Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Oct 27, 2018 21:09:38 GMT -5
This has probably come up before buthow much do you feel is a reasonable price to charge for slabbing rocks?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 27, 2018 21:23:22 GMT -5
Funny you ask, Don. I was at The Gem Shop today and happened to see their price list. They charge 40¢ per square inch.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 27, 2018 22:35:59 GMT -5
Man, that's a pretty good rate for slabbing! 5x5" slab=25 sq. inches. At 40 cents/sq. inch that's $10.00 just for slabbing it.
Old calculation a lot of people used was 25 cents per inch measured around the outside edge of the slab. 5x5" slab=20 inches of perimeter. 25 cents x 20 inches is only $5.00.
Hope some other members have some input on this, otherwise I think my slab prices just went up!
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Oct 27, 2018 23:31:44 GMT -5
I did some googling and found a few other prices:
$1 per linear inch
$0.50 per square inch
$0.75 per square inch
Man those per square inch prices sure get expensive fast. I'm having a hard time justifying it in my head.
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Oct 27, 2018 23:53:48 GMT -5
I did some googling and found a few other prices: $1 per linear inch $0.50 per square inch $0.75 per square inch Man those per square inch prices sure get expensive fast. I'm having a hard time justifying it in my head. I've looked at costs for slabbing as well. We had a guy in our rock club that charged 35 cents per square inch and that was 25+ years ago! Based on that, I was charging 35 cents a square inch until a couple of years ago and most people just decide they will use a sledge hammer instead. I tell them, "If you think that is expensive just look at the costs for a rock saw, new blade, oil, electricity, maintenance, etc. I don't cut for strangers, anymore but I will cut for friends and family free gratis. Also, my most "unfavorite" job in this hobby is cleaning out a slab saw (which occurs more often if you cut for others) - I dislike it so much that I have hired people to do this for me. Those prices you quoted above are cheap in my opinion, including 75 cents per square inch. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 28, 2018 10:51:36 GMT -5
Wow. Eye-opener time.
Is the "linear inch" measured around the perimeter? If so, $1/linear inch would make that hypothetical 5x5" slab cost $20.
Even the 50 cents/sq. inch would make it $12.50.
If I'm buying, $12.50 for a 5x5 has to be a pretty good slab. We sell some slabs for $15-20, but they're larger or unusual in some way.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 28, 2018 12:06:52 GMT -5
Yeah, I rock shop I used to frequent 40 years ago charged 25 cents per square inch way back then.....Mel
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 28, 2018 13:18:59 GMT -5
I don't cut for strangers, anymore but I will cut for friends and family free gratis. Can I be your friend? LOL! I still don't have a big saw and probably never will. I live in close quarters. My neighbors would not like me much if I were to saw in my yard. As one who has asked about slabbing, I've heard several people say they will take a slab or two of what they are cutting. |
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Post by catmandewe on Oct 28, 2018 14:04:08 GMT -5
I normally charge 50 cents per square inch for regular stuff and $1 per square inch for dirty material. If someone semds me a whole bunch of fun stuff to cut I will often give a bulk discount. I also cut for close friends and such just for fun.
It really does add up fast when you are cutting up a box or two of material.
Tony
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Oct 28, 2018 16:08:30 GMT -5
I don't cut for strangers, anymore but I will cut for friends and family free gratis. Can I be your friend? LOL! I still don't have a big saw and probably never will. I live in close quarters. My neighbors would not like me much if I were to saw in my yard. As one who has asked about slabbing, I've heard several people say they will take a slab or two of what they are cutting. Sure! But the shipping costs would probably cost more than you would have to pay for slabbing. I have cut for shares if it's good material - I did that for one of the dealers in our area. He ended up giving me more material than I could handle, so I hauled all the uncut material back to him. |
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,688
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Post by NRG on Oct 28, 2018 16:45:24 GMT -5
I cut for beer. While thebringer of beer is present. Never any other way.
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Post by beefjello on Oct 28, 2018 17:00:48 GMT -5
Can I be your friend? LOL! I still don't have a big saw and probably never will. I live in close quarters. My neighbors would not like me much if I were to saw in my yard. As one who has asked about slabbing, I've heard several people say they will take a slab or two of what they are cutting. Sure! But the shipping costs would probably cost more than you would have to pay for slabbing. I have cut for shares if it's good material - I did that for one of the dealers in our area. He ended up giving me more material than I could handle, so I hauled all the uncut material back to him. I did the same for a member here many moons ago. I kept the heel and had first pick of 1 or 2 slabs. We both were happy with the deal  |
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Post by Pat on Oct 28, 2018 18:04:31 GMT -5
Around here, club members get a couple of slabs instead of money. When I ask someone if they will slice a rock for me, I tell them to take a few slabs. It’s a happy arrangement. I don’t have huge rocks, or a lot.
I should add that our club doesn’t have a club house or saws etc. members do it out of kindness. The only charge I’ve heard of was $7 for the rock. The recipient was happy.
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Post by pauls on Oct 28, 2018 18:15:56 GMT -5
My club charges 25c persquare inch, too much for some tight A---d bas---ds who wait until no-ones looking and rip into it with the trim saw. Have to get it done quickly while no-ones looking so really wreck the blades.
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 28, 2018 23:50:20 GMT -5
My policy is if it cost you over $20/lb and the price was appropriate I'll cut for shares.
If you come over and clean whichever saw currently needs it I will probably cut something for "free".
Otherwise I send you to the club shop, I think they're at $.40/sq inch and the saws are usually running every session.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 29, 2018 9:35:07 GMT -5
Thanks, Don, for starting this thread. We've never cut slabs for other people - only had a 14" drop saw until this year - so I'd never thought about how much to charge just for slabbing.
The small number of slabs we sell were always priced according to market prices on similar material. Measured a few recent ones. It looks like the prices on them are in line with what the members here have posted.
Thanks to everyone for all the info. This will make it easier to deal with show buyers who complain about slab prices. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 29, 2018 10:04:48 GMT -5
I usually did cut for shares and (or) a piece of rough.....I did quit cutting for people, other than a few friends.. Takes away the fun.... I have had a few big pieces of rough cut, it does take out your budget a bit...LOL
I think my last one was $60.00, huge thunderegg...On a 36" saw..
But it's their saw, their blades, oil, electricity, time and etc... All adds up..
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zekesman
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 637
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Post by zekesman on Oct 29, 2018 11:08:08 GMT -5
My local shop takes 1/3 of my rough. I think that is a great deal and will usually throw in an extra piece or two of something I know he can make money on. Vic
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