How to use your Geopick more effectively

[@BoogalyTheGreat]

I saw a warning label on the side of an eastwing Geopick that the pointy end was not for striking and figured it was just legal butt-covering. But after watching you video, I guess it's legitimate. Thanks.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Yep. You really dont want a piece of that in your leg.

[@iannewman4391]

When I break off a rock for sampling I break the sample piece in half too. Mineral textures and structures are better revealed when more than one face is freshly exposed.

[@joela.6113]

Exactly the video I was looking for, thank you so much!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks. Glad you found it useful.

[@welder67]

Your information is very helpful to me thanks a alot 🙏

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Great. Hope it saves you a little time and effort in the field.

[@isntimportant]

I am a gold prospector. This is my go to weapon for self defence in absurd countries that ban carriage of firearms. When I have $10-50 grand in gold on my person I don't see why a Brinks car can have three guys with handguns and a shot gun when they're carrying about the same amount these days yet I'm left not even allowed to carry a knife. With a bit of training, a geopick is a formidable weapon. Also good for whacking rocks.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

There is probably a video in that!

[@vkarmanskiy]

Great video, thanks! What's the larger hammer (or pick?) with yellow handle you're using at around 3:30?

[@GeologyUpSkill]

It's a Stinger from Trow and Holden. It has tungsten tips and a fibreglass handle. Great for breaking big pieces of granitoids etc, but I miss the pick end for digging out float boulders. I'm currently testing another model based on a brick hammer that is doing very well.

[@vkarmanskiy]

@@GeologyUpSkill thanks a lot!

[@secretstonesociety]

Wow this was such a great video for people. Thank you for making this. Please feel free to come out to Herkimer NY any time and dig with us at our private mine. We would be so interested in your thoughts on the Geology of the area!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks very much. What are you mining?

[@secretstonesociety]

@@GeologyUpSkill We have a private mine currently and in Oct we will be opening virgin ground in Little Falls Herkimer :) All private for when you come

[@jdean1851]

SUPER HOT TIPS" THANKS!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks. Glad you found them useful.

[@Dreadnought9411]

Excellent video...thank you sir ! 👍

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks Big Guy. Glad you liked it!

[@alih1214]

Thanks a lot, it was very useful 👍🏼

[@athenasblueprint]

What kind of gloves are you using for this video? They look nice and seem perfect for what I'm doing. Please also let me know any recommendations for rockhounding gloves.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Most of the ones I use are Mechanix brand. They have dozens of different designs and they keep changing them, but I usually find something that is workable. I prefer real leather palms for dry weather since they last a little longer. Synthetic leather is better for wet weather because it doesn't harden when it dries and you can wash them :)

[@jackimyers9364]

Helpful, thank you.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks. Glad you found the info useful.

[@vintagewild5666]

Thank you

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Glad you found it useful.

[@Petey81]

In this business, or many others it's nice to have prescription glasses because you never forget to put eye protection on. They've saved my eyes on who knows how many occasion. This was a good video. You must save all your attention to the people on your paying videos, I see you never like or comment on these. What a shame.😔

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks Jenny. I have almost all my paid videos on the Thinkific site set to allow discussions, but members almost never make use of that system. Am I missing something?

[@adambernard1404]

So glad I watched this

[@GeologyUpSkill]

So am I!

[@SenorTucano]

The pointy end of the Geopick is the perfect tool for dispatching suicidal kangaroos you’ve accidentally mown down with your Toyota Land Cruiser Ute.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Hopefully you don't have to make use of that capability very often.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

I put sturdy cloth over the area I'm going to strike. No fragments flying off to hit me.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

That would do it.

