Rock Tumbler Refill Grit Kit-- New Low Price--$14.95!

Tumble Polish 14 pounds of rock with this grit kit.  A full pound of each step and plastic pellets.  The grit is new (not recycled) silicon carbide in 60/90 & 120/220 grades, pre-polish, and aluminum oxide polish.  Includes Instructions!

(was $23.85)

Look for us on Travel Channel's Cash & Treasures Re-runs-- We're in the "Topaz" Episode

Thumler's AR-6 Rock Tumbler in our Basic Kit comes with everything you need, including a 9 pound capacity barrel and a 2 Year Extended Warranty. $145.00

rockshop@rocks4u.com
(801) 355-7952
Rockpick Legend Co.
1017 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah  84111
(Founded--Lewis Rock Shop in 1964)

 
Visit Our New Mineral Gallery--Mineral Specimens for Sale On-Line!

What is a Rock Shop, Anyway? 

The history of lapidary is well documented.  The art of cutting and polishing stones for ornamental purposes goes back thousands of years.

But when did rock shops come about and what are they exactly? 

Starting in the 1950s, rock shops were havens for rock-enthusiast travelers.  They were found on every major and many back roads in the country.  Many were run out of sheds, basements, and garages.

One could buy rocks found in areas local to the nearest rock shop.  Many rock shops would cut and polish treasures found or purchased by their customers. Most rock shops were dusty and dirty, hot, and largely ran by retirees.  Typically rock shop owners of the 1950s had little knowledge of mineralogy, petrology, geology, lapidary (besides tumbling) or business.  They were mom & pop shops with a flavor all their own and were reminiscent of Route 66.

Like other businesses that thrived on the Route 66 style of traveling, rock shops have largely gone by the wayside.  One may still run in to an occasional mom and pop style rock shop in their travels.  But today new types of rock shops are emerging.

The real rock shops are the ones that can tell you about local rocks, can cut and polish your or their rocks, can teach you how to operate lapidary equipment--including tumblers, and often display a cabinet of some of their best rocks and minerals.

These rock shops carry full lines of lapidary equipment and can teach you how to use them.  Many can show you a “museum” cabinet of fine minerals, fossils, and lapidary materials from their own area.  Better collections include display stands and accurate labeling.  Good rock shops carry a variety of tools and equipment for rock hounding.  They'll also have books to tell you where to go and what to find when you get there if you want to go out and collect yourself.  The more diverse rock shops have hand made local jewelry.  A test of quality for any business is the education and experience of the employees.  That is true for the modern rock shop, too.

Rockpick Legend Co. is one of the real rock shops.  We only stock the best of the best.  That is why we carry a full line of Thumler’s and Lortone rock tumbler kits.  We carry Covington’s rock saws, combo units, drill press, vibra-laps, sphere machines, and other lapidary equipment.  We carry Estwing rock hammers and gold pans.  We carry a large selection of minerals, fossils, and bulk rock.  We have gemstones, cabochons, hand lenses, Utah geodes, tumbled stones, local jewelry, beads, art, mining artifacts, display pieces, and display stands.  We have the ability to cut and polish your rocks.  We make custom spheres.  And we have a great knowledge of rocks, minerals, lapidary, and Utah.  We have combined the best of the old rock shops with modern conveniences, such as an internet catalog and secure internet shopping.  Please let us know how we can help you.  Thank you for your patronage!