Pen for a writer, calculator for an engineer, rock hammer for a geologist. Jokes apart, only geologists don’t crave for one of these. If you’re a pro-sculptor you’ll be constantly under the dire need for one of these.
So if you are desiring to buy a rock hammer and want to know the considerable aspects while picking a rock hammer, you are in the right place. To make your hunting for a hammer easier I have made a useful buying guide and also reviewed some of the best rock hammers in the market.
In this post we'll cover:
- Rock Hammer buying guide
- Best Rock Hammers reviewed
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a rock hammer do?
- What is a crack hammer?
- What is the most expensive hammer?
- What is the strongest hammer in the world?
- Can you break a rock with a hammer?
- How do you break a rock with a sledgehammer?
- How do you use a stone hammer?
- How do you make a rock hammer?
- What type of chisel is used for rocks?
- What tools do a geologist use?
- How do you use a hammer and chisel?
- What weight hammer should I buy?
- Conclusion
Rock Hammer buying guide
Bits and pieces of information about rock hammers may help in recognizing them, but separating the cherries from the top asks for rigorous inquiry. We did the harder part and left the fun for you; let’s taste the fruit of the research: the comprehensive buying guide.
Category of Rock Hammer
Searching for a rock hammer may be a pain owing to the several available types of rock hammer in the market. Every type has its specific uses. Rock hammers can be categorized into three types by appraising the shape of the hammerhead. The different types of rock hammers are:
1.Chisel Tip Rock Hammer
Such hammers have a flat and wide surface like a chisel on one side of the head. On the other side of the hammerhead, you will find a square face like a normal hammer. If you want to deal with sedimentary rocks like shale and slate it is a perfect choice for you.
By the chisel-like part of the head, you can split the upper layers of the rocks and find the fossils the rock contains. You can also use it for clearing loose material and vegetation. This kind of hammer is also known as fossils or paleontologist hammer.
2. Sledge Hammer
Crack or sledgehammers are mainly used to crack the heavy rocks. Both sides of the hammerhead are square face. So you can only crack the rock easily through this hammer. For chisel works, this hammer can also be a fine choice.
3. Pointed Tip Rock Hammer
This type of rock hammers has a sharp pointy end on one side of the hammerhead. But on the other side of the hammerhead, there is a square face similar to the normal hammer. Those hammers mainly used for dealing with the hard sedimentary igneous and metamorphic rocks.
The square end of this hammer is mainly used to hit hard and crack the rock. The pointy tip is used to sweep the mineral samples and find out the fossil. Don’t be confused about the name rock picks or geological picks. This hammer is also known by these names.
4. Hybrid Hammer
A number of options of hybrid hammers are rocking the market. They are designed for various specific purposes along with breaking rocks.
Construction Material and Quality
The hammers which are made of one piece of steel are most durable. It is better to choose the hammer which is made of forged steel. Forged steel is an alloy of mainly steel and Carbon. It is considered as the most strength and cost-effective material.
The Handle
Many companies make hammers using plastic or timber shafts with a metallic hammerhead. These types of hammers are not safe for you as you don’t know when the hammerhead will separate from the shaft. One steel made hammer is always a safer alternative.
The handle of a hammer is usually covered with a rubber made of nylon vinyl. Those types of rubber protection will give you more grip and comfort. Some hammer handles are made of the quality-compromised plastic cover. Those covers are not able to give you enough comfort and a suitable grip as a rubber.
Weight of Hammer
You can find hammers of different weights in the market. Generally, the weight range is approximately 1.25 pounds to 3 pounds. The lightweight hammers are easier to carry with and will incur less physical strain. But experience dictates the working period it results in is worse than that of heavier ones.
But if you are a pro user and dealing with hard rocks then heavyweight hammers of 3 pounds will not bother your work. Rather it will increase your work efficiency. But for all kinds of users hammers of 1.5 pounds weight will be easier to go.
Length
The hammer which is long enough will give you more power while hitting the rock. Generally, rock hammers are 10 to 14 inches long. The hammers of 12.5 inches long handle are powerful enough as well as easier to control. So either you are a noob or not 12 inches long hammers will be a perfect choice.
Best Rock Hammers reviewed
We are here to make your work easier. We have chosen some of the best products and reviewed so that you can find the perfect one. We are extremely confident that you will find your needed rock hammer from our reviewed products. So let’s have a brief overview of some of the best products.
