jamijr
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 59 
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Post by jamijr on Aug 26, 2022 21:51:54 GMT -5
Besides buying from a member of this forum and some from Little Red Store, I've bought most of the rocks I've tumbled from either Amazon or various sellers on Etsy. Obviously Etsy tends to have better quality and prices. I was wondering where else might be good sources that wouldn't kill my credit card though. I won't deny as a part time library assistant I don't make a ton of money. But until I have a chance to actually go out and look for rocks I have to rely on purchasing them.
Right now I'm specifically looking for any source of orange colored rocks/crystals. I bought a glass jack-o-lantern at Goodwill and I want to tumble and polish orange rocks/crystals to keep inside it. I've looked up some types that come in various shades of orange - of which I could only find two types that you can look up on Etsy or Amazon, orange calcite and sunstone - and noticed that with the calcite at least it tends to sell by the piece rather than the pound.
I'm not looking for super high quality stuff, obviously. I just tumble for the joy of it and often give pieces away as gifts to friends who also enjoy shiny rocks.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 26, 2022 22:51:33 GMT -5
I buy rocks and slabs to cab. I don't tumble. Etsy has nice stuff but is expensive with the exception of altamontbead and I buy a lot from him. Good pictures and free shipping. I buy from blairrock and three facebook pages. I also buy on ebay but am very selective on quality and price. Everyone who sells rock has more than they list, so I ask.
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Post by Rockoonz on Aug 26, 2022 22:55:32 GMT -5
You can also find Carnelian agate in orange shades, the deeper reds are the priciest so the more orange to yellow shades may be more reasonably priced.
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Post by vegasjames on Aug 27, 2022 0:10:20 GMT -5
If you are on Facebook try the Rock Swap board. See if anyone has what you are looking for and maybe they will trade fro some stuff you have.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2022 8:28:31 GMT -5
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Aug 27, 2022 10:07:12 GMT -5
I've bought some items from various vendors on ebay. Some are good and some rather disappointing. Just read the full description on the ad for the stone, and pay real attention to the measurements that they give. Some folks use rather deceptive photography. Be very choosy!
Jim
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Aug 27, 2022 10:21:13 GMT -5
I've bought some items from various vendors on ebay. Some are good and some rather disappointing. Just read the full description on the ad for the stone, and pay real attention to the measurements that they give. Some folks use rather deceptive photography. Be very choosy! Jim I've bought some large crystals from Ebay in the past. The pics were always a hand holding the crystal out. You could tell it was the hand of a miner because of the way the dirt was permanently ground in. I would translate the measurements from metric and be astounded as to how tiny these hands were. A crystal that would look like it had to be ten inches long would be three or four. They were not only kids, they were tiny kids. |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Aug 28, 2022 22:51:29 GMT -5
Craigslist. I never buy rocks, but if I did, it would be from other rock weirdos on Craigslist.
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Elle
off to a rocking start
I keep repeating "What is it? What are you?" But the rocks aren't talking...🤔
Member since December 2021
Posts: 5
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Post by Elle on Aug 29, 2022 7:55:14 GMT -5
I live in Mackenzie, BC Canada. There are lots of orange-toned rocks here, do you need them to be translucent like quartz or can they be opaque like a chert? I have no idea how much shipping rocks from here to there would be, but I'd be happy to take a look around for you.
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Aug 29, 2022 10:08:08 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that you should also watch the shipping costs. I've noticed quite a difference in shipping from sellers in the same area of the country. As example, one seller may ship a lot of different rocks for around $4.50 consistantly, while another seller in the same area charges $9.65 per shipping order. Again, just be observant. That shipping cost could make an attractive price end up being costly.
Jim
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Sept 5, 2022 8:27:27 GMT -5
Craigslist. I never buy rocks, but if I did, it would be from other rock weirdos on Craigslist. Rock Weirdo. Hey! I resemble that remark! |
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rob58
starting to shine!
