If I had a hammer.....

[White Elf]

It's not really that bushcrafty, but can anyone give me any advice on a good geologist's hammer?

After finding a fossil in a piece of slate, whilst in the Wye valley recently, I think I could while away a few hours gently tapping. I've always been interested, but never found anything before.

I found one on ebay here but I'm not sure if it's any good. I've been offered the hammer for £15 including postage.

I'd like to get something that is a good quality hammer, preferably not too big or heavy so I can carry it round comfortably. But I don't know where to start looking.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[JonnyP]

Estwing make very good hammers and I think they do a geologists one, it won't be cheap though............

 

[JonnyP]

Here you go, found a link to one........
http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/details.asp?ProductCode=E3-20PC&ID=759

 

[redflex]

This company specialises in supplies of geology equipment

http://www.ukge.co.uk/ have all types and wil be within your budget(incuding Estwing).

Used them for survey and forestry equipment very good sevice.

 

[Montivagus]

The one on e-bay is actually perfect! I’ve spent many an hour hunting fossils near Lyme Regis and in Wales. I too started off wanting a small hammer, something unobtrusive but quickly found that there are lots of times when you want the weight and length of handle of a larger hammer; sometimes you have to give hard rock a good whack and a larger hammer can be used for soft taps just as well as a smaller one. You can buy virtually the same design in any good DIY store just ask for a brick layers hammer. They usually have a metal handle and are even more rugged, though not as aesthetically pleasing as the wood handled example on e-bay.
Happy hunting!

 

[demographic]

I know there will be other good makes around but my preferance would be for the Estwing every time.

I know how good their other hammers are and they always just seem that little bit better thought out and comfortable.

Well, apart from the weight forward Estwing hammers.
Bit dodgy those ones

 

[EdS]

go for Whitehouse footprint with wooden shaft - much kinder to the wristes if you use them alot.

I say get a hammer and some chisels rather than a pick.

 

[White Elf]

thanks for all your advice, now I just have to narrow down the choices

 

[Tengu]

I was given my geologists hammer many years ago when I was knee high to a trilobite...

As far as I can reccolect, my father got it by having one of those `we sell every tool` shops order it specialy in.

it wasnt cheap though. they are made from a special steel.

a lump hammer and cold chisels is a good second best. (you will need cold chisels anyway)

 

[demographic]

I don't suppose the brickhammers from Screwfix would be too bad either.