Rockhounding Tools | What You Need to Go Rockhounding
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- This is a longer video, but I think if you make it to the end you will learn a few things regardless if you're new to rockhounding or if you've been doing it for years.
This is by no mean a required shopping list of things you need to go buy to get out and rockhound, but rather this is my current set of tools I use. I have been refining this list over and over again to get it to be something that's as close to perfect as I can get it.
As I stated in the video, depending on what you're doing, you might want more than this or you might not need any of this at all, so make your own judgement on what you need.
Here is a list of all the items shown in this video:
Backpack
Estwing Rock Pick - amzn.to/3ohqM6W
Estwing Rock Pick Sheath - amzn.to/3978bUX
Klein Tool Pouch - amzn.to/2L8SLHF
Magnet on a string
uvBeast V3 Light - amzn.to/2VXsBt2
Backup gloves
Fiskars Hand Trowel - amzn.to/3s3nvdA
Small chisel
Jewelers Eye Loupe
Little Wire Brush
Cheap 12" prybar
Stainless Steel Tweezers - amzn.to/35h6yTo
Two Butter Knives
Two screw drivers
Estwing Geo/Paleo Rock Pick - amzn.to/2JPrFog
Little Giant Plastic Animal Feed Bucket (crazy overpriced on Amazon)
Knee Pads
Water Squirt Bottle
Estwing Sure 3-Pound Sledge - amzn.to/39bF3fd
1" Chisel with Hand Guard
Safety Dork Vest
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0:00 - Intro
2:10 - The Pack
3:45 - Tool Pouch
10:10 - Geo Pick
11:05 - The Bucket
17:36 - Conclusion
Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding
As soon as you break out the hammer and the chisel, you really should add a pair of safety glasses to the mix. Debris and sparks can move faster than you can blink. Otherwise, I really like the list and how you organize your tools. You gained a subscriber today.
Hitting a chisle with a rock hammer is a no no also. Flying metal shards are the worst.
The orange vest is actually genius! The last time I was rock hunting me and my brother were at a road cut searching for crystals and three people honked their horn at us... One of them even called the cops on us... (I should have been filming, I missed the chance for a Rock hounding “gone wrong” UA-cam video haha) some people just don’t know how to mind their own business. The cop was really cool though! We showed him our top pocket finds. It seemed like he was probably thinking to himself “sweet now I know an excellent fossil hunting spot”
Yeah it can really come in handy just like your story here shows.
ProTip:
A black button-up and a clipboard can get you into so many places.
Just look like you dont wanna be there and sigh alot. People will think: "that dude is busy at work and the people underneath aren't doing well.. I don't wanna be yelled at."
One more thing is a good drop cloth to put around the area if you’re doing some chiseling so you don’t miss any specimens and it’s easy to clean up your work area
I don't know how practical that really is to pack around but I could see it being helpful I guess.
This is genius
Thanks, great video! Something else to add: a first aid kit
Excellent! Building a list of wanna-haves! My family and I hit the Saddle Mountains today as our first official rockhounding adventure. We don’t have a 4-wheel drive vehicle so didn’t even make it to any of the official dig sites, but we came away with quite a number of petrified pieces just from wandering-several of them quite big! It was a hit for sure. Thanks for the inspiration!
@CurrentlyRockhounding as someone new to the rock hounding hobby I thought this video was very insightful and helpful learned a good amount of stuff thanks for the video
I'm glad you liked it!
Found your channel recently and I couldn't be happier. You are an inspiration to get out there and enjoy the things you love. Thank you... seriously!
Thank you!
LOL - I love your comments about the orange vest and hard-hat! So true -- all access pass!!! LOL! Great backpack, nice tools!
Thanks man.
I’m also a woodcarver. I’ve gotten every tool know to carvers. 😆 I only use some of them consistently. You have saved me money by keeping me from doing the same with rockhounding tools. Thank you. I especially love the bucket idea.
Yeah I do have some tools collecting dust for sure.
Great spot. Thank you. Love the vest advice...you are so right about looking official.
