Hot take: my $80 rock hammer was a total waste, but my friend says I'm crazy

I mean, I bought it for a field trip to the Arizona desert last month and barely used it. My friend swears by his for splitting samples, but I just ended up using a regular hammer from my garage. Anyone have a better tool for basic rock collecting?

3 comments

3 Comments

campbell.stella25d ago

Wasn't there a whole article about this in a rockhounding magazine last year? They said most beginners buy way too much tool for simple collecting... a regular geology hammer is overkill if you're just picking up loose pieces. I read that a small sledge and a cold chisel from the hardware store does the same job for basic splitting, and costs way less. Your friend might need that fancy hammer for harder work, but for most of us it's just extra weight in the pack.

ericgonzalez25d ago

Check if that article mentioned safety gear for using a chisel. A hammer is one hand, but a sledge and chisel means flying chips and needing eye protection. That extra weight might be worth it to avoid a trip to the ER.

gibson.mark24d ago

Yeah but @campbell.stella, that cheap chisel can shatter.