|
Post by Starguy on Dec 3, 2021 16:08:15 GMT -5
Probably the last batch of 2021. Mostly bots and lakers. There were a few Montana moss agate chunks thrown in. The entire batch fresh from the 3 lb barrel. Some of my favorites, mostly Bots. Some Montana agates including one failed cab. Some of the nicer LSAs. Most of the lakers were small and kind of uninteresting. They polished well though. Thanks for looking.
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 3, 2021 16:18:33 GMT -5
Very pretty!
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 3, 2021 16:25:51 GMT -5
Thanks Robin, hummingbirdstones. I really love the bots. Several of them have nice parallax shadows.
|
|
|
Post by miket on Dec 3, 2021 16:49:25 GMT -5
Fantastic, Brent! I love the bots, too, they look great!
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 3, 2021 16:55:31 GMT -5
Thanks miket. I’ve got a lot more Bots in the 12 pound tumblers including a bunch of mini slabs.
|
|
catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
|
Post by catskillrocks on Dec 3, 2021 18:20:22 GMT -5
Nicely polished batch you have there. Like the others have said, I really like the bots.
|
|
lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 430
|
Post by lunker on Dec 3, 2021 23:19:46 GMT -5
Nice and shiny just like we like em
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Dec 3, 2021 23:33:28 GMT -5
Brent, another fantastic batch of tumbles! Are those the Bots you picked up at The Rock Shed? Tonight I actually finished cabbing a Lake Superior Agate...my first! It's a very unusual one. I'll post some pictures in the next day or two.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 4, 2021 13:37:32 GMT -5
jasoninsdMost of the bots I have are from TRS. I got a lot by mail-order before our trip to SD. When we visited in person, I probably ended up with another 10 or 15 pounds. I have to say it was nice to hand pick them instead of getting the scoop-and-weigh packages. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the shop and talking rocks with Shawn and his employees. I need to do a grit order from them soon. I used the last of my tin oxide on this batch. There is always a need for more coarse grit too. I got 45 pounds of coarse for Christmas last year. It came in a LFRB. My son-in-law wrapped it in 3 or 4 layers of duct tape. I was literally sweating by the time I got it unwrapped. Between manipulating a 45 pound box and trying to tear through lol of that duct tape, it was quite a workout.
|
|
Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
|
Post by Brian on Dec 4, 2021 20:41:28 GMT -5
That's a great looking batch, Brent! Between the Bots and the Montana agates, you have some of my favorite materials in there.
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Dec 5, 2021 2:30:28 GMT -5
jasoninsd Most of the bots I have are from TRS. I got a lot by mail-order before our trip to SD. When we visited in person, I probably ended up with another 10 or 15 pounds. I have to say it was nice to hand pick them instead of getting the scoop-and-weigh packages. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the shop and talking rocks with Shawn and his employees. I need to do a grit order from them soon. I used the last of my tin oxide on this batch. There is always a need for more coarse grit too. I got 45 pounds of coarse for Christmas last year. It came in a LFRB. My son-in-law wrapped it in 3 or 4 layers of duct tape. I was literally sweating by the time I got it unwrapped. Between manipulating a 45 pound box and trying to tear through lol of that duct tape, it was quite a workout. By the time I finally got up to The Rock Shed, they didn't have a great deal of larger Botswana Agates to choose from...at least not in the bin in the yard. I was so excited to look through everything else, I forgot to ask if they had anymore behind the shop. I'm chuckling a bit on your "workout" gift from last year...it's better than a "Sweatin' to the Oldies" DVD! LOL
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Dec 5, 2021 11:39:34 GMT -5
Choice tumbles! Love the bots.
