked out of bins and shipped without anywhere near the time and care that I take when picking my own rocks. Not saying I've received poor quality from them, just that in ordering sight unseen you need to carefully spell out any and all expectations in advance or be prepared for those expectations to not be met. Edited to add: Can't believe I didn't mention that I've gotten a fair amount of rough rock from my local rock shop. There aren't very many good rock shops left in the area but I'm blessed to live within reasonable distance from Consolidated Rocks in Vacaville, CA.I've had mixed luck with the Gem Shop. Their pictures show great stuff, but what I received didn't always live up to it. I bought some Owyhee and other Oregon jaspers, and they were not the fine-grained, porcelain stuff I expected at all. Pretty coarse... more like low-quality rhyolite that doesn't take a polish. Everything was also underweight. Each pound was at least one or two ounces short. I got a much better deal when I contacted Jason Hinkle of Oregon Thundereggs and begged him to put together a sampler box of slabs and charge me what he thought was fair. The material I got from him was great. I don't know if he still sells. His website seems out of date.Now, Consolidated Rock and Minerals in Vacaville... I have to second kudos for them. They are awesome. I've only been to a few shows: Sacramento, Roseville, Pleasanton and Valley Springs. All had great dealers. One day, I hope to go to Quartzite and/or Tucson. I'll probably have put myself on a serious budget, though. |
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Post by fernwood on Oct 7, 2018 9:20:58 GMT -5
Everything I have purchased here has been over 100% more than it was represented to be. Support RTH members. Most of these offerings are not posted elsewhere. RTH members are the best at helping out other members. Friends can be made. A member might even travel to see you and bring goodies, right NDK and toiv0. This forum is all abut people helping people, connections, trades and sharing. I have only purchased several items elsewhere since becoming a member. The first was from a local person who is disabled. Log time lapidary expert, maker of jewelry and Veteran. Liquidating 4 storage units slowly. The second was for The Rockshed for some rough Labrodorite. No one here had it for sale. I have purchased over 12 boxes from members here and won an additional from a contest (thanks rockjunquie). manofglass has also sent me items. Traded with MsAli and sent her things. Go here first. Make a friend. Do trades. A ton of support here. |
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