I am wanting to gather up some prospecting equipment for Spring prospecting. I have already purchased a GB2 detector and now I am looking for a good pick. What is a good type. I looked at the Apex 18 inch with magnets on the heads and also I have looked at a 24 inch hand made pick by Bunks prospecting. The magnet is in the handle. I already have a Garret pick that I picked up in a trade but that seems kind of light duty. Your opinions are welcome..or better yet does anyone have a good quality used one they are not using ?..thanks
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What Brand of Pick
- Thread starter bskerj
- Start date
Hmmm..figured somebody would have jumped on this by now...Anyway, it is a good topic, and I think everybody that employs a pick prefers different sizes and styles depending upon the aggregate..A great big one is handy to use to pry big rocks out of the way, and a nice little one for scraping gravel, and working tight spots..one size does not fit all situations or locations thats for sure,...so it would depend on where you are at and how furiously you intend to deploy it?
All that said, I like a wood handle, seems to absorb some shock and keep it out of your body better than a metal or fibre handle does..I like a flat blade (like a narrow hoe) on one end and a pick or axe style blade on the other, I also like a longer handle on the big swinging pick, with just a bit of flex, the longer handle keeps stuff from flying up in my face and busting my lip, plus, I can get a more powerful swing...the flex really puts some power to the ground...you pretty much have to make your own handle since most big off the shelf picks have a shorter handle that throws crap right up into your face! (which WILL bust your lip or take out your eye)
I have three, a standard big pick with both ends pointy, another big pick with the afore mentioned flat blade design, (my favorite) and a little version of that one. Couple of great big spud bars of various end configurations and weights...can pound right through just about anything, and pry just about anything..
Not a whole lot of experience with them in the gold fields, but I was a grave digger for several years, and had to bust through 3' of frozen clay soil in MN to dig a hole frequently.
Yes, a good comfortable pick and all your digging tools should be balanced to fit your personal frame...if they are not, you will know it pretty fast, it sure makes a fellow appreciate hydraulics if a guy has to move some dirt by hand. The only way to know for sure is to try them out, or get some advice from here from the guys that have used them...Good luck!.
Mud
All that said, I like a wood handle, seems to absorb some shock and keep it out of your body better than a metal or fibre handle does..I like a flat blade (like a narrow hoe) on one end and a pick or axe style blade on the other, I also like a longer handle on the big swinging pick, with just a bit of flex, the longer handle keeps stuff from flying up in my face and busting my lip, plus, I can get a more powerful swing...the flex really puts some power to the ground...you pretty much have to make your own handle since most big off the shelf picks have a shorter handle that throws crap right up into your face! (which WILL bust your lip or take out your eye)
I have three, a standard big pick with both ends pointy, another big pick with the afore mentioned flat blade design, (my favorite) and a little version of that one. Couple of great big spud bars of various end configurations and weights...can pound right through just about anything, and pry just about anything..
Not a whole lot of experience with them in the gold fields, but I was a grave digger for several years, and had to bust through 3' of frozen clay soil in MN to dig a hole frequently.
Yes, a good comfortable pick and all your digging tools should be balanced to fit your personal frame...if they are not, you will know it pretty fast, it sure makes a fellow appreciate hydraulics if a guy has to move some dirt by hand. The only way to know for sure is to try them out, or get some advice from here from the guys that have used them...Good luck!.
Mud
the medium size hermit pick is my all-around favorite...I have the biggest and the middlest- but, I took the handles off and glued them in with construction glue and a drywall screw...I don't like loose handles.
Using a gb you will not generaly need to dig extremely deep holes...
fred
Using a gb you will not generaly need to dig extremely deep holes...
fred
Hoser John
New member
I've used Estwing picks and hammers for over 59 years. STILL have the original leather wrapped rock hammer I got as a kid---and a dozen sizes/shapes more. Built for a lifetime of use and MADE IN AMERICA FOR AMERICANS-John
HJ is right! Estwing makes a pretty much indestructable hammer and pick...steel all the way up, comfortable grip...I've got one from the early 80's myself. I use a Vaughn hammer (or my Paslode gas fired)
for framing on account of the wood handle, but that danged old Estwing was a good purchase that has not, and will not ever fail...the last thing you want is to try to go cheap and have some inferior metal flake off and put out your eye...boys, we are busting rock way out in nowhere, no time to go cheap or stupid...gold waits for nobody, and the properly mfg'd and balanced digging tools are a must if a fellow is intent on getting it.
Mud
for framing on account of the wood handle, but that danged old Estwing was a good purchase that has not, and will not ever fail...the last thing you want is to try to go cheap and have some inferior metal flake off and put out your eye...boys, we are busting rock way out in nowhere, no time to go cheap or stupid...gold waits for nobody, and the properly mfg'd and balanced digging tools are a must if a fellow is intent on getting it.Mud
The Teknetics pick is decent for a fiberglass handle. There are many out there, some overpriced for what they are.
Counsel tool's groundhog pick is a nice less pricey tool. The Hodan and Apex are good too
I have the Estwing "Big Blue" geo pick. And I'm looking to try and buy a head from one of the pick suppliers to put my own together. I just don't see any that have the right length, weight, and shape combo to my liking.
Counsel tool's groundhog pick is a nice less pricey tool. The Hodan and Apex are good too
I have the Estwing "Big Blue" geo pick. And I'm looking to try and buy a head from one of the pick suppliers to put my own together. I just don't see any that have the right length, weight, and shape combo to my liking.
Since you are going to be detecting so I am thinking a one handed pick would be best. I have a Estwing Geo/Paleo pick I glued some magnets to the head to pick out small iron bits that are in the mix. It is big enough to do some two handed work as well but not for all day work. For detecting where the need is more one handed. Rolling rocks out of the way even opening a crack and such. Good Luck.
The Geo pick is great to have once the rocks get to basketball size and bigger. You can get some leverage between a pair of stubborn rock and make some headway to bedrock.
A smaller one-hander is great for scratching and small work.But "Big Blue" will earn its keep in a boulder bed.
A smaller one-hander is great for scratching and small work.But "Big Blue" will earn its keep in a boulder bed.