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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 27, 2017 22:14:24 GMT -5
I am driving a big rig down to San Antonio Tx on the 8th picking up a rental car and thinking of driving to Quartzite. I just never know for sure my schedule or if something goes awry with where I am dropping the rig. Will it be easy to get a hotel in short notice? Should a guy bring one of those collapsable wagons to haul the loot? How many days does one need to see most of it or before he runs out of cash. Does it makes sense like in Tucson don't buy at first because you are going to find it cheaper in 10 Min. Coupla answers for you: Hotel on short notice: anytime but Pow Wow week (1/17-21 this year) - probably. Pow wow week: no. Wagon: If you want to buy a bunch of rough, probably. I buy mostly slabs, so a little backpack does me. But a cart will work, the aisles are usually pretty wide and navigable. How many days: until you run out of money! Also depends if you're like me and look through every slab in every bucket at the entire show. Takes me 3 days or so to do either DG or Pow Wow. Naah, there isn't too much repitition on who is selling what, not like those bead sellers in Tucson. You'll see a few items were one dealer brought a bunch of XYZ rock, and all the other dealers bought a bit from him. Some will buy the rough from him and slab it up and sell slabs. But mostly they all have different stuff (or same material but different source or quality.) A better rule is: if you like it, buy it right now. If you say "I'll come back later", you'll find out that somebody swooped in and bought it all. Hope you can make it! You're guaranteed to have fun!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 27, 2017 16:56:05 GMT -5
True it would!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 27, 2017 10:58:29 GMT -5
Little saw is all ready to go to Scott's Saw Orphanage this weekend. Scoot you have to promise to bury it in the backyard if you can't fix it! jk
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 27, 2017 10:54:59 GMT -5
Wow, you've been very productive! It's shaping up very well! Much fun ahead for you playing with all those toys!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 23:40:12 GMT -5
Not sure that I qualify as wise, but here is my experience. We bought a new CabKing about two years ago. The 80# was very aggressive--I rarely start doming there. I usually begin doming on the 220#. We did have start up issues with the 1200# and 3000# wheels. The 3000# wheel caused horrific vibrations/noise on start up. Visual inspection of wheel showed very uneven distribution of the binding media. The 1200# wheel had one spot right in the middle of the wheel like Bluesky78987 described. We called the supplier, they sent replacement wheels, issues solved. After using the 80# wheel for two years for preforming it is now broken in well enough that when I am in a hurry to finish a very hard cab I will start doming there. Yeah, I don't dome on the 80 grit anymore. I dome on the 220. Seems like it cuts faster anyway. I installed a Diamond Pacific 229 nova wheel (soft wheel, but not an expando) on my Cab King and it seems to be working great, but it's too early to tell quite yet. Thanks to rockjunquie for the info on that.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 23:39:02 GMT -5
Yeah, I'll swing off the freeway and pick you guys up and take you to the "good" Pow Wow parking lot. Probably hit Blythe around 7:30ish. So we have a couple minutes to chat. Arent' you coming in on the 18th though? If you come in the morning, you could get a whole day at Desert Gardens! (which is easy to find and navigate). I know you're good with waking up early, but I guess your wife is coming this time right? Does she like rocks? If not, I can point out a few places she might want to explore.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 19:07:14 GMT -5
All you newbies, definitely don't spend time going anywhere else (except to visit drocknut) until you've exhausted the options at DG and Pow Wow. Those other areas are more of "I have extra time so I wonder what else I can find".
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 17:29:54 GMT -5
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 13:45:35 GMT -5
Maybe if I get motivated today I'll make a google map with the points of interest marked. Everybody should visit Gem World once in their life . . .
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 13:42:31 GMT -5
Those are sweeeeeeet! Treasure trove! Sooo jealous!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 26, 2017 0:13:33 GMT -5
Naah, you guys had too much Christmas eve pudding. Don't scare the newbies. I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes to get anywhere. Maybe because I just pull up to DG (or Pow Wow) first thing in the morning and don't leave till dinnertime. That's why I will be following you in on the 19th. I'd rather have a guide if possible. Sure thing, happy to swing through!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 25, 2017 10:42:40 GMT -5
Naah, you guys had too much Christmas eve pudding. Don't scare the newbies. I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes to get anywhere. Maybe because I just pull up to DG (or Pow Wow) first thing in the morning and don't leave till dinnertime.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 25, 2017 10:40:35 GMT -5
Brrrr! Merry Christmas!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 24, 2017 15:41:00 GMT -5
Wow, lots of potential there! That little round white one with the green (moss agate?) lines in it looks the most promising to me! And the round crayola jasper type could be great too! Hurry up and cut 'em!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 24, 2017 15:36:18 GMT -5
If you are staying in Blythe use the Blythe PO.the one in Q is a POS and hard to get to during powow. Traffic is worse in Q than any place I have ever driven.
Oh, c'mon Scott @shotgunner, it's not THAAAAT bad. Just try not to make a left turn across traffic on the main street. I guess it's really really really bad for a tiny little town though.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 24, 2017 15:24:16 GMT -5
Yes, thank you for posting the tutorial! I'd love to do some inlay. The cuff blank looks a little intimidating though - but I hear you can buy them. I would have said Indian Jeweler's Supply was the best place, but they seem to have declared bankruptcy.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 24, 2017 15:17:03 GMT -5
That's a work to be proud of. My second piece wasn't anywhere near that well done.
I hear you about the picture - If I look at the pics of my cabs too close, I end up throwing them all out!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 22, 2017 22:17:25 GMT -5
Perfect.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 22, 2017 18:13:43 GMT -5
The overage just wipe it off - it won't cure since it's not between things. I was grinding on mine within a minute of gluing it.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 22, 2017 17:24:21 GMT -5
Great writeup! You'll get faster, don't worry. How long does that Starbond take to cure?
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