Off Topic -- Geology

[Richard Jones]

Oldest granddaughter is starting college this fall, majoring in geology. Thought I would get her a nice rock hammer. Any brands better than any others? Would she need the loop as well? This will be at Appalachian State Univ or NC State.

I'm assuming these things are still used?

Thanks.

R

 

[Ned Ludd]

supplies needed for geology major? - Google Search

 

[RegionRat]

https://hammersource.com/geologist-hammers/

https://www.estwing.com/product-category/geological/

Lots of variation in the prices, weights/sizes, and quality of these hammers.
See if maybe her class syllabus includes a shopping list that can narrow it down?

 

[1911nut]

I’ve used the Estwing

 

[MClark]

Estwing is the only one to get. The pointy rock hammer not the chisel one.
The leather grip looks great but not good in field. Rock hammers take a lot of abuse and get wet.
The Matching small sledgehammer is the ticket to beat on the rock hammer.
Studied geology. I'm a Gemologist.

 

[Straightshooter1]

As an old rockhound, I agree with the recommendations for the Estwing brand.

 

[D Coots]

https://hammersource.com/geologist-hammers/

https://www.estwing.com/product-category/geological/

Lots of variation in the prices, weights/sizes, and quality of these hammers.
See if maybe her class syllabus includes a shopping list that can narrow it down?

Looks like what the geologists had when they came to my quarries. They were very helpful in determining how to bench off ledges according to qualities of aggregate they needed. They were all very helpful with quarry development here in Iowa. Good folks. Not quite the same dealing with getting things done in Illinois.

 

[rockhound78]

I used the Estwing leather handle pointed one for many a year. Still have it around.

 

[Richard Jones]

So this Leather

or this Rubber ??

Will check on the syllabus, thanks.

 

[GotRDid]

Perhaps a box of good safety glasses as well.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Oldest granddaughter is starting college this fall, majoring in geology. Thought I would get her a nice rock hammer. Any brands better than any others? Would she need the loop as well? This will be at Appalachian State Univ or NC State.

I'm assuming these things are still used?

Thanks.

R

Ask Trotsky, oops, wrong tool. I think he was done in w ice axe.

 

[Richard Jones]

Perhaps a box of good safety glasses as well.

Yeah, I did think about those as well. Thanks.

 

[ebb]

The leather is flashy and expensive, but too slippery for use in a place where the user would get sweaty. The blue rubber Estwing is indestructible. The Vaughn is also a maker of top quality hammers and should not be counted out. I know hammers, but not geology hammers. The very best claw hammers Ive ever used are Bluegrass or Plumb, and in that order.

 

[dunraven]

Estwing, pointed end will work just fine. Don't forget the belt holder. And a 10X jeweler's loupe, Bausch & Lomb, is indispensable.

Found geology a fascinating field, although did not follow thru with it as a career. All the sciences required did apply later in the medical field.

 

[divingin]

I got an Estwing hammer when I was a kid (back in the 60's.) Still have it around today. Looks like the rubber handle example that Richard posted above, except the non-working surfaces were painted blue.

 

[Flouncer]

Estwing is the only one to get. The pointy rock hammer not the chisel one.
The leather grip looks great but not good in field. Rock hammers take a lot of abuse and get wet.
The Matching small sledgehammer is the ticket to beat on the rock hammer.
Studied geology. I'm a Gemologist.

Heh Heh Heh IWe all Had the pointy classic hammer throughout college. It splays fragments and makes pin holes. Later in professional use, I found a bladed hammer that was far superior for splitting, cleaving layered rock, but still adequate for beating on stuff to crack it open. Must say sedimentary rocks and not what a Gemnologist would find nice. For a student it really wont matter which or how nice, they all work. The Estwing looks like a nice hammer. I would offer a far better use of the frivolous hammer money would be to get what the geologists call a hand lens, the gem boys call a loop or something similar. Bosch 10x Hastings Triplet or Coddington is the standard. Eventually, for the cash prize, a Brunton pocket transit $$$$$$ Start saving !!

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Our professional magnifiers include Watchmaker's Loupes, Hastings Triplet Magnifiers, Coddington Magnifiers, Folding Pocket Magnifiers and others.

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[rockhound78]

Now you are making me wonder where my loupe and transit are? Had a field geology professor that had to have been in his 50's, and he could just walk the feet off of nearly all his students.

 

[3Phantoms]

Brought back memories of one I had custom Forged from Twisted Damascus for a close friend upon Graduation

 

[Heavy Metal 1]

Don't forget some sturdy kneepads.

 

[ebb]

3Phantoms Nice!!!