Best masonry hammers according to redditors

Rock hammer, chisel edged.
Andy used one to get out of Shawshank


http://www.amazon.com/Hammer-Chisel-Edged-Valley-Soft-Touch/dp/B000E7RYR6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893171&sr=8-7&keywords=geologist+rock+hammer

Ok she's going to need a rock hammer. I recommend an estwing like this: https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-E3-22P-Pointed-Shock-Reduction/dp/B0002OVCMO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500498067&sr=8-2&keywords=rock+hammer

hand lens (not a magnifying glass)! Every geo has one: https://www.amazon.com/Magnifier-Triplet-Illuminating-Magnifying-Jeweler/dp/B00KAPBYNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500498120&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+lens

Journal/composition book for her to take notes and catalog her findings

Other things to think about: geology summer camp, local rockhounding groups/clubs, identification book, mineral ID kit, vest with lots of pockets, boxes for the rocks to be stored in, and good boots.

As others have said its really easy even if you have no experience, there are plenty of youtube videos for resources. An AR is by far the easiest firearm to work on. I started off in your position a few years ago hesitant to mod and now I barrel my own ARs, its addictive and very easy with the hardest part spending money on tools but deals can be had. Lots of great resources out there as well dont let it intimidate you - heres a wall of text of some tools you might want to consider if you're looking to assemble stripped lowers or do minor gun work.


I purchased this set of punches for less than $7 a few years ago looking to do the same as you but being on a college budget. You'll definitely want brass but steel/'chrome' punches have their place (peening roll pins). This is far from the "perfect" set and is chinesium but 4 AR builds, many other firearm disassembles (stripping 3+ glocks, 4+ M&P Pros as well as a couple Rugers to bare frame then back again) and 4+ years later they are still holding up (punches will bend, you can bend them back, especially the small ones, if they get deformed from striking you can file/sand them flat again) but if you have extra cash/are willing to spend more there are many options out there that are oriented towards gunsmithing specifically, I didnt have the money at the time for them and will wait until these give out or I come across something they wont work with before I purchase something else.

You may also want to look into a roll pin starting punch if you are building ARs (or anything that uses roll pins)

But I find Hemostat Forceps to work excellently for roll pins ('pinch' the pin in them, get it started, remove forceps and use punch) (you will not need this for installing a trigger, only roll pins such as a bolt catch)

Also if you're striking punches dont use a regular hammer (chips into your eyes arent good) I use a Nylon Hammer like this

There are other things for barreling such as torque wrenches and vices etc. but the above will allow you to assemble a stripped AR lower and have many other applications for gun work. Good luck any questions dont hesitate to ask.

I've been a carpenter (foundation to finish) for the last 15 years - since high school - and have been self employeed for the last 5. I've used and/or owned just about every type of hammer: 20+ ounce Estwings, Mig welded Dewalts (suck), old school Harts (still a fav), old Plumb curve claws...

I use one of these

Check this out at Amazon.com
Dalluge DDT16P 16 Ounce DDTP Titanium Hammer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IWOLDG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_upyTAb72CEE1J

I've had it for years now and have: never broken the haft, rarely find myself looking for a sledgehammer to shift a beam or timber, and never had an issue with toe nailing in tight spaces. Plus, the side nail puller lets me pull nails that have most people reaching for a wrecking bar.

As for the rock hammer I recommend one of these estwing brand hammers:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002OVCMO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1408402300&sr=8-1

Used one in college geology courses, extremely well built.

Practical or decorative?

Practical:

• Rite in the Rain Field Book: http://amzn.com/B0011DGJSC
  
• Estwing Rock Hammer: http://amzn.com/B0002OVCMO
  
• Geotechnical Gauge Card: http://amzn.com/B00MV103OY
  
  Decorative/Romantic:
  
  
• Amber Jewelery
  
• Trilobite or Ammonite Pendant necklaces
  
• Labradorite Shot Glasses

Not a hatchet, but This Guy

A couple ideas:

A rock hammer/pick- This is the most popular and here is the slightly fancier version.

Every rockhound needs a bag or bucket to carry their rocks while out hounding. I use this but a popular choice seems to be a canvas messenger-like bag such as this one.