|
|
|
Post by Rockindad on Dec 5, 2021 18:00:05 GMT -5
jasoninsd Most of the bots I have are from TRS. I got a lot by mail-order before our trip to SD. When we visited in person, I probably ended up with another 10 or 15 pounds. I have to say it was nice to hand pick them instead of getting the scoop-and-weigh packages. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the shop and talking rocks with Shawn and his employees. I need to do a grit order from them soon. I used the last of my tin oxide on this batch. There is always a need for more coarse grit too. I got 45 pounds of coarse for Christmas last year. It came in a LFRB. My son-in-law wrapped it in 3 or 4 layers of duct tape. I was literally sweating by the time I got it unwrapped. Between manipulating a 45 pound box and trying to tear through lol of that duct tape, it was quite a workout. By the time I finally got up to The Rock Shed, they didn't have a great deal of larger Botswana Agates to choose from...at least not in the bin in the yard. I was so excited to look through everything else, I forgot to ask if they had anymore behind the shop. I'm chuckling a bit on your "workout" gift from last year...it's better than a "Sweatin' to the Oldies" DVD! LOL 1) First and foremost, nice tumbles Brent! 2) The discussions here and elsewhere about picking through the bins of rocks at TRS have me wondering when exactly they bag up their rocks for online sales. I have ordered A LOT of rock from them and on a few occasions the material was clearly picked over. Now I know it is sacrilege for some to say anything negative about TRS but I will not buy certain materials (as in rough) from them any longer. The final straw for me was when we ordered 25lbs. of Mozambique and 25lbs. Carnelian Agates. Only two small pieces of the Mozambiques had any banding at all. We ran the best of the Carnelians for a while in rough before yanking them as it was clear they were a bust as well. Now I know who to blame, thanks guys! (Just kidding)
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 6, 2021 2:15:16 GMT -5
Rockindad. I only picked the bins there twice. Don’t blame me. jasoninsd is probably the scoundrel Just kidding. It’s actually a very well loved rock shop. When I was there, there were always several people walking around picking rocks. There used to be family rock shops everywhere. Where did they all go? My opinion is that internet sales ruined them. When we had local rock shops in Spokane, I was the only one there. So sad. I never pass up a rock shop when I’m traveling. On our trip to SD last summer I visited three rock shops in Custer SD. In my opinion, none of them compared to my visits to The Rock Shed. Shawn will have what you’re looking for. If he doesn’t, he’s likely to be able to find it. Sincerely, Brent.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 6, 2021 3:22:18 GMT -5
1) First and foremost, nice tumbles Brent! 2) The discussions here and elsewhere about picking through the bins of rocks at TRS have me wondering when exactly they bag up their rocks for online sales. I have ordered A LOT of rock from them and on a few occasions the material was clearly picked over. Now I know it is sacrilege for some to say anything negative about TRS but I will not buy certain materials (as in rough) from them any longer. The final straw for me was when we ordered 25lbs. of Mozambique and 25lbs. Carnelian Agates. Only two small pieces of the Mozambiques had any banding at all. We ran the best of the Carnelians for a while in rough before yanking them as it was clear they were a bust as well. Now I know who to blame, thanks guys! (Just kidding) Rockindad . Thanks for checking out my tumble batch. The Rock Shed is solid. I’ve probably bought 100 pounds of rough from them online, (scoop and weigh). I buy the stuff I want based on my experience with the material. Is every piece perfect? No, but they are what they’re advertised as at a competitive price. The place is tiny, probably 1/4 acre. They have a lot of outside bins but the treasures are stored inside. A little talking to the owner, can give you access to his latest finds which can be impressive to say the least. TRS is the best rock shop I’ve ever been to. As reference, I’m sixty years old, well travelled, and a rock shop aficionado. I feel like all rock sale offers have been picked over. Wouldn’t you do that? I have 20 or so pounds of Idaho star garnet cabbing rough. 90% of them will have stars. This quality material is no longer available, but I definitely picked them over. I’ve had great luck with TRS’s Botswana agates. Their grit prices are competitive. They are a family owned company based in one of our 50 states. Rock On!
|
|
|
Post by Rockindad on Dec 6, 2021 20:50:05 GMT -5
Rockindad . I only picked the bins there twice. Don’t blame me. jasoninsd is probably the scoundrel Just kidding. It’s actually a very well loved rock shop. When I was there, there were always several people walking around picking rocks. There used to be family rock shops everywhere. Where did they all go? My opinion is that internet sales ruined them. When we had local rock shops in Spokane, I was the only one there. So sad. I never pass up a rock shop when I’m traveling. On our trip to SD last summer I visited three rock shops in Custer SD. In my opinion, none of them compared to my visits to The Rock Shed. Shawn will have what you’re looking for. If he doesn’t, he’s likely to be able to find it. Sincerely, Brent. I knew it was Jason's fault! 1) First and foremost, nice tumbles Brent! 2) The discussions here and elsewhere about picking through the bins of rocks at TRS have me wondering when exactly they bag up their rocks for online sales. I have ordered A LOT of rock from them and on a few occasions the material was clearly picked over. Now I know it is sacrilege for some to say anything negative about TRS but I will not buy certain materials (as in rough) from them any longer. The final straw for me was when we ordered 25lbs. of Mozambique and 25lbs. Carnelian Agates. Only two small pieces of the Mozambiques had any banding at all. We ran the best of the Carnelians for a while in rough before yanking them as it was clear they were a bust as well. Now I know who to blame, thanks guys! (Just kidding) Rockindad . Thanks for checking out my tumble batch. The Rock Shed is solid. I’ve probably bought 100 pounds of rough from them online, (scoop and weigh). I buy the stuff I want based on my experience with the material. Is every piece perfect? No, but they are what they’re advertised as at a competitive price. The place is tiny, probably 1/4 acre. They have a lot of outside bins but the treasures are stored inside. A little talking to the owner, can give you access to his latest finds which can be impressive to say the least. TRS is the best rock shop I’ve ever been to. As reference, I’m sixty years old, well travelled, and a rock shop aficionado. I feel like all rock sale offers have been picked over. Wouldn’t you do that? I have 20 or so pounds of Idaho star garnet cabbing rough. 90% of them will have stars. This quality material is no longer available, but I definitely picked them over. I’ve had great luck with TRS’s Botswana agates. Their grit prices are competitive. They are a family owned company based in one of our 50 states. Rock On! Don't get me wrong, I have spent an obscene amount of money with them and will continue to do so, just not "as much" on rough. The only grit/polish I purchase elsewhere is stuff they do not carry. Probably a third of our equipment has come from them along with a few hundred pounds of rough and many miscellaneous supplies. The couple minor shipping mistakes that occurred were handled immediately. I also believe that one should not bemoan the fact that there is a lack of small businesses when they only shop at Walmart, Amazon, etc. For these reasons they will continue to get my money along with a few other vendors who have not disappointed. Been thinking about this statement: "I feel like all rock sale offers have been picked over. Wouldn’t you do that?" -As a buyer I would absolutely pick through material given the chance, no issue at all with that. -Also as a buyer, I would expect clearly picked over material to be noted as such. The examples I gave above were "For Sale", not "On Sale". Some sellers will note a material is of a lower grade, etc. One place I have purchased from will occasionally offer floor sweepings for sale, priced accordingly. Just dreaming of the day when we can do our own picking! Maybe I should just hire Jason .