1. Estwing Rock Pick – 22 oz Geological Hammer
Interesting Aspects
Estwing Rock Pick – 22 oz Geological Hammer is a very useful hammer that is lightweight enough. This hammer is about 1.37 pounds in weight. So it will be very easy for you to carry and use it if you are new to the geologist profession.
Many geologist professionals are likely to use this product as it allows them to work without less physical strain.
The head of this hammer is a pointed tip type. So if you are willing to deal with hard rocks, it will be perfect for you. The handle of this rock hammer is made of nylon vinyl which will give you much comfort and a better grip. So you can hold the hammer very easily.
Estwing Rock Pick – 22 oz Geological Hammer is made of one piece of forged steel. So you should not be doubtful about its durability. It is 13 inches long and has a head of 7 inches. This shape will help you to work easily.
Glitches
- Estwing Rock Pick – 22 oz Geological Hammer is heavy enough to deal with the dense rocks.
- You may have to face some difficulties or have to work more because of its weight.
2. SE 20 oz. Rock Pick Hammer – 8399-RH-ROCK
Interesting Aspects
SE 20 oz. Rock Pick Hammer – 8399-RH-ROCK is another good rock hammer both for amateur and experienced geologists. It is light in weight and its weight is about 1.33 pounds. So carrying this hammer will not give you any kind of physical strain. So your act of moving will be easier.
This hammer comes with a pointed tip type head. This will allow you to crack hard rocks easily as like a demolition hammer. So if you are passionate about finding fossils from the rock it will be a good choice for you. This hammer is also durable as it is made of one-piece forged steel. You can use it for a long period.
The handle of SE 20 oz. Rock Pick Hammer – 8399-RH- ROCK is covered by a reusable heavy-duty plastic tip cover. This handle will be very comfortable for you to hold that will give you a better grip. This hammer is 11 inches long and has a head of 7 inches which is a perfect match.
Glitches
- You may face some difficulties while working with densely rock if you use SE 20 oz.
- Rock Pick Hammer – 8399-RH- ROCK hammer.
- Because it is too light to easily break any hard rock.
3. Best Choice 22-Ounce All Steel Rock Pick Hammer
Interesting Aspects
Best Choice 22-Ounce All Steel Rock Pick Hammer is another interesting hammer for people of different professions. This can easily be considered as an essential tool for your daily work if you are a professional contractor, camper, hunter, prospector or geologist.
It is a heavyweight hammer of 2.25 pounds. This heavyweight will help you to crack dense rocks. Again it is also a pointed tip type hammer, so you can easily use it for geological hunting. The handle of this hammer comes with a rubber grip which will give you much control and comfort while using it.
Best Choice 22-Ounce All Steel Rock Pick Hammer is made of one piece of alloy steel which ensures the durability of the product. This rock hammer is 12 inches long and the head is 7.5 inches long. So the weight- length ratio is balanced which will provide you more stability when you use it.
Glitches
- Best Choice 22-Ounce All Steel Rock Pick Hammer is a little bit heavier than some comparable products.
- So it will not give you enough space to carry this for a long time.
- Again the alloy steel that is used to construct this product will not give you as strength as manufacturers said.
4. Bastex Rock Hammer Pick
Interesting Aspects
Bastex Rock Hammer Pick is another heavyweight hammer that weighs about 2.25 pounds. This hammer is especially used to hit rocks. You can crack any types of rocks with it. So both for general and geological research purposes you can use this hammer.
The head of the hammer is pointed- tip. So if you are an atheist geologist and very interested to see what is inside the rock, Bastex Rock Hammer will be a good choice to crack the rock. Because the pointed tip typed hammers are mainly designed for fossils hunting purposes.
The hammer is made of forged steel which will give you enough strength and durability. So you should not worry that the hammer will break while using it. The handle of the hammer comes with a rubber grip which will give you comfort and control. So it will not slip from your hand while braking hard rocks.
This useful hammer is 11 inches long and has a 7 inches long head making the ratio of weight and length perfectly balanced. This will make your work easier as you can handle this perfectly.
Glitches
- Bastex Rock Hammer Pick is a little bit heavy for the noob users.
- Beginners are more likely to use lightweight hammers as these are easy to control.
- It is also taught to carry the hammer for a long time.
5. Stansport Prospectors Rock Pick
Interesting Aspects
Stansport Prospectors Rock Pick is a very effective rock hammer which is about 1.67 pounds heavy. So this kind of medium weight is very uncommon and seems very effective for every cracking aspect. You can easily bear it at the time of searching for fossils from the rock.
