My hammer bounced off a piece of quartz and nearly hit my foot in the Arizona desert

I was trying to collect a sample near Sedona and swung too hard at a wrong angle. The rock didn't break, and the hammer flew right out of my grip into the dirt. What's your best tip for keeping a solid grip when you're striking a tough mineral?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_martin28d ago

That hammer-flying feeling is way too familiar... like trying to swat a fly and throwing the whole magazine. A tighter grip just makes you tense up and lose control. Try choking up on the handle a bit for more wrist stability, and let the hammer's weight do more of the work.

wesley18128d ago

@blair_martin you threw a whole magazine trying to hit a fly?

grant.susan25d ago

Actually, a loose grip helps the hammer swing smoother.