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Tips for selecting a geology rock hammer
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Selection tips for rock hammers
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| Geology rock hammer, prospecting pick, rock picks Geologists usually call them rock hammers, and rock hounds often call them rock picks. Take your choice because technically, neither term is exactly right. The industry standard ANSI/HTI B.173.6-1991 which covers them labels them as "bricklayers' hammers" and "prospecting picks". The only difference is that bricklayers' hammers have a chisel shaped end, while prospecting picks have a pointed end, and maybe a longer handle. They have identical requirements for steel material, strength, and safety. |
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| Pick style vs Chisel style rock hammers Both styles are intended to be used as hammers. It is the square hitting end of the hammer that is used by field geologists to break open a small rock sample to get a fresh surface to evaluate. So either style works fine for most geology purposes. The chisel style of rock hammer is usually associated with "soft rock" geologists who often use the wide chisel end as a scraper to carve away the weathered surface of a sedimentary outcrop so the finer details of the deposits can be seen. Paleontologists and fossil hunters use the chisel end as a digging tool or to scrape away soft weathered rock or dirt while teasing out fossils from a deposit. The pick style of rock hammer is usually associated with "hard rock" geologists who rarely use the pointed pick end at all. Sometimes they might use the pick end to retrieve an interesting piece of "float" that has broken off an outcrop and gotten embedded in the surrounding dirt. Such use is pretty rare, since "float" samples have little scientific value because it is impossible to know with certainty how they are related to the outcrop of interest. |
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| Crack or drilling or sledge hammers are also
used by geologists who need a heavier 2 or 3 pound hammer to break
samples from tough metamorphic outcrops. These kinds of
heavier hammers are also used by mineral collectors.
Sometimes they are used as hammers to break up large samples, other
times they are used with a stone chisel to split or break samples from
an outcrop. Because these kinds of hammers are widely available
locally, we do not stock them. |
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| Handle Length: The average geology rock hammer has an overall length of about 12 to 13 inches. But some people prefer an extra long handled hammer because it keeps their hand farther away from flying debris when striking a blow. For them, we have a longer 15 inch hammer, but only in the pick style. If you aren't particularly tall and intend to carry your hammer on your tool belt, an extra long handled hammer can wind up banging against your knee while you walk. Also, use caution when using the long handle geology hammer because the higher velocity of the head will cause many more flying chips. For tough rocks a heavier sledge hammer is much better and safer to use than a long handle geology hammer. |
| Handle
Material: The best geology rock hammers have steel handles that are forged in one piece with the head. These can't loosen or break unexpectedly when you are a long way away from anyplace you can find a replacement. We do stock a professional chisel style hammer with a wooden handle, but it is a lighter hammer intended for less severe use. |
| Grip
Material Assuming you have selected an all steel rock hammer, the best grips for them are synthetic rubber or plastic. Kooter's opinion is that the basic black neoprene of the Vaughan hammer grip stands up to the constant exposure to sunlight best. The blue nylon-vinyl that Estwing uses is also pretty good, but with a slight tendency to harden and crack with age and exposure to ultraviolet light, just like some geologists. Some people ask for a geology rock hammer with a grip made of leather discs. Estwing makes these, and we agree they are pretty to look at. But, we found they are not especially practical for an outdoor tool that will go thru many cycles of getting drenched by rain and baked by the sun. Every time that happens each of those leather disks will expand and contract a little, and all those little changes result in a big change in the grip, and it can get quite loose or soft, especially if you have to use it when it is still wet. Best to keep that pretty hammer indoors at a bench. |
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| Hammer Weight: A geology rock hammer with a total weight in the 24 to 34 ounce total weight range will do the job, and not be a burden to carry. Lighter weight rock hammers would tend to be a little too meager for serious use, and more weight than that gets to be a burden to lug around all day unless you really need a heavier hammer. Geology rock hammers come in a range of weights, but using the published nominal weight can be misleading. The listed weight sometimes describes the nominal weight of the head, but it might also be just a conveniently close enough number the manufacturer uses to catalog that model among the dozens of other hammers they make. Here's what we found out by putting some hammers on a scale: The Vaughan 16P rock hammer is catalogued as a "16 ounce" hammer, and the very similar Estwing E3-22P rock hammer is catalogued as a "22 ounce" hammer. Do the math, and the Estwing should be almost 40% heavier than the Vaughan. But put them on a scale, and on average the Vaughan weighed in at 29 ounces, and the Estwing was about 30 ounces; only few percent different. And even that is not the whole story. The Vaughan hammer company has great quality control standards, and hold pretty close to a range between 29 and 30 ounces. But we have found Estwings from different production runs that ran from about 29 to 32 ounces. In other words, some "16 ounce" Vaughans weigh more than some "22 ounce" Estwings. So, we prefer to list our rock hammers by total weight, rather than their "catalog" weight. And we don't sell Estwing products any longer. In reality, a couple of ounces one way or another doesn't matter much for typical field mapping work or rock hound use. As mentioned earlier, if you intend to use a hammer to hit a chisel or to break large samples, then you really need a 2 or 3 pound sledge hammer. These are often listed as "crack hammers" or "drilling hammers" and are easy to obtain locally. |
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| WARNING! Rock hammers are dangerous: They are used to make big things break into small pieces. The small pieces fly around and can cause injury. So, even when used properly, rock hammers can injure your eyes, or someone else standing a long distance away. Always wear eye protection that is suitable for protection from flying debris. Geology rock hammers themselves can also chip or break, so they should be inspected for cracks or chips in the head and handle before each use. Even then, some defects will not be visible, and they won't show up until you swing the hammer or the head hits a rock. You should wear eye goggles, and take care that there are no bystanders who could be injured. Even if you and everyone else is wearing goggles, be careful that no one is nearby or even approaching, because the back swing of your hammer could injure someone with the sharp pick or chisel end. Also keep in mind that taking a casual whack at every rock face within reach is considered to be rude, as well as dangerous, behavior for a geologist. Never use a rock hammer to hit anything except a rock, or the head of a masonry chisel. We have seen people use one hammer to hit the head of a chisel style hammer being used in place of a masonry chisel. This is tool abuse, and very dangerous. The steel surface of a geology hammer head is specially hardened. If it strikes a similarly hardened surface of another hammer head, then one or both heads can chip dangerously. Masonry chisels are made with a soft steel head that can safely be struck with a hardened hammer face. |
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Last revision 05/26/2008 |