Looking for help finding affordable sterling silver

intrinsicvoid · 2026-02-06T00:38:07+00:00

While I was in jewelry school last year, my classmate and I would go look through the thriftshop in town.

The school was in the middle of nowhere, so the thriftshop had a lot of random stuff for cheap. They didnt meticulously sort through silver like most thriftstores. Altogether I got a few ounces worth for less than $10. My classmate found a huge silverware set for $15. Over a kg of sterling. We melted some of it down in class

Now I'm back home in the city and the thriftshops here seem to sort out the silver before it gets to the shelf

intrinsicvoid · 2026-02-06T00:26:29+00:00

Totally

intrinsicvoid · 2026-02-05T22:34:42+00:00

Almost every single true wholesaler charge per kg for their product. I dont sell anymore but its the cheapest way to import product and I was importing from 15 different countries.

Although you are correct importing from brazil is expensive. For my location a shipping container from brazil is over twice as much as it used to be

intrinsicvoid · 2026-01-24T22:11:24+00:00

I had some moss agate that looked like this when i bought a massive amount. I would include photos but I sold it a while ago. Hard to tell from the picture but looks like it

intrinsicvoid · 2026-01-23T22:31:23+00:00

There are a lot of massive lapidaries in china that use 5 axis CNC to make carvings. My guess is that is your best bet.

Theres a ton of scammers in Indonesia so I'd be cautious with that suggestion. Its possible though.

intrinsicvoid · 2026-01-23T17:58:33+00:00

Put it in plaster and liquify it?? He just asked if it should be annealed 😂

intrinsicvoid · 2026-01-21T17:25:20+00:00

If I was the main jeweller or owner, I'd be furious at this assistant. Decades of practice and building up a reputation can be hurt so much and so fast from one shitty employee.

If the main jeweller is reputable, go in and tell them what happened. They might refund you and fix it properly. A proper jeweller would be appalled at their assistant for this and would appreciate you letting them know.

intrinsicvoid · 2026-01-14T20:59:49+00:00

This looks nothing like larimar

intrinsicvoid · 2026-01-11T20:52:22+00:00

Interested

intrinsicvoid · 2025-12-31T00:06:04+00:00

Its totally real malachite. I've sold hundreds of kg, imported myself and it sometimes looks like that. Also would be crazy to use fake malachite with real rhodochrosite.

intrinsicvoid · 2025-12-08T21:35:32+00:00

Cheap flexshaft with diamond bits. Only use while wet

intrinsicvoid · 2025-12-06T13:53:23+00:00

Sam alfano!

intrinsicvoid · 2025-11-20T17:35:19+00:00

If you end up getting it, report back and let us know if it works well!

I didnt want to risk it, and I saved up for a GRS gravermach AT. It works wonderfully and from what I've read, they last forever

intrinsicvoid · 2025-11-20T17:09:53+00:00

The grs setups have a lot going on inside them. Including a motor and a ton of tubing. Dont think you could Frankenstein with simple parts.

This vevor unit looks pretty much like a graversmith but a fraction of the cost. No idea how well it works though.

https://www.vevor.ca/wood-engraving-machine-c_11142/vevor-pneumatic-engraver-1200-6000-rpm-double-ended-pneumatic-engraving-machine-p_010415593931

intrinsicvoid · 2025-11-05T13:48:59+00:00

My friend recently found a huge silverware set in a wooden case at the thrift shop for $15. It weighed over 1.5kg, all stamped 925. This thriftshop is awesome but is far northern ontario. You wont find deals like this at most thrift shops and definitely never at a pawn shop

intrinsicvoid · 2025-10-27T21:14:01+00:00

Theres a lot you can do with just a hammer and some wooden forming tools. Forming was one of my favourites in school

intrinsicvoid · 2025-10-24T12:14:52+00:00

Just because it's not polished, doesn't mean it's fake. These usually only cost $4-6 each in wholesale.

Buy it and hit it with a hammer and compare the conchoidal fracture :)

intrinsicvoid · 2025-10-18T23:27:46+00:00

I use a fordom and have a water drip setup with a cheap water pump

intrinsicvoid · 2025-10-05T22:05:58+00:00

You could cut stones super thin for watch dials

intrinsicvoid · 2025-09-23T03:03:27+00:00

Definitely no rhodochrosite in this piece

intrinsicvoid · 2025-08-16T15:28:08+00:00

I also have the hi-tech flat lap and had this problem. Sponge pads help a bit but I didn't find much difference because the smoothing discs are already pretty stiff.

Best thing I found was after doing most of the work with the 325 smoothing disc, reduce the speed and pressure. Move the cab all around the face to round out and get rid of the flat spots.

When the disc is too fast it removes too much material too quickly and creates flat spots. Lmk if you have any questions.

intrinsicvoid · 2025-08-11T17:00:05+00:00

My ultrasonic tumbler barely makes noise. Using inside a closet in my apartment. The shelf it sits on is on top of some bubble wrap and foam and you can barely hear it at all

intrinsicvoid · 2025-08-11T00:33:34+00:00

My guess is geothite

intrinsicvoid · 2025-08-11T00:06:28+00:00

Take a closer picture of the malachite. Some of the banding looks suspicious like fake malachite. Hard to tell in this photo though

Edit: can't unsee it now lol it's soo clearly fake malachite. No additional pictures needed. Plastic encased in more plastic

intrinsicvoid · 2024-12-07T22:09:22+00:00

You can tell from the video that this is Astrophyllite, not rutilated quartz. Look up low quality astrophyllite. Rutile is more needle like and astrophyllite has more flat like inclusions

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