I love the vest idea. I wear similar clothes for work, eg an orange reflective work shirt, 3/4 cargo pants and boots. You are 'hidden in plain sight'. Even the times I've walked through work areas in shopping malls as a short cut. Nobody thinks twice. People's gazes are deflected as if you are just another part of the scenery.
Love to watch this video over again. Learning so much and taking notes. This man is a Patriot flag in background and Don't Tread On Me on backpack! Love it!
Your bucket tip alone was a real gem. I'm gonna search them out and pick up a couple. Thanks for all of the great info. :)
This bro reminds me of me. The enginuity that went into each of these tools.
Excellent advice! I had to laugh about licking rocks. Meriweather Lewis during the Lewis and Clark expedition was identifying mineral deposits during their travel. Tasting was part of his identification procedure. At one location he tasted minerals that made him very sick for a few days. The minerals at that location contained arsenic and it doesn’t take much arsenic to make you very sick or kill you. I don’t know where I read this, I think it was from his written account of the expedition.
That's really interesting, I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing.
I think I was told that by a geology professor in college. One professor was from Australia and he told of a geology course in Australia that gave a test in which they tried to fool the students by cutting and polishing halite crystals into quartz crystal shape, as he said “to teach them to use the taste test.” And they did another ploy (I cannot remember the details) to teach the students not to taste minerals. That may be the conversation in which he told us about Meriweather Lewis, I don’t know. It was around 1968 or 1969. In my minerals identification course (not in Australia) my other professor had a sign describing a specimen of graphite saying something like, “Gets on your hands, gets on your clothes, gets one your professor.” At one time I thought of getting a geology degree.
The bucket insight was INCREDIBLY helpful ! Thank you for sharing what you know!!
Thanks for watching.
I am new to Rockhounding and have found your videos to be extremely helpful! Thank you for sharing all of this great info!
Welcome! There's lots here and even more to consume on the website! :)
Great video. I use collapsible buckets and 1 3.5 gallon bucket for my tools. I like the idea of the vest for being along the road.
Yay I love gear videos. I've got some gift ideas now! :D
We have the same hammer, pick, and sledge hammer. Love the estwing tools! Thank you showing me the small tools. Gotta start selling those bent screwdrivers!
Thank you so much for sharing your recommendations and what you use for tools! I'm just starting to get into rockhounding, this is very helpful!
I'm glad you found it to be helpful!
Love all of your videos and instructions!!!
Thank you for sharing your kit! I've been slowly putting together a proper kit after long being an "only what I can fit in my pockets/find with my hands" rockhound for years, and this has been tremendously helpful!
I'm glad you found it to be helpful.
Well done. Thank you. I like the safety nerd vest
I have been rockhounding for a long long time and this video has helped me out. Looks like I might need to add a few things to my kit. Thank you.
I'm glad you liked it.
Great video. Nice list of things to have. I really liked the vest idea, especially during hunting season! For a light to backlite agate and other translucent material, I took an inflatable, solar Luci Light and cut the inflatable part off. The base is still sealed and has LEDs that shine through whatever you place on it and it's waterproof, so spray away, get it gritty, or of course keep on when it's raining. The best part is that you can put it in the car on the dash to recharge and it's always ready. It also has a red emergency light so it's great to have if something unexpected happens or the sun goes down. We usually carry headlamps too just in case.
Love - Love - LOVE this video. Very informative. Your suggestions for tools were very helpful. Getting ready to gather my own rock hounding tools and am so glad I watched this first. I am a newbie rock hound located in Minnesota. Thank you again for such a wonderful video!!
Welcome! I'm glad you watched this and good luck with the rockhounding.
I think what I need the most is a way to talk my grandson into loving rocks like I do and going with Gramma to do the heavy work lol!
It's a dream of mine to go Rock hounding. I should've started Way sooner. Other things I had to deal with. Happy hunting y'all!
Your experience saves some of us, from poor experiences. Thanks for Rocking out with us !
Thank you, man I'm really looking forward to this spring.