Member since September 2022
Posts: 37
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Post by rob58 on Sept 17, 2022 7:31:01 GMT -5
    Not having had much experience in buying stone yet, I have recently purchased some from two different vendors on Amazon. I figured I'd start getting a little inventory on hand, because I'm not going to keep using rocks out of my yard forever. The first pic is from the vendor Forby and it is a 3lb Madagascar mix. That was $17. The second batch came from Fantasia Mining. It was also 3lb and labeled as their premium world stone mix. This was $31 and the stone came from Asia, Brazil and Madagascar. The weights on both were right on 3lb +, packaged in plastic zip lock bags and very little dust and debris in the bags, so in my mind, they were being handled properly. As far as cost goes, I don't know if this is good or I was ripped off. Since this purchase, I have found other vendors but haven't really done any comparisons to them yet. But I thought I would at least share this with you. Still working on this downloading picture thing, wanted them posted after the text, but oh well. The pictures are in order of how I wrote them in my message. |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 10, 2022 1:45:49 GMT -5
If you are just starting out, it is much better to tumble one type of stone at a time rather than a mix. It's hard to be sure with the rocks wet, but if my guesses as to what some of them are are correct, you have some mixed hardness and definitely some mix in brittleness. Brittleness is not a problem if you don't mind cracks and chips, but most people don't want this. Hardness is always important because your softer rocks will often not polish properly if mixed in with harder rocks. Even the "same" rock from two different locations can be a problem, for example, rose quartz from two different locations may not tumble well together. I haven't tumbled for quite a while (except when the local rock club needs giveaways for kids), but when I purchased rocks for tumbling, the Rockshed was at the top of my list. I just took a quick look at their prices, and many of them are less expensive that what you have purchased. I hope this helps!
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Post by stardiamond on Oct 21, 2022 10:50:43 GMT -5
Lately, I'm finding a lot of great stuff at bargain prices on facebook. They are auctions and more like a flea market or rock show than ebay or Etsy. A lot of buy it now sales where a person needs to be there at the right time when it is first offered.
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brybry
Cave Dweller
Enter your message here...
Member since October 2021
Posts: 1,221
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Post by brybry on Oct 21, 2022 21:08:38 GMT -5
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Oct 21, 2022 21:51:14 GMT -5
Besides buying from a member of this forum and some from Little Red Store, I've bought most of the rocks I've tumbled from either Amazon or various sellers on Etsy. Obviously Etsy tends to have better quality and prices. I was wondering where else might be good sources that wouldn't kill my credit card though. I won't deny as a part time library assistant I don't make a ton of money. But until I have a chance to actually go out and look for rocks I have to rely on purchasing them. Right now I'm specifically looking for any source of orange colored rocks/crystals. I bought a glass jack-o-lantern at Goodwill and I want to tumble and polish orange rocks/crystals to keep inside it. I've looked up some types that come in various shades of orange - of which I could only find two types that you can look up on Etsy or Amazon, orange calcite and sunstone - and noticed that with the calcite at least it tends to sell by the piece rather than the pound. I'm not looking for super high quality stuff, obviously. I just tumble for the joy of it and often give pieces away as gifts to friends who also enjoy shiny rocks. Look up Red Avertine on Amazon, its not actually red its more orange. As far as cost goes, etsy has SOME cheap sellers. Some of the flints are orangeish brown. Going through dozens and dozens of pages on Etsy is likely your best bet to find SOME cheaper deals, Amazon isnt BAD on some stuff. You might also check Ebay. |
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Post by fernwood on Oct 22, 2022 4:54:48 GMT -5
The Rock Shed, RTH members and local yard sales.
I am fortunate to have several locals who have almost monthly sales of a variety of rough rocks, specimens, slabs, etc. throughout the year.
Yes, I am now friends with them.
Have also purchased rocks at local estate sales and off FB Marketplace type listings. I was able to see everything in person.
I like being able to see and feel what I am buying.
Am very picky about who I purchase items from if I can only see a photo. It must be someone who I trust and who has excellent reviews.
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Oct 22, 2022 10:07:03 GMT -5
Look up "The Rock Shed" on the internet and look under crushed rock or rough rock for tumbling. Shawn has some very nice rocks for sale. The larger pieces will need to be cut or you can sand or tumble them as is. They are sold by the pound and well worth the price. Shawn has some nice, colorful rocks that you will surely like.
Jim
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jamijr
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 59
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Post by jamijr on Oct 23, 2022 9:03:53 GMT -5
Wow, I thought this thread wasn't getting any replies. I didn't get a single notification on it until today.
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Post by victor1941 on Oct 24, 2022 16:26:50 GMT -5
Jamijr, Kingsley North has carnelian on page 9 of their new catalogue.
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