DE&i Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 (edited) I use a 14 oz. Estwing geological pick for visiting Oxford Clay quarries. But after suffering from numerous blisters to my hand when trying to split clay shale labs that make up the quarry’s floors. It’s perhaps time to move onto a more substantial pick. If you could picture me in a Hoeing action posture as make my way across these vast quarry floors. Then this is the sort of pick I’ve been looking at the Estwing “Burpee” pick. Perhaps the handle could be a little longer but for simple carrying this may be the better option. All suggestions welcome. Edited November 19, 2015 by DarrenElliot Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Doesn't look like the head as much mass. Is the matrix you'll be working with hard and dense? It may require several extra swings or possibly bounce off while you're hitting it...causing injury or worse. If you're splitting soft shale or sandstone, this would be perfect imo. Good luck on your hunt for the ideal hammer! Best regards, Paul ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 Doesn't look like the head as much mass. Is the matrix you'll be working with hard and dense? It may require several extra swings or possibly bounce off while you're hitting it...causing injury or worse. If you're splitting soft shale or sandstone, this would be perfect imo. Good luck on your hunt for the ideal hammer! Best regards, Paul Hi Paul,The surface structure of the Quarry beds I like to concentrate on mostly is where water once was but has dried off . Leaving this cracked effect you can see from the photo. It is quite soft with a relitive thickness of about 4 inches. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Here's another option from Estwing. Regards, 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I wear a fingerless weightlifting glove (padded palm) on my hammering hand and have never had blisters since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I took a 24oz rock hammer head and put it on a large hickory (18"-20" long) hammer handle. It took a bit of whittling to get the handle small enough to fit in the head but man does it provide the needed leverage to break some rocks. Great for splitting shale. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 Here's another option from Estwing. Regards, Hi Tim, I like that and half the price I wonder if you can source one in the UK. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 I took a 24oz rock hammer head and put it on a large hickory (18"-20" long) hammer handle. It took a bit of whittling to get the handle small enough to fit in the head but man does it provide the needed leverage to break some rocks. Great for splitting shale. Very clever and sounds effective. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 40 oz? Sorry about the typo I should have wrote 14 oz. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 I wear a fingerless weightlifting glove (padded palm) on my hammering hand and have never had blisters since. Great Idea ill order one of those for my kit bag. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepTimeIsotopes Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I wear a fingerless weightlifting glove (padded palm) on my hammering hand and have never had blisters since. Where do you get one of those? Each dot is 50,000,000 years: Hadean............Archean..............................Proterozoic.......................................Phanerozoic........... Paleo......Meso....Ceno.. Ꞓ.OSD.C.P.Tr.J.K..Pg.NgQ< You are here Doesn't time just fly by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Hi Tim, I like that and half the price I wonder if you can source one in the UK. Here ya go! Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Where do you get one of those? A bought a leather pair on ebay a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepTimeIsotopes Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 A bought a leather pair on ebay a few years ago. Ok, thanks. Each dot is 50,000,000 years: Hadean............Archean..............................Proterozoic.......................................Phanerozoic........... Paleo......Meso....Ceno.. Ꞓ.OSD.C.P.Tr.J.K..Pg.NgQ< You are here Doesn't time just fly by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiggieCie Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Here is a pry bar I bought this year for fossil hunting and prying slate up out of stream bottoms. It is 21 inches long and light weight, and also has a wide head so it spreads the stress on slate. It also comes in handy working on quarry waste piles and road cuts. I find it handy for many uses. This is longer than the standard pry bar which is only about 14 inches long, that I have also used, but prefer the 21 inch model. It's only $15 US, a very good buy. http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-21-in-Spring-Steel-Flat-Bar-DWHT55528/202710554 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 (edited) If blisters on the hand is the issue..I think gloves is the answer, not a different hammer.... my two cents. Edited November 20, 2015 by jpc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 If blisters on the hand is the issue..I think gloves is the answer, not a different hammer.... my two cents. A 14oz hammer is part of the problem also. You have to do a lot more swinging to make a 14oz hammer work compared to a 20-24oz hammer. I prefer gloves and a bigger hammer!! Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 A 14oz hammer is part of the problem also. You have to do a lot more swinging to make a 14oz hammer work compared to a 20-24oz hammer. I prefer gloves and a bigger hammer!! point well taken...I am a 22 oz fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) Here's another option from Estwing. Regards, Yep,That is a nice tool. I also have been wearing fingerless gloves while collecting for years now. I used a pair made for skateboarding (I long since retired my board but kept the gear) and now here in Texas I use ones made for water sports since they breath well. Edited November 22, 2015 by erose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Pocock Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Well I think that the bigger hammer and gloves is the best bet, Regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) Hi everyone, My Estwing Big Blue Geo/Paleo Pick had arrived in the post today all the way from Italy. The handle measures 25" long and the head is 14" from pointed edge to chisel edge. It also has a durable powder-coated finish and a textured vinyl grip. First impression while holding it in hand is it’s perhaps a little too heavy for my liking weighing in at 2.2 kilograms. Also even with the handle measuring at 25 inches I perhaps could have gone for something a little longer. As the saying goes “The proof of the pudding (is in the eating) “I’ll be putting it to the test at the end of January for my first field trip of the new year. Not so many months ago a partially articulated plesiosaur skeleton representing a fully mature individual, was saved from today’s modern quarrying techniques from this spot. If this exposure is still there on this for ever changing landscape I’ll be putting my new pick to good use. And for those interested in purchasing one I’ll give my report back here as to how it handled. Thank you all for your Input. Edited December 31, 2015 by DarrenElliot 1 Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiggieCie Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 A tool that long comes in handy on steep scree/waste piles slopes in quarries. Flipping rocks without bending all of the way down, helping climb and steadying yourself. It has its plusses. Leverage for popping layers of shale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now