Great video, very well put together and very professional, I love seeing your breath- really putting in the work;)
I really appreciate your information. I am knew to rockhounding, and you are of great help. It is also nice to see some of the country you hound in. I am in southern Idaho, so similar in many ways to what I see on your channel. Thanks!
Thank you. I'm up in NE Washington but I do have plans this spring to be spending some time down there in southern Idaho.
Comprehensive review of essential tools. I had to chuckle at the orange safety vest All Access Pass. Steve Wallis the stealth camper channel did a video of himself "Stealth Camping Disguised As Construction Worker" with his orange vest and hardhat.
No one questions the safety vest cause bad people will never make safety a priority.
Cool set of tools. Great idea about the safety vest. Definitely may save you having to deal with questions, or buckshot.
Yes, I agree the buckets are a pain. I like to use Kitty litter pails. They come with a lid, and they are square. Easier to fit places.. The plastic is definitely heavier than the big box buckets and they have a heavier handle.
Cool video. Thanks.
Thanks for the tips and for sharing your tool kit with us. Definitely going to pick up a feed bucket on my next trip to the feed supply store. Safety glasses are a must have in my tool bag along with a good flashlight.
Thank you. I also carry other things but I really wanted to just focus on the rockhounding tools in this video.
love the content Jared ! as always. a feed bucket is the best tool i got! i even just purchased a second. lol so much better than a 5 gal.
dude! you helped Me so much. Harbor Freight here I come with my new list. thanks for a great helpful video
I'm glad you found the video to be helpful.
The next time you have your teeth cleaned ask the hygienist if they have any old or wore dental picks. Mine gave me a full set because she "couldn't sharpen them any more". They work great for a lot of things.
And one more thing . . . . BUY A HEATER! It hurts to watch you in an unheated shop in the great white north.
Great channel.
I might have a heater this winter if its in the budget. I'm looking at IR heaters.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding I installed a radiant tube infrared heater in my shop a few years ago and I love it. Highly recommend them.
my kids and i are getting into it more than just the average kid looking for rock. great tips! thank you. subscribed.
I'm glad you like it!
Well thought out kit! Thanks for sharing. Your zingers are pretty funny.
Haha thank you.
I'm still watching but I SO appreciate the bucket rant!!!! LOL I also use a feed bucket for woods and other outdoors shenanigans
The normal hardware store 5 gallon buckets are the worst.
Great video, my kit was actually pretty close, but the vest is really cool, I would not of thought of it, thanks for doing what you do, it’s very helpful for my daughter and I rock hounding adventures
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. I also have a very helpful website which you might enjoy.
I need a vest!
I typically carry my little RED camera, and keep it visible, or better yet, in my left hand, until I need both hands again. The camera and potential photographs (I'd take pics anyway) seems to quell most people's..... curiosity? Suspicion, LOL?
A vest serves the purpose even better. Both would be outstanding....a worker documenting something.
This video was very helpful!!! Thank you so much.
People laugh at me sometimes but I find my most used tool is my Estwing mineral hammer, it's perfect for mine dumps to pick though the spoils pile and it's also great for digging in the soil in a pegmatite vein dyke. I also like to have a small brush (not wire) to clean off my crystals and mineral blobs I find in the field, I am always amazed at the small crystals that if left dirty I would never have noticed. Keep the videos coming.
Cool bucket ❤️ Practical tools. Butter knifes million and one uses! Really enjoyed the explanations of use
Thanks Dan!
Thanks for your helpful video! Wishing you all the best!
Thank you!
Good stuff! Got to watch the weight of all the stuff you carry. We trek up mountains and the more stuff you carry the sooner you wear yourself out. When I know the terrain we will be visiting, I try to skinny my pack down to only what I think I will need.
Thank you so much, this video was very helpful. Don't forget more water everyone. Bring a buddy!
Great video, I think the most important is safety glasses, granted everything else you describe very important of course but a portable XRF analyzer would also be nice! Hope they come down in price one day for all us rock hounds.
Great tool and equipment review. Thanks so much.
I'm glad you liked it.
Add a pair of safety goggles to your gear Great video. That right, you do look official with High Vis vest and hard hat.