This hammer comes with a pointed tipped type hammerhead. So cracking rock will be very easy for you. Its handle is covered with a rubber grip which is tested that this will provide you comfortable work experience.
The material by which the hammer is constructed is forged steel. So this hammer is strong and durable enough for any kind of work.
Stansport Prospectors Rock Pick hammer’s length is 13 inches and has a 6 inches long hammerhead. This design looks very classy. So if you are a newcomer it must be attractive to you.
Glitches
- Stansport Prospectors Rock Pick hammer’s length and weight ratio is not perfect enough for the newcomer.
- So you may face some difficulties if you are a noob.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What does a rock hammer do?
A geologist’s hammer, rock hammer, rock pick, or geological pick is a hammer used for splitting and breaking rocks. In field geology, they are used to obtain a fresh surface of a rock to determine its composition, bedding orientation, nature, mineralogy, history, and field estimate of rock strength.
What is a crack hammer?
A crack hammer is a heavy hammer that is used for breaking rocks and chisel work. Some people call them sledge hammers or hand sledges.
What is the most expensive hammer?
While looking for a set of wrenches I stumbled upon what has to be the world’s most expensive hammer, $230 at Fleet Farm, a Stiletto TB15SS 15 oz. TiBone TBII-15 Smooth/Straight Framing Hammer with Replaceable Steel Face.
What is the strongest hammer in the world?
The Creusot steam hammer
The Creusot steam hammer was completed in 1877, and with its ability to deliver a blow of up to 100 tons, eclipsed the previous record set by the German firm Krupp, whose steam hammer “Fritz”, with its 50-ton blow, had held the title as the world’s most powerful steam hammer since 1861.
Can you break a rock with a hammer?
A crack hammer works best for large rocks. For smaller rocks, a rock hammer/pick or household hammer will work fine. … A gentle hand is always best — too much force may splinter your rock into pieces that are too small to tumble.
How do you break a rock with a sledgehammer?
Swing the sledgehammer a full 180 degrees to hit the rock.
Starting slow, swing the sledgehammer above your head and down onto the rock using your arms and legs to do the majority of the lifting. Keep hitting the same spot again and again. Eventually, a small fault line will appear on the surface of the rock.
How do you use a stone hammer?
How do you make a rock hammer?
What type of chisel is used for rocks?
Carbide-tipped chisels are the best option for geological work and rock breaking even if they do tend to be more expensive.
What tools do a geologist use?
Geologists use a lot of tools to aid their studies. Some of the most common tools used are compasses, rock hammers, hand lenses, and field books.
How do you use a hammer and chisel?
Chop out large Amounts of wood by slicing off small amounts with each cut. Strike the chisel with a hammer and chop down about 1/2 in. Then chisel from the end to remove the piece before continuing. Your chisel must be sharp for this cut.
What weight hammer should I buy?
Classic hammers are designated by head weight: 16 to 20 oz. is good for DIY use, with 16 oz. good for trim and shop use, 20 oz. better for framing and demo. For DIYers and general pro use, smooth face is best because it won’t mar surfaces.
Q: Can I use these on halving small round rocks? Will they harm the fossils?
Ans: I will personally suggest you choose the small version of a pointed pin rock hammer. the heavier version may harm fossils.
Q: What are the basic differences of chisel type and pointed pin type rock hammer?
Ans: These are the two major types of a rock hammer. Pin type is basically for precise yet low force while chisel type is just the opposite. Refer to the buying guide section to know more.
Q: Is there any cancer warning?
Ans: No. These types of news haven’t been heard yet.
Conclusion
I researched for a long time and here I described almost every feature of some of the best rock hammers of the market. So now it doesn’t matter that you are a beginner or a pro.
Among all the above-mentioned products, Estwing Rock Pick – 22 oz Geological Hammer has the quality to be chosen by any type of user. It is not so heavy. This hammer is also durable and comfortable. And if you are talking about performance it is outstanding. So you can pick this hammer undoubtedly.
Stansport Prospectors Rock Pick can also be a good choice. It is also a durable, durable and user-friendly device. Its long handle will give you more strength. So you can easily crack the rocks. Again this is not so heavy, so you can work for a long time with less physical strain than heavyweight hammers.
I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Tools Doctor, content marketer, and dad. I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips.