We too can recommend Hoover & Strong; we’ve been getting a lot
of stuff from them lately. In addition, you can send them scrap
for credit. We sent them enough scrap to give us a credit
balance with them, and–if we work it right–we may not have to
mail them a check for quite a while.
Joel Kahn <@Joel_Kahn>
Comptroller for Maxon’s Jewelers
Diamond Merchants & Estate Jewelers
2622 S Glenstone, Springfield Missouri 65804 USA
Voice: 417-887-1800 or 417-887-1809
Fax: 417-887-3422
Hi Everybody!!
Speaking of Hoover and Strong…I’m thinking of switching to
another company for my Silver. I recently got an order from Rio
Grande and have liked them so far cuz they have everything
(alomst =-) Anyways my silver sheet was VERY scratched and I
ordered one foot of thick rectangular wire and got 11 inches AND
it was cut diagonally!!
So, am I being picky or is this unnecessary?? Should I expect my
Silver to be free of scratches?? (I make enough work for myself
=-)
Whadda y’all think?
Thanks
Kathie
Don’t get me started on Rio’s metals department… Oh,
ok… I have had terrible luck with the sheet from Rio coming
scratched. I ordered a small piece of the spring-hardened 14kt
gold, and it came looking like it had been clawed by lions. I
needed the piece done fast, so I was forced to use it and grind
half of it away to clean it up. I’ve also had sheets of silver
packaged with gallery bezel standing prongs down on it. The
gallery really chews up the sheet in shipping. I’ve asked Rio to
stop shipping it this way, but apparently they don’t feel it’s
necessary to keep sheet undamaged. So what did I do? Rio used to
(maybe still does) tell you to call one of their VPs if you are
unhappy. So, I did. He was out, so I left a message explaining my
problem. When he called me back, he actually told me off! He saw
no problem with the scratched sheet, and could not conceive of
why I did. Told me I should buff better. I used bad language to
tell him what he should do. Gee, I feel better now! I’m about out
of sheet. I think it’s time to call Hoover and Strong 
Karen
(no, the other one)
Hoover and Strong’s sterling prices are higher than some other
suppliers. This has been an ongoing discussion in our studio over
the past couple weeks- Hoover is more expensive for sterling in
small quantities than Stuller or Rio Grande (by 30% on some
items, according to my studio-mates). You might also try Swest or
one of several other larger suppliers.
I buy from Hoover for several reasons- I use their 18k royal
alloy for a lot of my fabricated jewelry, their plumb gold
solders are very good, they ship fast, and I’ve had an open
account for years. I’ve been quite happy with their refining
returns as well. Great company, however, and on a wall in my home
is a 1904 Eldridge nautical chart of Martha’s Vineyard that
George Hoover sent me years ago, out of the blue.
Rick
Richard D. Hamilton
Fabricated 14k, 18k, and platinum Jewelry
wax carving, modelmaking, jewelry photography
When he called me back, he actually told me off! He saw
no problem with the scratched sheet, and could not conceive of
why I did. Told me I should buff better. I used bad language to
tell him what he should do. Gee, I feel better now! I’m about out
of sheet. I think it’s time to call Hoover and StrongKaren
(no, the other one)
Sounds like a public relations nightmare. I do’t usually buy
fabricated metal products from Rio, just tools and occasionally
findings, but the New Mexico job market being what it is, it may
be a help problem. Hoover does do a great job of packaging their
metal products, usually in envelopes or thick plastic bags- worst
cast senario is that wire sections are occasionally slightly
bent. Their silver fabricated prices are higher- you might try
Stuller- more careful packing than Rio, lower silver prices on
small quantities than Hoover.
Rick
Richard D. Hamilton
Fabricated 14k, 18k, and platinum Jewelry
wax carving, modelmaking, jewelry photography
I recently got an order from Rio Grande and have liked them so far cuz they have everything (alomst 3D-)
You might try Thunderbird Supply Co., 800-545-7968 or e-mail,
tbird@tbscorp.com. Their web site is. htt[p://www.tbscorp.com.
They’ve got 2 catalogs, Tools, Metals & Findings. Very good
service & prices.
Dave
Kathie,
In my experience the cheapest and best people for silver stock
(with no scratches - they bag separately) are IJS - that is,
Indian Jewelers’ Supply in New Mexico. They have a regular # -
1-505-722-4451 for quotes, info, etc. and a watts line #
1-800-545-6540 for ordering.
