School me on Prospecting Picks...

[Tejaas]

Is APEX the golden standard, or is there a better alternative...?

My Criteria:

1. Prefer a mid-sized pick - something small enough to strap to a rucksack or use while kneeling, etc... not a hand pick, and not a full size pickaxe.

2. Magnets are not required, but also not a dealbreaker.
I'd like one on the bottom of the handle, but will add it myself if need be.

3. Needs to be "general purpose"... suited for use metal detecting, prospecting (should I ever try it), point sifting, etc...

4. Hardwood handle... preferably easy to find a replacement for and re-handle shall the need arise.

5. I'd imagine that price isn't gonna be a factor here... but let's keep it under $100 just in case I'm not aware of some $300 limited edition prospecting pick that charges your iPhone or some crap, haha!

Thanks in advance for any input!

~Tejaas~

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Calvin Bunker's "Hermit Pick." $65.00

 

[AzViper]

Terry has offered you a fine pick, but here is another. Royal 18" with fully embedded two magnets into the 1/4" thick head (AR) Abrasion Resistant plate , cad plated, hickory handle, lifetime warranty. $68.00. Also without magnets for $49.00. They also have a 36" handle with serrated head $89.00, holster for $7.00 for your belt. I may add the head has been case harden to a Rockwell 50 hardest that the steel is not brittle or will bend. It's one tough pick. Royal Products

 

[Hoser John]

ESTWING the industry standard for almost a 100 years,none finer. I still use one from 1961 and many 10s a 1,000s a hours beating up rocks with that righteous tool.John

 

[russau]

Being cheap as I am, I made my own pick from a cars leaf spring! cost only time and my free labor!

 

[AzViper]

Being cheap as I am, I made my own pick from a cars leaf spring! cost only time and my free labor!

Russ... whatever works. Always nice to be handy. I use to build custom knives and send the blanks out to be harden. Just don't have much time on my hands anymore or would have made my own picks.

 

[Tejaas]

Thanks for the input, folks!

Trying to decide between the Apex and the Royal suggested above.

 

[AzViper]

Thanks for the input, folks!

Trying to decide between the Apex and the Royal suggested above.

We have two of the Royals we use. I have beat the diggins out of rock and they show no sign of wear other than the cad finish is gone, but your going to have that with any pick that's painted or cad plated. With the wide back blade makes it handy to move material. Just my two cents...

 

[KiddoTheMiner]

are we literally having a conversation about picaxes, I mean in my mind you go to home depot find one you like and pay for it, easy

 

[AzViper]

are we literally having a conversation about picaxes, I mean in my mind you go to home depot find one you like and pay for it, easy

The HD's are junk. They have a wierd curve to them and cheap feel to them. One of the guys who digs with us showed up with one and the next time out it was replaced. You get what you pay for.

 

[Tejaas]

are we literally having a conversation about picaxes, I mean in my mind you go to home depot find one you like and pay for it, easy

No, "WE" are not.
As in -your- input was nowhere near constructive, informative, or helpful.

I laid out a specific set of criteria, none of which can be met by an imported product available at a brick and mortar location.


~Tejaas~

 

[KiddoTheMiner]

No, "WE" are not.
As in -your- input was nowhere near constructive, informative, or helpful.

I laid out a specific set of criteria, none of which can be met by an imported product available at a brick and mortar location.


~Tejaas~

sorry, just commenting my thoughts

 

[TheGoldProspector]

The HD's are junk. They have a wierd curve to them and cheap feel to them. One of the guys who digs with us showed up with one and the next time out it was replaced. You get what you pay for.

I can agree. Picks, being one of the more used tools in my pack, should be of better quality for those who deem themselves more than a once a year recreational prospector; for it Does make a substancial difference day in and day out

Good wisdom gentlemen. Thank you

 

[Moise]

are we literally having a conversation about picaxes, I mean in my mind you go to home depot find one you like and pay for it, easy

It's been a very long time since I was in Georgia where you are from but the Home Depot units will not hold up to our caliche out in the desert (High Mojave/Eastern Sierras). On top of that when you do repetitive digs in our hard ground ergonomics becomes a huge benefactor.

Some thoughts for the OP:
~What type of ground do you frequent? That would be my driving factor.
~The Apex & Royal units are great and last. You really have to make a choice on a unit that is made for prospecting and sampling. I would recommend against a regular rock geology hammer.
~I would definitely pay the extra for the magnets as they become very helpful.
~The other thing that no one ever speaks of is gloves. I always recommend wearing form fitting gloves while out. People blame the ergo of the handle but in fact it's their hands that are giving up. Gloves help.
~A lot of people where I am from weld pickaxe tips on the pointed end to help out with longevity of the tip.

Happy Prospecting,
Moise

 

[KiddoTheMiner]

found this
Fire Rakes and Shovels by COUNCIL TOOL - Shovels at Zoro
looks like something like this could work
but it also looks like one of those ideas that will break on the first day
anybody work with these

 

[goldchaser3]

My favorite is the Hodan ProPick. That Hermit pick, above, looks good, too. They both have a wide (5+") back side which is extremely useful for moving dirt and sand and small rocks. The picks with 2-3" back sides don't move much dirt in each pull, taking much longer to dig.

 

[TheGoldProspector]

found this Fire Rakes and Shovels by COUNCIL TOOL - Shovels at Zoro looks like something like this could work but it also looks like one of those ideas that will break on the first day anybody work with these

A buddy if mine has a tool like this, made by coleman. Im Always weary its going to break upon the hinge on a heavy scoop

 

[rockygulchJoe]

These are the three mid-size picks I have and use. The Estwing geo/paleo pick, the Hemet or Hermit pick as the guy's call it. And my favorite an (1943 W. Gilpin) that I found in an old mine shaft on my buddy's land and he let me keep it, so cool.

 

[KiddoTheMiner]

These are the three mid-size picks I have and use. The Estwing geo/paleo pick, the Hemet or Hermit pick as the guy's call it. And my favorite an (1943 W. Gilpin) that I found in an old mine shaft on my buddy's land and he let me keep it, so cool.

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View attachment 1025872

wow, that pic ya found in a mineshaft is incredibly cool, to think an actual gold rusher used it, I hope you don't beat it up too much

 

[TheGoldProspector]

wow, that pic ya found in a mineshaft is incredibly cool, to think an actual gold rusher used it, I hope you don't beat it up too much

We are just as much a "gold rusher" as he/she was.. !