texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
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Post by texhex on Aug 12, 2023 17:24:21 GMT -5
I am thinking about getting a rock hounding tool back. There are several on Amazon that give me an idea about which tools should go inside the bag. What do you use inside your bag? Please post photos of your bag with tools. Where did you get your bag of tools? Did you piece it together, or did you buy it as a kit?
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Post by greig on Aug 12, 2023 19:28:25 GMT -5
I'd never buy a kit. Figure out what you want and buy individual best tools for that task. For sure, a good rock hammer, chisels, shovel, maybe a classifier, a loupe, flashlight, etc. Customize your bag for your collecting
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Aug 12, 2023 20:15:38 GMT -5
A good bucket is key. I read in one post where someone picked up used bowling ball bags. The handles were comfortable for carrying heavy loads. I haven't gotten my hands on one, but it's a killer idea!
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aGates
has rocks in the head
Building a silver studio
Member since January 2021
Posts: 517
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Post by aGates on Aug 12, 2023 20:21:20 GMT -5
I use a military backpack, one of the large loadouts with the external frames. Then I line it with a waterproof 5 gallon bucket size roll top bag for extra strength. Then I have my rock pick my 4 lb hammer. My rock hammer a gad or two a small screwdriver a medium size screwdriver. Sometimes I bring classifiers screens but like was already mentioned. It depends on what you're going after. Sometimes I take some of this stuff out depending on what I'm doing but those kits are all garbage
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 12, 2023 21:14:33 GMT -5
I'd never buy a kit. Figure out what you want and buy individual best tools for that task. For sure, a good rock hammer, chisels, shovel, maybe a classifier, a loupe, flashlight, etc. Customize your bag for your collecting greig - Great to see you on here Greig!!
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texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
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Post by texhex on Aug 12, 2023 22:39:18 GMT -5
A good bucket is key. I read in one post where someone picked up used bowling ball bags. The handles were comfortable for carrying heavy loads. I haven't gotten my hands on one, but it's a killer idea! Wow, I am going to TOTALLY try this out with my old bowling bag. I used to bowl in a league. One of my bowling bags is on rollers, so it won't work, but I have 2 that will. Now I can take a buddy with me.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Aug 12, 2023 22:40:36 GMT -5
A good bucket is key. I read in one post where someone picked up used bowling ball bags. The handles were comfortable for carrying heavy loads. I haven't gotten my hands on one, but it's a killer idea! Wow, I am going to TOTALLY try this out with my old bowling bag. I used to bowl in a league. One of my bowling bags is on rollers, so it won't work, but I have 2 that will. Now I can take a buddy with me. Nice!
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texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
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Post by texhex on Aug 12, 2023 22:41:43 GMT -5
I'd never buy a kit. Figure out what you want and buy individual best tools for that task. For sure, a good rock hammer, chisels, shovel, maybe a classifier, a loupe, flashlight, etc. Customize your bag for your collecting Thank you for the list of tools.
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Post by perkins17 on Aug 12, 2023 22:50:55 GMT -5
I've got a solid tool bag from harbor freight that I carry finds, assorted chisels, prying devices, and my trusty estwing pick. I think it was actually a freebie at one of their sales, its yellow and black.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 12, 2023 23:29:12 GMT -5
I'd never buy a kit. Figure out what you want and buy individual best tools for that task. For sure, a good rock hammer, chisels, shovel, maybe a classifier, a loupe, flashlight, etc. Customize your bag for your collecting greig - Second the good to see you! I've been wondering where you were.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,879
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Post by Tommy on Aug 13, 2023 4:30:22 GMT -5
Don't forget a hand sledge hammer and good pair of safety glasses (and gloves) for those stubborn rocks that refuse to cooperate with our plans for a new home for them.
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Post by Peruano on Aug 13, 2023 7:23:36 GMT -5
I'm one of the bowling bag users. Mine is bright yellow so I can set it down and walk around a large area and still find it visually. It has both hand and shoulder straps. The side pockets are great for smaller and more fragile stones. I work primarily in alluvial gravels (i.e. everything was transported by a rivers within the last 100 million years, and hence don't carry much in the way of hardware except one short pry bar that can hammer, pry, dig or scrape. Oh did a forget a gps for recording the location of that big one that you want to come back for, and a water bottle. Enjoy.
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wargrafix
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,020
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Post by wargrafix on Aug 13, 2023 10:19:26 GMT -5
We should do a listing of what should be in a tool bag and if we find a good source, post them.
