Rockhound tools

A wire framed hiking backpack is definitely worth the money. They are simply more comfortable and useful than the alternative. I have a great Osprey day pack that contains a camelback for water and distributes the weight on my hips.

It also has a mesh membrane that separates the bulk of the backpack from my back, drastically reducing the amount of sweat a must for a sweaty guy like me! I wrote about how much I love this backpack here. These backpacks also tend to have a lot of handy little pockets on the front of the straps that make accessing your tools a lot faster and more convenient. There are a wide variety of rock hammers to choose from. To start with, just get a general use hammer that you can use in most situations.

For most rockhounds, a 2 to 4 pound hammer with a pick or chisel will be a great place to start. The rock hammer that I personally use and recommend is the Estwing 22 oz rock pick. You can read my full review of it here. A good chisel pairs very well with a rock hammer.

The waist pack is definitely easier to load up with small stones or rocks as you walk, but both of these packs can be worn on your front during the time that you are actively picking up specimens to keep.

If you are planning on walking through the water and your balance is a concern, consider a pair of trekking poles like these and wear the straps over your wrists to avoid losing them in the water. But many popular rockhounding sites will require digging. Sometimes rockhounds will dig several feet down in order to look for their desired stone. You can us whatever backpack you have lying around the house, or you can invest in a backpack with an internal frame like this.

We wanted to set aside a special paragraph to discuss hunting for specimens in places that involves trying to take the specimen when it is encased in a lot of other material.

You might be using a hammer and chisel, or you might be swinging a sledge hammer. Don't forget to check lead times at the top of the product description! Black Friday Deals!!! Home Rockhounding Tools Rockhounding Tools Rockhounding tools are great when you are gemstone mining, rock hounding, or hiking. Filters Industry. Show 24 36 48 View as. Chipping hammers have a vertical chisel end that is used to fashion rock tiles as well as a pointed tip end.

These hammers also have cushioned handles to protect your hands and absorb vibration. Chipping hammers are able to deliver precise blows to small areas. A geo pick or paleo pick is the perfect digging tool for rockhounding and prospecting.

These hammers have a pointed end and a chisel edge. They are excellent for tearing apart sedimentary rock and digging small holes while kneeling or digging into a cliff side. Just like the name implies, this hammer is excellent for breaking down large rocks into smaller sized rocks.

Crack hammers have two flat polished ends and look like small handheld sledgehammers. Crack hammers can also be used to drive chisels and point ends into rocks. A sledge hammer has a long handle and is a pretty heavy tool. The sledge hammer is an essential tool to have when working on a site with many big and hard rocks that require more force to be broken down.

These are heavy hammers and can be difficult for some rock collectors to use. Cross peen hammers have a flat hammer face and a blunt chisel end. They are great hammers for reducing hand samples and driving chisels. Cross peen hammers also usually have a cushioned handle to absorb vibration.

Pointed Tip: Hammers with a pointed tip are great for expanding crevices, digging out veins and cracks and chipping out fossil concretions. Chisel Tip: Chisel tip hammers are best for splitting shale and sedimentary type rock to expose fossils. Square Head: Hammers with a square head provide a larger striking surface which helps deliver greater force to the targeted area. Long Handle: Long handled hammers provide increased distance from the area of impact which ultimately ends up being safer for you.

They can also be more difficult to swing than smaller hammers. Cushioned Handle: The cushioned handle on hammers provided better shock resistance and less chance for numb hands after a long period of use.

Leather Handle: The leather handle also provides some degree of shock resistance, but not as much as the synthetic material used in handle cushions. Many rockhounds prefer the leather handle because of the durability of leather as well as the classic look the leather provides. Also, consider painting your hammer orange or another bright fluorescent color. Tools are easy to leave behind because they tend to blend in with the ground.

A set of really good rock chisels is also an important thing when it comes to rockhounding tools. You really have two options when it comes to buying rock chisels. If you prefer to go with option one, the less expensive route, then I recommend buying Craftsman brand. That way if they break on you during normal wear and tear use, you can have them replaced at no cost to you.

If you choose to go the more expensive route, then I recommend that you consider buying rock chisels that have a carbide tip. Rock chisels with the carbide tip are the same size as the regular, less expensive counterparts.

The only difference is that they have a small piece of carbide welded onto the tip, which will keep its edge longer and make your job much, much easier. A hand rock chisel is exactly what it sounds like.

The end of the chisel narrows down into a straight thin edge.