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Author Topic: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?  (Read 19654 times)

calxoddity

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What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« on: January 03, 2009, 08:18:53 PM »
Hi,
  When you're starting out fossicking it's hard to figure out what you need to take and what's just dead weight.  After a few years, you start to get it right, even perhaps inventing particular tools to help you out in some specific situations.  You know you've reached this point when new fossickers look at you and go "how did you DO that?"

Here's your chance to repay those respectful gazes by sharing your Jedi tooltips - what's in your definitive fossicking toolbox? (and bags first borrow if you have a light sabre - I have a vugh that needs emptying!!  ;D

Regards,
Shane

moonshadow_dancer

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2009, 08:39:01 PM »
WOW!!!! Its been a long time since I went fossicking but the basics I had was, sieves (small ones), plastic buckets, 3 half 44 gallon drums for washing, a pointy nose shovel, a pick, a potato sack to upturn sieve onto, plastic tweezers, water of course and a coffee jar to put the sapphires into (got to be optimistic). Also tent etc and a few drinkies whilst dinner was in the camp oven  ;)
Ron and I have an Appointment to do some Laps ;) ;D

mehoose

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2009, 04:39:57 PM »
A bucket!!

I've only attacked the beach. ;D
Keep em comin!!!

Wwoofa

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2009, 05:25:36 PM »
Hi,
I take quite a bit of stuff with me .... various sieves, buckets, gardening type tools, chisels & hammers for vughing, a tenching shovel, small pick, yabby pump, jerry cans for water etc.

Apart from sieves & buckets, probably the most used item over the years has been my trenching shovel .... it's narrow & has high sides so it gets into smaller places & the gravel doesn't fall off.  I also replaced the handle with a steel tube so it's very strong.  The yabby pump is also quite useful in creeks.

I also now use a 4mm bottom sieve ... sand/dirt falls thru quickly & anything found is a bit bigger in size.  This really helps speed up the process.  Of course, you do miss out on all the very small stuff - but probably never miss a cutter.

One thing I always take with me as well is a "kit" (plastic toolbox) which contains all the non-fossicking stuff & smaller stuff - like coffee, tea, sugar, cup, plate, cutlery, sunscreen, insect repellent, torch, small containers, tweezers, plastic bags etc etc.  I find this very useful to make sure you don't forget anything.

If anyone would like a detailed list of everything that I take let me know.
Regards, Paul

calxoddity

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2009, 06:03:35 PM »
Okay, here's my *heavy* accumulation...
  • Long handled shovel
  • Trenching shovel
  • Pick
  • Sledgehammer
  • 2kg hammer
  • Rock Pick
  • Gold Pick
  • 18" Gad
  • Small rock chisel
  • Large rock chisel
  • Long handled screwdriver
  • Scrubbing brush
  • Toothbrush
  • Tweezers
  • Set of 3 x 17" Sieves
  • Set of 3 x 13" Sieves
  • Large gold pan
  • 1 metre prybar
  • Large scoop
  • Yabby Pump
  • Assorted containers

I think that's about it...  I normally don't take everything all at once, unless I'm going to Inverell and Glen Innes for a week.

Regards,
Shane

mehoose

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2009, 06:27:36 PM »
Calx,
That's your trailer full...what goes in the boot??? ;D
Keep em comin!!!

calxoddity

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2009, 08:21:20 PM »
oh, in the boot goes the Esky, the 5 litre water cooler, the camera, the GPS, anywhere between 2 and 5 1:25000 topographic maps, 3 large buckets, a set of digital gem scales, a torch, 3 folded hessian or synthetic sacks, a whistle, 2 knives, a space blanket, a shaker for the 17" sieves.

Actually, I'm lying - the whole lot (the list plus the stuff here) fits in the back of the Pajero. I've become pretty good at packing!

Regards,
Shane

Wwoofa

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2009, 08:47:17 PM »
That's a good list Shane .... a couple of other things worth considering are a good first aid kit, backpack (if you need to go for hike), basic recovery gear and I also have a Next-G mobile & antenna which seems to work in most remote locations now.  I also bring a notebook for drawing mudmaps & recording GPS readings etc.

Regards, Paul

calxoddity

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2009, 09:01:58 PM »
Paul,
  yes - good things to have.  I forgot the first aid kit as it's always in the car, as is my little notebook.  Also, sunblock, hat, gloves, electrical tape, garbage bags... and I'm sure there's more.

BTW - I have some photos of you from the time we went to Stannifer.  Of course, your back was to us and your son was doing all the work...  ;D

Regards,
Shane

mehoose

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2009, 09:03:58 PM »
Now that's gotta be one for the gallery!!! :D
Keep em comin!!!

calxoddity

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2009, 09:51:03 PM »
...and here's the proof!  :)

mehoose

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2009, 10:40:21 PM »
Lovely pins. ;)
Keep em comin!!!

Wwoofa

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2009, 09:30:13 AM »
Thanks for that Shane  :-[

BTW I have some pics of your son at the same place ... but none of the photos have you in them ... I guess you were having a nap  ;D
« Last Edit: January 05, 2009, 09:34:00 AM by rust1957 »

Vuggy_Clay

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Re: What's in Your Fossicking Tool Kit?
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2009, 11:19:31 PM »
As i do most of my fossicking for quartz, by the way quartz is my favourite mineral, i deal with hard rock and quartz veins so i take various sized hammers, molybdenite chisel, crow bars, shovels, geo pick, and a screw driver to gently remove vuggy clay from quartz pockets. A geo pick is handy for most situations and i find its my most effective tool. I paid a bit for it but its definetly worth it. If going after alluvial gemstones i bring my fishing waders, sieves and gold pans.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2009, 11:23:18 PM by Vuggy_Clay »

 

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