This was phenomenal!
Thank you!
This video gives me confidence 🔥
Feed bucket. Got it. And the handle upgrade. Freaking genius.
I'm glad you liked that.
Great suggestions and explanations!
Thank you.
A good book for this, and the one I cut my teeth on 30 years ago, is Field Collecting Gemstones And Minerals by John Sinkankas (actually all his books are a must read if your a rockhound). Myself I use a leather carpenters tool belt and pouch to carry my rock hammer, gads, chisels, etc., and a bright red North Face day pack for all the rest. Ohh .. and usually a bright color construction workers hard hat, safety vest, and pin on name badge .. even when there is no overhead hazards itmakes you look like you belong there when working those road cuts next to the freeway .. just like you mention at the end 😬👍
Now that we’ve heard the bucket rant ( relatable ), let’s hear the spray bottle rant? That looked like a Harris Pro.
Good video. I've just started this year, and I've accumulated several of your suggestions - and you've given me several really good additions. My dayhike backpack *quickly* became a 5.11 tactical bag, the molle system is a life-saver. I attached an ammo pouch on one side for throwing in small rocks while I'm walking (life saver!) and my water bottle on the other side. I have a hard time getting my Estwing pick to pack cleanly, currently, it just sits in the sack loose. That can be a PIA when the pack is loaded with rocks :).
There were several great suggestions here that I will follow, I'm grateful. Also - the BUCKET! Ha! 5 gallon buckets suck! I've destroyed two already! The feed bucket idea is GREAT! I love how it will be flat against me as I'm carrying it. The hose idea for the handle is a total win, too. Thanks again, I'm really liking your content.
I'm glad you like it! There's also a whole article on this subject on the website.
Great video! I use the 5gal buckets but only to put my finds in the bed of our truck or to hold the tools so they don't scatter all over. I use a canvas type backpack or bucket to carry my finds and tools when checking out an area. Depending on the terrain wandering in a GOOD pair of hiking boots/shoes is a must! I also carry a bit of paper towels and gorilla duct tape wrapped around a dowel, good for temp bandages or putting small specimens on the tape.
Yes a 5 litre plastic Jerry can with a 4" square hole cut out where the nozzle is would be best. It has a comfortable handle, cheap and quite durable.
Nice video my friend and very nice tips !!
Congratulations!!
Thank you.
So helpful!
Great tips and tools. I Rockhound with my kids so I need to bring x3 more tools 😂.
Loved this video!
Thank you.
That's funny as hell about the safety vest but so true
Thank you I really need this.
I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks for information. I have most of this equipment. All you need to do is add some logo to your vest and the side of your vehicle.
Excellent video for us newbies, Thank you! M.
I'm glad you liked it.
Excellent!!
Great info man! The wife and I just got into rockhounding. Live on Lake Michigan, can hit Superior and Huron in less than 3 hrs. Not certain what gear we needed to be successful, stumbled on your post, answered all my questions. Fantastic job, appreciate it
I'm glad you liked it! If you're just searching the shore line you really don't need much. Also you might like my website as well, lots of good stuff up there on it! :)
@@CurrentlyRockhounding checking it out right now, thank you!
first video. just the perfect fellow nerd i was looking for for an authentic channel. subscribed before the video was over. id bring goggles and ear plugs too. thank you.
Welcome!
I'm glad you liked it and I agree with the goggles.
One additional item I tend to take is my 9mm or 45, you know how remote and alone you can be rock hounding, not a necessity, a rock hammer is lethal as well. I think it gives me a little peace of mind. Thanks for the look into your arsenal of rock hounding tools ⚒
I agree with your additional item but its hard subject to talk about on UA-cam.
Living in desert terrain and being very nervous around serpents with fangs, in addition I carry a 5 shot 22LR loaded with snake shot.
@@todddaugherty110 Good pair of hiking 🥾 shoes will serve better lol
@@todddaugherty110 if you have time to pull a gun and shoot a snake, you have time to back away from the snake and leave it be.
