What if..............

[charlotte49er]

Someone you worked with knew you have 2 cars. He asked to borrow one until he got enough money to buy his own. And oh, if he wrecked it, or something broke, he'd expect you to fix it ASAP so he wouldn't be impaired.

AND HE EXPECTED YOU TO LET HIM USE IT FOR FREE!!!

I have 2 gold dredges. A 4" and a 2 1/2". They are like a giant vacuum cleaner. They suck up dirt from the bottom of a creek/stream/river/lake and process it pulling out the gold and a little dirt.

Always in the past when someone wants to borrow one, I didn't have a problem. The only rule is, I get 50% of the gold you find. (If dredges were cheap, everyone would have one. I just happen to have 2!) You are on the honor system about the gold. If I find out you cheated me on the gold split, you'll never use my dredge again! (At $1600 an ounce, everyone is going to cheat a little in their favor. sS I probably end up with a 35-40% split at best.)

So the last 3 days, 2 people have asked to borrow my 4" dredge. if it didn't recirculate the water, it would suck a small river or large stream dry in minutes! And the 4" is about the biggest a hobbiest prospector needs. (Unless you are going to Alaska for the Summer, then you probably what like the Aerosmith song. "A big 10"!)

They are no both royally pissed at me because I wouldn't let them use my 4" free!

Gold Dredge in action

Mine also as an air pump, expansion tank, regulator and I even provide a dive mask and fins. All you have to do is provide is swim trunks or a wet/dry suit and weights.

I know, I'm a royal prick for not letting someone use my expensive toys!

[bredy087]

Nah you aren't a prick. This world ain't free, they gotta pay.

[LifeisaGarden]

You aren't obligated to lend anyone anything.

[Razzy]

No fuging way. I would have a hard time lending out expensive equipment even if I was getting 50% of the take. You aren't the prick, they are. How much do they cost? I've got to guess at least a couple thousand.

[mush]

chances are they'd use it for free until something broke on it then they'd set it aside til you asked for it back and return it broken.

[MCP]

Your stuff, your rules, if they don't like it, tell them to GTFO, and get their own stuff.

[Carolina Husker]

Total dick move brah.

[mmmbeans]

godamn claim jumpers.

[charlotte49er]

No f*cking way. I would have a hard time lending out expensive equipment even if I was getting 50% of the take. You aren't the prick, they are. How much do they cost? I've got to guess at least a couple thousand.

A new 4" dredge with air can run $3000-$3500. Used (which I got mine used, but worked on it over a month updating everything.) They can run $1800-$2500.

I asked the first guy what he was thinking. (in terms of a fair compensation for me taking all the risk.) He said 10%.

I pointed out that one of the board members just posted that he was paying 25% to the land owner for the rights to dredge on the guys property and the guy wasn't providing anything, other than the creek on his property.

So I came back with a $100/day and 33% of the gold.

He came back and between what they were paying the property owner and then having to split it 4 ways (4 guys working the creek.) There was no way He was going to give me 33%. He told me where to stick my dredge. LOL

They one of the 4 guys PM'ed me asking to borrow the dredge. How dumb to these people think I am? I knew that they were all working together. I hate when people try to play me!

And this guy always asked to borrow any new equipment I get! I have made some good friends and contacts over the years. Sometimes I get free equipment to test out, sometimes I get equipment at very good prices.

So I told him, 50% split.

He said to never PM him again AND what to do with my dredge! :D

[charlotte49er]

I'm the modern Day Levi Strauss!

In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss, a 24-year-old German immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother's New York dry goods business.

Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr. Strauss was selling. When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, "You should have brought pants!," saying he couldn’t find a pair of pants strong enough to last.

Levi Strauss had the canvas made into waist overalls. Miners liked the pants, but complained that they tended to chafe. Levi Strauss substituted a twilled cotton cloth from France called "serge de Nimes." The fabric later became known as denim and the pants were nicknamed blue jeans.

In 1873, Levi Strauss & Company began using the pocket stitch design. Levi Strauss and Nevada tailor David Jacobs co-patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength. On May 20, 1873, they received U.S.Patent No.139,121. This date is now considered the official birthday of "blue jeans."

(On a side note: The rivet dedsign has only changed one time. Orginally there was a rivet on the crotch of the jeans where all the fabric met. When cowboys and miners squatted down at the camp fire then stook up, the rivet became hot and burned their nut-sac. :eek: Levi Strauss did away with that rivet.)

The two-horse brand design was first used in 1886. The red tab attached to the left rear pocket was created in 1936 as a means of identifying Levi’s jeans at a distance. All are registered trademarks that are still in use.

If you can't make money prospecting, make money from prospectors!

:D

[Jangler]

He said to never PM him again AND what to do with my dredge! :D

I think dredging might have a new meaning.

[LifeisaGarden]

Are these people supposed to be your friends?

[Happy Panther]

Is this a bad time to ask if I can borrow one of your dredges?

[pdandy1994]

that seems like an ineffective way to gold...