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wargrafix
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,020
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Post by wargrafix on Aug 13, 2023 10:42:59 GMT -5
Don't forget a hand sledge hammer and good pair of safety glasses (and gloves) for those stubborn rocks that refuse to cooperate with our plans for a new home for them. I have 2 sledgehammer. 1 I bought for regular going around, and one when I need to bring the pain.a steel pipe welded to a head. Well balanced, with a long handle. A friend needed to knock down a concrete block wall. It ended the wall in 4 swings
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Aug 13, 2023 11:13:05 GMT -5
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Post by aDave on Aug 13, 2023 11:40:01 GMT -5
I am thinking about getting a rock hounding tool back. There are several on Amazon that give me an idea about which tools should go inside the bag. What do you use inside your bag? Please post photos of your bag with tools. Where did you get your bag of tools? Did you piece it together, or did you buy it as a kit? You've already gotten a lot of good suggestions. While not necessarily tool bag items, don't forget things like knee pads or a mat, and spray bottles and water. The one area I like to hound is fairly large, and I'm usually just looking for cutter size to tumble size material on the surface. As I'm not doing a bunch of digging, I typically don't carry a lot of tools, though they are in my pickup. When I work the area, I'll stage five-gallon buckets in different spots, and while I'm searching I wear one of these: www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home-Depot-Canvas-Tool-Apron-HD324655-TH/310338162 . The pockets are roomy enough to hold a decent amount of rocks, but when they are full, I'll dump the apron in one of the staged buckets. This keeps me from lugging around filled buckets while I search. And, with the apron being tied around the waist, the weight of the rocks doesn't wear on the back so much. So as far as actual tools that I'll carry when searching, I carry a rock hammer and a scoop to keep from bending over so much.
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texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
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Post by texhex on Aug 13, 2023 11:45:20 GMT -5
We should do a listing of what should be in a tool bag and if we find a good source, post them. I like this idea to make lists and where you bought the tools.
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texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
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Post by texhex on Aug 13, 2023 11:49:45 GMT -5
I am thinking about getting a rock hounding tool back. There are several on Amazon that give me an idea about which tools should go inside the bag. What do you use inside your bag? Please post photos of your bag with tools. Where did you get your bag of tools? Did you piece it together, or did you buy it as a kit? You've already gotten a lot of good suggestions. While not necessarily tool bag items, don't forget things like knee pads or a mat, and spray bottles and water. The one area I like to hound is fairly large, and I'm usually just looking for cutter size to tumble size material on the surface. As I'm not doing a bunch of digging, I typically don't carry a lot of tools, though they are in my pickup. When I work the area, I'll stage five-gallon buckets in different spots, and while I'm searching I wear one of these: www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home-Depot-Canvas-Tool-Apron-HD324655-TH/310338162 . The pockets are roomy enough to hold a decent amount of rocks, but when they are full, I'll dump the apron in one of the staged buckets. This keeps me from lugging around filled buckets while I search. And, with the apron being tied around the waist, the weight of the rocks doesn't wear on the back so much. So as far as actual tools that I'll carry when searching, I carry a rock hammer and a scoop to keep from bending over so much. I TOTALLY like the idea of knee pads and the apron. That would be a great idea when I am just picking up rocks from the surface. You provided great information and threw in that idea of different tools and equipment for different types of rock hounding.
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Post by aDave on Aug 13, 2023 13:38:26 GMT -5
I TOTALLY like the idea of knee pads and the apron. That would be a great idea when I am just picking up rocks from the surface. You provided great information and threw in that idea of different tools and equipment for different types of rock hounding. If you are going to do a lot of surface picking, I can't recommend enough to get some type of scoop. First time I went to a particular area, I ended up with 2-3 filled five-gallon buckets of material. I didn't have a scoop for this trip, so that amount of rocks equated to a TON of bending over, especially when you consider that every rock you pick up is not going to be a keeper. My back was shot for two weeks after. I fashioned my scoop (below) from a junior driver golf club. The length of the shaft was perfect, and it had a nice grip on it. All I had to do was cut off the top of the club head to form the scoop portion. This isn't the only way to make a scoop, as others here have fashioned their own. A search may produce some useful alternatives. It's worked out great. It's saved my back, and it keeps me safer from snake bites as I can use that to reach under a bush and not my hands. This area I go to is in the desert, so that is always a concern.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Aug 13, 2023 14:58:57 GMT -5
I used JB weld to attach a slotted ladle onto a hiking pole, works great and is retractable... also helpful for walking!
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