@@Judd97 unless it's a copperhead. Certain copperheads, after seeing you will chase you for a long time, others won't.
Thanks for your thourough informative video!
Of course! I want people to get out and have a good time the same way we do.
Thanks for giving some tips!
I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks for sharing the info....
That was great. Thanks man.
I'm glad you liked it.
Having a great set off hounding tools is a must have. This is a great list my friend, lots of great information. I may have to pick up a orange vest (great idea), a hard hat is also really good to have when hunting road cuts because depending on how stable the road cut is, I’ve had small chucks of rocks/boulders tumbler down when just scanning the area. I had the 365 uv light in my shopping cart a few days ago...so I jumped back over to Amazon when you said it was sold out lol 🤦♂️ I waited a day too long. I have the 385 which does work nice but it’s not like the 365. Great video 🔥🔥🔥
Thanks man, I have put a lot of thought into this over the years.
I'm sure the lights will come back into stock before you know it.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding I can tell there was a lot of thought out into that video, its the best Rockhounding tool video I’ve seen here on UA-cam.
I’m sure they will to, there is this place out in Grand Junction called Opal Hill I want to go check out at night with the black light. I did a video when I first started my channel and well the area that I mentioned where there is petrified wood everywhere I’ve know realized I was incorrect back then. That area is actually covered in Barite Seudomorph Crystals that look like Petrified Wood. Which under a black light have a orange glow. So I’m curious what that area looks like at night with a uv light. In the next few weeks that will be a interesting video.
Thank you 😊, I keep my tools in a bucket, lol 😝
I always liked that Tiller-Mattock Geoff Notkin used on Meteorite Men. i guess it depends what you are going for.
Thanks for sharing
Nice gear video. Good tips
Thanks man!
For me my #1 tool is this hardened steel masonry chisel I inherited from my grandfather. I use it often as a prying tool. Its light, compact, and inconspicuous. Second would be my claw hammer(because I cant find proper rock hammers here). Optional a spray bottle, a gardening claw and trowel. Always a water bottle...
Great video. Thanks
Thank you!
All good ideas how about some safety glasses or a face mask? I have returned form many adventures , with mystery scrapes to the face, also make sure to have your first aid kit
I already have glasses on but sure throw some in your bag.
Nice job!
Thank you.
Another tool you should try is a Japanese gardening knife. They can be anywhere from dull to sharp, but do a fantastic job of cutting into the earth as well as scooping.
I'll give them a look.
Very very good educational video! Thank you for shearing!!! Warm hugs from Portland Oregon...
Thank you.
Portland? Im here in the Rogue Valley!! YAY Oregon!!
@@TheRogueRockhound I am in Portland, and just subscribed to your Chanel
@@linabaliashvili2495 Sweet, thanks!! Hopefully I can be as cool as @Currently Rockhounding one day!!
I’ve broken way too many 5 gallon buckets in the relatively short time I’ve been into rock hounding haha! I’ve got to invest in a better one, thanks for sharing the one you use!
If I kept all my failed 5 gallon buckets I would have graveyard of them.
Thank you ❤
I’m just looking to go get some rock for a project but I came across this video and it was helpful and you seem like a chill dude.
PS - I dig the Betsy Ross flag in the background.
Thank you, I have well over 200 videos up here coving all aspects of rockhounding!
@@CurrentlyRockhounding I subscribed and I’ll check them out! Do you have any videos that might show what/where to look for when coming across rocky areas in the wild?
I’m planning on going to eastern Oregon where it is primarily desert with a river and some creeks branching off of it. I’m honestly just going to collect some natural rock which I will break apart and glue together to make a mountain/cliff & waterfall inside of a 20x12x18 inch paludarium!
However I wouldn’t be opposed to finding some cool geodes that I could put around the house for their energy.
@@TheFonz89 I have number of videos talking about this very subject.
Very helpful!!!!!!!
I'm glad you liked it.
