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Forged Geologist's Pick
Forge

Created by

Forge

11. October 2026NO
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Forged Geologist's Pick

A geologist's pick of about 2½ pounds, with a square striking head on one side of the eye and a long curved point on the other, forged from 1¼ × 1¾-inch tool steel. After the eye is punched, the bar is cut part way through beside it with a hot chisel and the waste cut away, then each end is drawn out, under a power hammer in the original. The point is hardened like a cold chisel and tempered to dark blue; the head is then hardened about 2 inches back and tempered to brown or dark straw, with damp coal round the point so it is not softened again.
Advanced
4–6 hours

Instructions

1

Mark and punch

Mark the stock with a centre punch and chisel, and punch the hole for the eye.

Materials for this step:

Flat Tool Steel BarFlat Tool Steel Bar1 piece

Tools needed:

Center PunchCenter Punch
Blacksmith ForgeBlacksmith Forge
AnvilAnvil
Hot PunchHot Punch
Blacksmith TongsBlacksmith Tongs
2

Cut beside the eye

With a drift in the eye, flatten the sides. Cut part way through 3/16 inch from the edge of the hole on both sides, round the bottom of the cuts with a thin fuller, and cut out the waste.

Tools needed:

DriftDrift
Hot ChiselHot Chisel
FullerFuller
3

Draw out the ends

Draw out one end, cut the pick from the bar, then draw out the other end to the point's form.

Tools needed:

Trip HammerTrip Hammer
SledgehammerSledgehammer
4

Finish the head and point

With the drift in the eye, smooth around it with a set hammer. Finish the head with set hammer and flatter and cut it square from four sides; finish the point with a flatter and cut it to length. Grind face and point.

Tools needed:

Set HammerSet Hammer
FlatterFlatter
Hot ChiselHot Chisel
Bench GrinderBench Grinder
5

Harden and temper

Harden the point like a cold chisel and temper it to dark blue. Then heat about 2 inches of the head, keeping damp coal around the point, harden it the same way and temper it to brown or dark straw.

Tools needed:

Blacksmith ForgeBlacksmith Forge
Quench BucketQuench Bucket
Blacksmith TongsBlacksmith Tongs
Emery ClothEmery Cloth
6

Handle

Shave the handle stock to fit the eye tightly, drive the head on, saw a kerf in the handle's top and drive a glued hardwood wedge into it. Trim flush and oil the handle.

Materials for this step:

Hardwood Handle StockHardwood Handle Stock1 piece
Hardwood WedgeHardwood Wedge1 piece
Linseed OilLinseed Oil10 ml

Tools needed:

SpokeshaveSpokeshave
Crosscut SawCrosscut Saw
Bench ViseBench Vise

Materials

4

Tools Required

18

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