denversue
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 160
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Post by denversue on Dec 11, 2021 17:11:55 GMT -5
Hi, I was looking for someone to cut some agates into slabs for me, plus I had one slab that I wanted to saw off a protruding piece. I got in touch with the CO Gem and Mineral Guild, and this woman who had all the equipment did it for me. It was 2 small agates cut into 2 slabs each, and the cutting off of the part of the slab that stuck out. I offered her $60: $25 per rock and $10 to slice the slab. Since then I've had numerous people in the club offer to do it for free! I feel like I should pay a person something for their time, but now I feel like I way overpaid and maybe was taken advantage of. How much do you think I should have paid for these 3 jobs? Both the agates were about 3" long and 2.5" thick. The piece I wanted cut off the slab looked like this:
Thank you for helping me be less ignorant
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 11, 2021 17:21:46 GMT -5
denversue - Next time, ask them in advance what they will charge you. I agree that they should be paid for their knowledge/time/equipment, but many will do it for free, or for a nominal charge. If you make an offer first, you may be overpaying. Let them throw out a number to you.
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denversue
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 160
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Post by denversue on Dec 11, 2021 17:32:48 GMT -5
I asked her what she would charge and she said "I don't know. Maybe nothing". Such an odd response. I felt like I had to offer something and I just had no idea what to offer
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 11, 2021 17:33:55 GMT -5
If the job was worth 60.00 to you, then you didn't overpay. But, I agree with rockpickerforever, let them tell you what they will charge. |
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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2021 6:26:28 GMT -5
Not dumb at all.
Once hired someone to cut 6, 1" circles from slabs with a hollow core bit.
I ended up paying much more than I should have, as the cost increased after the initial agreement. But, the final products were great.
I now have the ability to cut/shape my own circles.
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Post by knave on Dec 12, 2021 7:56:27 GMT -5
I asked her what she would charge and she said "I don't know. Maybe nothing". Such an odd response. I felt like I had to offer something and I just had no idea what to offer One thing you will likely find. This lapidary/rock enthusiast group of people, are mostly quite generous, and they also like a good deal themselves. Maybe your $60 meant a lot to the cutter. I’m glad you got them cleaned up and sliced up as you wanted. Money is temporary, rocks are forever! 😂 |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 12, 2021 8:01:55 GMT -5
Lots of folks charge per square inch slabbing fees. Been awhile for me, but it used to be between 25 cents and fifty cents per square inch. May be much higher now but it should not be. Figure a nine square inch cut would be $4.50 but of course the first slab takes two cuts as you have to remove the endpiece so that would cost $9. Should consider the material too. Way easier to cut softer materials than hard stuff like pet wood or tough stuff like jade. Heck, obsidian or Texas toenails actually sharpen your saw blade and cut really easily.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 12, 2021 11:28:41 GMT -5
The club in Portland was at $.35 cents per square inch last time I heard, I think it will be around $.50 for the 24 inch saw when they get it going.
your 2.5 x 3 would be $2.60 or thereabouts per cut. When I ran the saws we would sometimes do the first cut for free if it was a reject, depending on how often they brought rocks in. My commercial cutter friend in WA bases it on volume as well, his primary customer gets the best rate and he sometimes gets a slab choice in the deal. Personally I only cut for friends, generally no charge, but I often get a sample or two for my time.
Another guy up there did a cut and sand/polish service, when I met him it was like $.75 cents to $1.00 a square inch for polished slabs and specimens, after whatever the saw fee was, seemed like not nearly enough.
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Post by stephan on Dec 12, 2021 15:39:20 GMT -5
When I was a member of the Sacramento Mineral Society, the price was $1 per cut for members, $2 for non-members. Great deal for big rocks, but there was an unintended side-effect -- people would tend to cut their smaller rocks on the trim-saw, often a little bigger than they should have. I think in the meantime, there is a two-level pricing system.
What I've done here, is to mail the rocks to people who are willing to cut. I offer to let them keep half. The result of this deal, since people here are generous, is that box comes back completely full, containing bonus slabs gifted.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,501
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Post by realrockhound on Dec 15, 2021 2:15:57 GMT -5
I slab a lot for free. If it’s anything worth something to me, I’ll ask for free slabs or tell them to tell me where they found the material instead of charging a fee.
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