Nice tools thank you bro 💛💜🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Dude, you nailed it on everything here! I'm gonna have to use your advice on what to have for when I buy my friend and his wife rockhounding gear later this summer (their birthday's are within a few weeks of each others, so I'll just buy two of everything you've shown for them). However, I wonder if there's any other place to buy the large Estwing chisel at, other than Amazon, as I've abolished that site from my life due to several reasons I will not go into here lol.
Oh, and I completely agree with everything you said regarding 5-gallon buckets. They are absolutely the WORST things out there (except when nature calls, they can save your bacon when needed haha!)
Anyway, I'll let ya know how things go with the purchases and more importantly, their reactions to the gifts!
Thanks again!
There are other websites out there that sell Estwing tools which shouldn't be hard for you to find at all.
Yeah trying to carry around a five gallon bucket is the worst.
That Estwing Geo Pick is a beast! I weigh 225 and deadlift 500 lbs and I can't even make the handle flex. It'll take everything you can give it.
It really is a great tool that can last a life time.
Im a beginner rockhounds, don't have alot of money..but willing to get tools along the way. ❤
Excellent advice! It doesn’t seem too long ago (40 years!) that my geology professor taught us to lick rocks to help ID. Great advice NOT to do this (your spray bottle is a far safer choice). Safety vest is also a brilliant idea for all the reasons you mention plus also for roadway safety. I might add eye protection to my field kit since rock fragments could get flying as I or folks around me are hammering and chiseling. Thank you!
I'm glad you liked it! Glasses are a good thing to have when breaking rocks for sure.
Helpful, thanks
I'm glad you liked it!
That's 100% true on the vest thing! nobody will ever bother you if you wear a vest preferably a bright colored one. I usually only bring a couple chisels, a rock hammer, safety glasses, and a first aid kit with me if i'm hiking a ways and exploring new spots. If i have an area that i know has good material i'll bring the sledge and a small hand saw for the dead trees and brush.
Those are all good things to have with you, I have most of them as well with me.
Come check out what we do in southern Oregon! FIre Opal Claim Terrapin Rocks!
We should chat some about this coming summer maybe we can get down there for a visit.
Thanks for sharing your kit Jared, much appreciated! Rock-hammer, gloves, backpack and gad tool's are my goto's for virtually every trip that's not me hiking a river.👍 Everything else has been very trip specific~ hahaha Screwdrivers, 3lb cracker, wedges, chisels, collapsible buckets, prybars, shovels, trawl, pick, harness/rack/climbing rope, chest waders, inflatable float ring, knee pads, padded seat, magnifier, 4" portable wet tile saw, wire brushes, gorilla cart, hammer drill and 2x27gallon tubs all sit in the back of my jeep cause you never know when you'll need to float a river traipse through some off the track creek/stream or rappel 30m down some cliffside to get the goods~ PS...I only lick rocks if they have cinnabar for the mercury~ 🤦♂️😂
Your the second person to mention the collapsible bucket, I need to find one now. Gotta get that daily dose of Mercury.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding Unsure about what collapsible buckets are being discussed, but if talking about canvas ones, they can be very expensive. Look for canvas beach-type tote bags of at least 16 oz canvas with handles that are sewn on the entire height of the bag (the handles just sewn at the top will not hold up). I am also unsure of what you use to carry your rocks. Not sure that with the stuff already in your backpack, you can fit much in there and when full, it is murder on the back. I take the same canvas totes spoken of above (I stole mine from my mother decades ago, so unsure of where to find). Then I bought heavy duty straps for camera bags, laptop/messenger bags or duffel-type gym bags with extra heavy spring clips on the end. Clip each end of the strap to each canvas strap on the bag. I carry two of them. I slip the camera bag strap over my head on my shoulder with the right arm through the assembly and another one over the opposite shoulder. You can carry a lot more weight in these since the weight is in line with your spine and not trying to pull you over backwards. I have some spots where the agate, jasper, petrified wood and quartz is so thick that I use an Estwing Gem Scoop (or one of your clever homemade ones), scoop up rocks and alternate putting them in the bags.
You have any room left for rocks?
@@kenoliver7279 Do now, swapped the jeep for a truck~ 🤣🤣