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Dec 6, 2021 21:04:22 GMT -5
Rockindad . I only picked the bins there twice. Don’t blame me. jasoninsd is probably the scoundrel Just kidding. It’s actually a very well loved rock shop. When I was there, there were always several people walking around picking rocks. There used to be family rock shops everywhere. Where did they all go? My opinion is that internet sales ruined them. When we had local rock shops in Spokane, I was the only one there. So sad. I never pass up a rock shop when I’m traveling. On our trip to SD last summer I visited three rock shops in Custer SD. In my opinion, none of them compared to my visits to The Rock Shed. Shawn will have what you’re looking for. If he doesn’t, he’s likely to be able to find it. Sincerely, Brent. I knew it was Jason's fault! Rockindad . Thanks for checking out my tumble batch. The Rock Shed is solid. I’ve probably bought 100 pounds of rough from them online, (scoop and weigh). I buy the stuff I want based on my experience with the material. Is every piece perfect? No, but they are what they’re advertised as at a competitive price. The place is tiny, probably 1/4 acre. They have a lot of outside bins but the treasures are stored inside. A little talking to the owner, can give you access to his latest finds which can be impressive to say the least. TRS is the best rock shop I’ve ever been to. As reference, I’m sixty years old, well travelled, and a rock shop aficionado. I feel like all rock sale offers have been picked over. Wouldn’t you do that? I have 20 or so pounds of Idaho star garnet cabbing rough. 90% of them will have stars. This quality material is no longer available, but I definitely picked them over. I’ve had great luck with TRS’s Botswana agates. Their grit prices are competitive. They are a family owned company based in one of our 50 states. Rock On! Don't get me wrong, I have spent an obscene amount of money with them and will continue to do so, just not "as much" on rough. The only grit/polish I purchase elsewhere is stuff they do not carry. Probably a third of our equipment has come from them along with a few hundred pounds of rough and many miscellaneous supplies. The couple minor shipping mistakes that occurred were handled immediately. I also believe that one should not bemoan the fact that there is a lack of small businesses when they only shop at Walmart, Amazon, etc. For these reasons they will continue to get my money along with a few other vendors who have not disappointed. Been thinking about this statement: "I feel like all rock sale offers have been picked over. Wouldn’t you do that?" -As a buyer I would absolutely pick through material given the chance, no issue at all with that. -Also as a buyer, I would expect clearly picked over material to be noted as such. The examples I gave above were "For Sale", not "On Sale". Some sellers will note a material is of a lower grade, etc. One place I have purchased from will occasionally offer floor sweepings for sale, priced accordingly. Just dreaming of the day when we can do our own picking! Maybe I should just hire Jason . I was thinking about this earlier today...and you kind of beat me to the punch there with that last sentence. LOL I mean this as a serious offer. If you have something in mind that you'd like to have "picked through", shoot me a PM. I head that direction quite frequently since my in-laws are about halfway there from our house. It wouldn't take anything for me to buzz up to Keystone which is about 15-20 minutes up the road from my in-laws. I'm not promising to make a special trip...but if you let me now about something, I'll let you know if I'm heading up there and I would do my best to pick through and find what "I" would want if it were me purchasing the material.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 7, 2021 12:21:08 GMT -5
If jasoninsd picks them you won’t get any tootsie rolls.
|
|
|
Post by holajonathan on Dec 7, 2021 16:18:43 GMT -5
Nice tumble, Brent. It looks like with the Bots you did not get any of the little half-moon crescent shapes that plague some of my Botswana agate tumbles. Were those done entirely in a rotary tumbler? Did you take measures to soften the tumbling action? There are so many factors that could be causing these little surface flaws. I won't get into it here. But when people finish Botswana agate tumbles that don't have these impact marks, I am always interested in hearing a little bit about the process.
As for the lakers, 99% of lake superior agates are pretty ho-hum in my experience. 1% are amazing and cost an obscene amount of money. With that said, I like tumbling them and actually bought some small, fairly low grade rough recently because I want to do another batch. They get super shiny and every once in a while even the low grade rough turns out a few surprises.
|
|
electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 335
|
Post by electrocutus on Dec 7, 2021 16:31:29 GMT -5
Superb shine!
|
|