Rock hammer examples- - - https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-Rock-Pick-Geological-Reduction/dp/B01EKZFJVK

https://www.amazon.com/Bastex-Rock-Hammer-Pointed-Geological/dp/B079P78VL7


Eye protection (z-87 rated) safety glasses or goggles (Goggles preferred).


Cold chisel 12 - 16 inch long 3\4 to 1 inch edge example https://www.amazon.com/Mayhew-Select-12205-12-Inch-Handguarded/dp/B0016N07S0/ref=sr_1_1

Leather work gloves


3 lb hammer example https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-Strike-Drilling-Crack-Hammer/dp/B00433SC4Q


Magnifying loop 30x


Plastic baggies 1 gallon size for rocks.


Back pack

Gold pan, perhaps.

Pry bar is some times handy

>I understand how off it feels to talk about arming yourself and predators in general.

May I suggest you take up geology ?

​

https://www.amazon.com/Choice-22-Ounce-Pointed-11-Inch-Overall/dp/B074GYGQXY

​

This is my FAVORITE hammer. Hardened steel, nice case...

Sanding will take forever with that much bulk. Hammer and chisel would work, or get one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/SE-8399-RH-ROCK-11-Inch-Rock-Hammer/dp/B003JKIYJM

Hammer out the bulk then do a light re-grout to make it pretty again.

Eastwing makes a very similar rock hammer. The only difference I see is the width of the face, which could be done with 10 minutes of grinding on a belt grinder.

ETA: you might start with this

http://www.amazon.com/Estwing-E30-Leather-Grip-Pointed/sim/B0002YWWVE/2

Here you are mate! You too can play in molten lava.

This is where having a geology degree comes in handy. I frequently carry one of these with me. I even have a belt holder for it. If anyone asks, I just say I'm a geologist.

That sharp point is sharp as fuck.

Looks legit

How about THIS instead?

Its PERFECT.

[Estwing Leather Hammer] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Estwing-Rock-Pointed-Leather-Grip-/dp/B0002YWWVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=Estwing+leather+rock)

and

[Belomo Triplet Loupe] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belomo-Diamond-Loupe-Triplet-Magnifying/dp/B00EXPWU8S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409975334&sr=8-2&keywords=belomo+10x+triplet+loupe)

For regular cars, the Res-Q-Me is pretty much ideal. Zip tie one to the emergency brake handle and you can find it upside down in the dark.

If you have to get through laminated glass in a hurry you want a no-nonsense tool for that. The glass first needs to break, and then it either needs to be pulled or pushed out of the way, or sawed through.

Side windows can usually be broken, and then pushed out with an elbow or foot. They are not attached on all four sides like a windshield. Windshields can be broken and kicked out, but that can be hard to do with you hands. The saw is used because rescuers don't want to kick it in towards the passengers.

My first choice would be a small rock hammer.

https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-Rock-Pick-Geological-Reduction/dp/B01EKZFJVK/ref=sr_1_10?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1542978396&sr=1-10&keywords=rock+hammer

Find a good way to secure it so it won't bounce around in the cab if you wreck and roll it. Velcro straps might be good. Once you get that hammer in your hands the side windows are toast, and you have a good fighting chance with the windshield too.

Something that would be better at destroying brains. Baseball bats are too blunt force and need to crush skulls - requiring multiple hits per zombie. I want something that will pierce and destroy brains with single hits if possible.

I would start with a rock hammer because I have one on hand and it is light and compact enough that I can carry a spare if one gets stuck in a skull.

A rock pick would be on my scavenge list because it has a little more reach and can also serve extra functions: pry bar, digging, push off/hold back.

Both of those tools happen to be widely available near me. If they weren't, I'd start with claw hammers. A hardware store would probably have a FuBar, I would have Halligan tools on my scavenge list.

Any melee weapon I would add grip tape and have a backup.

I disagree with WindowShoppingMyLife, reach IS important. You're in trouble if zombies start grabbing you, so being able to kill zombies 24" before they can grab you (25" rock pick) is superior to being able to kill zombies 10" before they can grab you (12" hammer), especially if there is more than one zombie.