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Shoutout to the cheap plastic rock hammer I used to think was fine
I was using a $15 plastic handle hammer from a big box store for about a year, mostly for breaking up shale in my backyard. Last month I finally got a proper Estwing rock hammer with a steel handle for a field trip. The difference is crazy. The Estwing's weight and balance meant I could split a piece of chert in two hits instead of six, and my hand didn't hurt after an hour. I wasted so much time and effort with the cheap one. For anyone else doing basic rock breaking, is the upgrade to a real geology hammer worth it right away, or should you wait until you're sure you're into the hobby?
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kim_mason557mo ago
A plastic handle for breaking shale? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. You're lucky it lasted a whole year without snapping. The upgrade is absolutely worth it from the start for safety alone.
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kimblack7mo ago
That plastic handle must have been made of some kind of industrial polymer. I'm honestly surprised it didn't just shatter on the first decent swing. Some things really aren't worth the risk.
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abby_fisher6mo ago
But what if the plastic one was just that good?
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