I only buy silver stock and grain and some findings from them.
I’ve found that for rock (cabs, beads, etc.) it’s better to go
elsewhere and they are repping tools, so keep looking for
suppliers in that area.
Nina
Nina - Silver Design, 9122 S. Federal Hwy, Suite 249,
Pt. St. Lucie, FL. 34952 : Toll Free:1-888-460-1800
URL: http://www.nina-sd.com : Email: @Nina
You might try Thunderbird Supply Co., 800-545-7968 or e-mail, tbird@tbscorp.com. Their web site is. htt[p://www.tbscorp.com. They've got 2 catalogs, Tools, Metals & Findings. Very good service & prices.
Dave, I agree that Thunderbird Supply is quite good! As is
Indian Jeweler’s Supply (basically the same prices . . .)
I’ve had problems with Rio, I ordered a QUART of patina, they
sent a tiny bottle (less than 4 onces . . .) and charged me
$28.00!!! (The price which was supposed to be the QUART price.)
When I complained, I received another tiny bottle. . . I haven’t
ordered much from Rio since then. I don’t like “bait and
switch” and that’s what I felt happended.
Even better than Rio prices is Indian Jewelry Supply in Gallop New Mexico.
1-800-545-6540
some prices:
Sterling 10-24 0z spot plus (US dollars)
Sheet - 1.65
Round wire- 2.01
Casting Grain- 1.10
Fine Silver 10-24 oz
Sheet & plain strip (bezel)-2.99
Will Rogers never met a lawyer.
Bobert
So, am I being picky or is this unnecessary?? Should I expect my
Silver to be free of scratches?? (I make enough work for myself
=-)
silver should be sold as scratch free as possible. I have in the
past paid alot more money for scratch free sheets from suppliers-
they come wrapped up - but still I think it is ridiculous pay
more. Also I hate it when they sell you silver tightly coiled or
bent… it makes me crazy!!!
DeDe
When he called me back, he actually told me off! He saw
no problem with the scratched sheet, and could not conceive of
why I did. Told me I should buff better. I used bad language to
tell him what he should do. Gee, I feel better now! I’m about out
of sheet. I think it’s time to call Hoover and Strong
(no, the other one)
Dear Karen:
I had an agruement with a customer service person once at Rio.
I needed to return some (badly) damaged gemstones - they were
chipped- and since Rio’s stones are expensive I called customer
service to tell them I was sending them back and complain that
they shipped merchandise in bad shape. They practically accused
me of damaging the stones myself!!! I have spent tons of money
at Rio and I had never ever returned anything before. Whatever
happened to the customer being right?? Anyway, they accepted the
return…
Hi - It’s good to hear there are so many people happy with their
metal suppliers/refiners. Here’s another one to add to the list
: Hauser & Miller in St. Lousi, Mo. 800-462-7447. They process
orders quickly - I rarely even see finger prints on the metal,
much less scratches. Their tech people are accessible for
help, etc. I have not ever been disappointed with
orders or service. Laura
Hi - It's good to hear there are so many people happy with their metal suppliers/refiners. Here's another one to add to the list : Hauser & Miller in St. Lousi, Mo. 800-462-7447. They process orders quickly - I rarely even see finger prints on the metal, much less scratches. Their tech people are accessible for help, etc. I have not ever been disappointed with orders or service.
I agree, Hauser & Miller is a good source for stock. I’ve tried
almost every source for sterling casting grain and the best by
far that I’ve found for clean, consistant, and pure product is
Stern Leach in Attleboro, MA (508)226-2701 (why is it that metal
suppliers all have two names?)J.A.
In all fairness, I wish to report that I did finally receive a
telephone call from Torry Hoover, on April 6th, regarding the
numerous difficulties I have reported recently with my order in
December. He expressed his dissatisfaction and his disappointment
with the way in which my original order was handled, as well as all
of the subsequent complications which ensued. He also assured me that
until reading my posts on Orchid he had not been made aware of all
the details of the situation.
Although my loss of time, income, and the good faith of my clients
were not restored, it was at least reassuring to hear that the many
problems with my order are not the normal procedures to be expected
when dealing with Hoover & Strong. I do commend his willingness to
call me and discuss the situation, and to offer an apology, which I
very much appreciated.
Michael David Sturlin, jewelry artist @Michael_David_Sturli
https://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/sturlin.htm