[@richardhaselwood9478]

A few thoughts. As you mentioned, eye protection. Specifically safety glasses. Little reading glasses aren't good enough (indeed, you'd probably be in contravention of site safety procedures in Qld, and if I saw it, I'd have a quiet word in someones' ear). Look for Aus/NZ STD 1331. Also, I found that by grabbing your hat/hard hat and holding that between your face and the rock, those catch almost all of the rock fragments. No, it's not quite as accurate as you aren't looking quite where you want to hit, but I've always found that it's worth it. An extremely important use of the pointy end is for digging an emergency pit when you need an urgent bush crap (always carry bog roll in the car, always....) As you say, just buy a damn Estwing hammer. Mine is over 25 years old with near constant use. The hitting side on tips are pretty handy. I'm used to hitting Bowen Basin HQ core, so, I know pretty much exactly how much force to apply :) Great tips.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

I wouldn't recommend small reading glasses or any of the fashionable narrow styles. The ones I use are regular size eyeglasses that cover the full eye area and a little extra. They do not have the side wings of safety glasses, but their main purpose is to stop ricochet material which is much more likely in an industrial setting. Perhaps more of an issue if you are working with another person who also has a hammer.

[@monkfish2047]

I hope you were able to find your pick after that toss!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Don't worry, I regularly find extras that other geologists have left behind!

[@mikeyslas2686]

did you use a 2lb stinger or 4lb stinger

[@GeologyUpSkill]

4lb Stinger.

[@jamesdickens7666]

I’m looking at the Estwing rock hammer. They have a 13 oz and a 22 oz. Which would you recommend? Thanks

[@GeologyUpSkill]

I prefer the long handle 22 Oz version. The short one in some shots here was borrowed.

[@warjacare]

The main cause of erosion is the geologist.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

On the contrary. Agriculture is the largest contributor by a very large margin. geology now has some of the tightest environmental controls of any industry.

[@benyanoutdoors395]

How big is the hummer in the video?

[@GeologyUpSkill]

The hammers I use range from 1.1 to 1.3kg total weight.

[@estycki]

I might buy some extra sturdy prescription sunglasses that act as goggles 🤔

[@hopscotchchamp8282]

if you are geologist and want to learn how to use your geopick more effectively, then this is the video for you p => q implication i'm an example of why F=>T is still true

[@GeologyUpSkill]

There is probably a reason that mathematics and geology are a long way apart on the spectrum.

[@crinkly.love-stick]

Prescription glasses-$200+. Safety glasses-$3. Safety glasses also protect you from crap flying in from the side.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

True, but you do need to see what you're hitting!

[@tinymetaltrees]

Prescription safety glasses are a thing! Wiley-X makes stylish ones that people use for shooting and riding, too. Mine were transition sunglasses with a foam insert to seal them into goggles. They were very comfortable and lasted for years. I need to get a new pair! I’m just wearing cheapos from Lowe’s right now.

[@bruceanderson7762]

Slo mo rock breaking...thats a first...thx.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

There is some more slo-mo footage you might like in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4qQhIB_pZplj68

[@bruceanderson7762]

Cool, thankyou.

[@geoffgeoff143]

One thing you missed. As with ANY hammer. NEVER hit the face with another hammer!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Certainly true for geopicks, but there are a few hammers that are designed exactly to be hit with another hammer. Check out the Stone Buster series by Trow & Holden.

[@geoffgeoff143]

@@GeologyUpSkill i wasn't knocking you but as your videos Fe educational I thought I'd point it out. More than one person has lost sight in an eye buy doing just that. BTW, in those videos, they aren't hitting hammer to hammer. They are using a hammer to strike tool designed for the purpose.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

@@geoffgeoff143 Yes. Geopick on geopick is a BAD idea. As with all tasks, use the tool for the job it was designed to do!

[@tinymetaltrees]

Also, keep your mouth shut to protect your teeth! Besides, a mouthful of grit is just blech!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

The boot in front will help with that, but you might end up with foot in mouth disease ;)

[@johnnynephrite6147]

is this supposed to be funny mate? cuz Im laughin my ass off over here.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

If you're laughing, it was meant to be 🤣