Equipment, Books and Gifts 

           Please bear with us, we are redesigning our on-line catalogue. However we can still supply you with equipment.

 Please contact us for advice on your choice of equipment, if you are unsure as to what you wish to purchase.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Equipment Shop

                                           Thoughts on Geological Equipment - a buyers guide!

                                                                                                    (and other things concerned with field work)

The choices of equipment are bewildering! Before you get to our equipment list, further down this page, please take some time to read through this section before ordering you equipment – it will help you make an informed choice.                                    

  Your field equipment is very personal. You must choose the equipment to suit you and not what others tell you are the best; you must make up your own mind, at the end of the day its really up to you – it’s a personal choice!

Choosing a hammer

It is easy to say this hammer is better than that hammer because…………. As with all tools you must pick one that suits your own physique – a hammer that you cannot use properly is both useless in general and you are more likely to hurt yourself!

There are many different designs on the market; it makes it difficult to make the right choice. The list below gives the advantages and disadvantages of all the common types – so you may make an informed choice.

The head of the hammer has a blunt face for hitting bolster with, or for knocking chips off of the edge of rocks. The other end is a chisel point. These are of limited use in splitting rocks (use a bolster for this!) but are ok for chipping small bits of rock off.

Traditional Wooden Handled Hammer

Tubular Steel or Fibreglass Handled Hammer

Solid Metal Shafted Hammers

Chisels and Bolsters

There is quite a choice of these. Do you use the most expensive or the cheapest? Our answer depends on what rock type you intend using it on. The cheaper bolsters will cope with all but the hardest of rocks, so it really is not worth spending a fortune on a super bolster or chisel. I use a wide bolster for most of the time. I find it is the best tool to split open rocks along the bedding plane. We would, however recommend that you get a chisel or bolster that is supplied with a knuckle guard – it prevents embarrassing and painful blows to the hand!

Hard Hats

The main points about hard hats are they should be comfortable to wear, you should make sure you adjust the hat so it fits snugly, that you replace them if they show any signs of damage, if they get hit by falling debris or if they are getting a little old (follow the manufacturers guidelines on this). The other cardinal sin so often seen when hard hats are worn, is that they are worn back to front. The peak is there to protect your face from falling debris, please wear it the right way round!

As to choice of colour – well that is up to you, but I would consider visibility by others a distinct advantage!

Eye Protection

A vital piece of your equipment! As with hard hats, choose either safety glasses or goggles (whichever you find the most comfortable and convenient to wear). Also ‘as with hard hats’ if they show any signs of damage, wear etc. replace them!

Like any other piece of equipment – it won’t work if you don’t use it!

Hand Lenses

Hand lenses do not wear out – they generally get broken. There are a lot of hand lenses available for a few pounds, but they tend to have weak aluminium framed that are easily distorted or broken. My advice is to look out for a hand lens that has a steel frame that has been chromium plated. This will ensure the lens is protected and that the entire instrument will stand a very good chance of withstanding the rigours of fieldwork. This is one of the few occasions where the more expensive option is the best.

Clothing in General

This is one that I approach with some reservations – those that know me will confirm I am not a ‘fashionista’! Clothing should be warm (as well as cool when the weather is nice!), comfortable; robust enough to protect you from scrapes against rocks (while not getting wrecked in the process), reasonably priced so that if you do wreck them it is not expensive to replace them, easy to move around in and that you have a waterproof outer layer to put on. The only actual recommendation that I give is that you avoid denim or any other fabric that does not dry quickly – if you get wet in the field wearing clothing made of such fabrics you will get very cold remarkably quickly!

Surveying and Mapping

It is possible to spend a lot of money in this area – unless you want to or are into mapping the exposures you are studying it is not worth it. If you are going to study geosciences at university – use the equipment they recommend!

Personally I favour a combined compass clinometer, as they weigh a lot less, and I find it handy to have the two instruments in one. This is not perhaps the cheapest option but is a personal choice. All the other compass’ and clinometers work well, so there is no advantage either way – apart from personal taste.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                              Equipment Catalogue

General Equipment

 Safety Equipment & Clothing

Equipment & specimen Bags, Field note Books

 

       

 

Item	Price (each)
Shoulder ‘tote’ bag for equipment and specimens	£POA
Clip seal specimen bags, small (75mm X 85mmm) pack 100 bags	£1.60
Clip seal specimen bags, medium (103mm X 142mm) pack 100 bags	£1.80
Clip seal specimen bags, large (150mm X 290mm) pack 100 bags	£3.20
A5 pocket note book (Chartwell)	£POA

 

 Geological field equipment

Hand lenses

Hammers and allied equipment

Item	Price (each)
Hammer, tubular steel shaft & rubber grip suitable for all but the hardest rocks. Ideal for fossil hunting	£7.50
Hammer loop to fit above (no belt supplied)	£3.50
2lb ‘Crack’ hammer for splitting nodules, Hardwood shaft	£8.75
Bolster – plain 57mm	£3.10
Bolster with knuckle guard 57mm	£4.65

Measurement

Item	Price (each)
Compass	£20.00
Clinometer	£18.00
Compass/clinometer (combined instrument)	£35.00
Steel tape 10m X32mm tape measure	£10.75
Surveyors tape measure – rot & rust proof fibreglass tape - 30m	£35.50

Please contact us for up to date prices and availability, terms etc.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Please Note: This Section is Under Construction!!!!!!

(Although we can still supply your order)

                    Book Shop 

Teacher & Student Books

Student workbook - 'The cretaceous Weald of Kent Tour 1 & 2 - £2.00

Teacher Reference booklet - £2.00

Introduction to Mapping Workbook  -£2.00

Introduction to gelogical Field Techniques  - £2.00

General

A Geological History of Wales - in Brief - £5.00

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Please Note: This Section is Under Construction!!!!!!

(Although we can still supply your order)

                              Gift Shop   

Gift Tokens

 Give a gift with a difference - give a 'gift token' for a fossil hinting tour (minimum price for a group of 4, including equipment hire)

Conditions apply - please contact us for full details

Unique and personalised 'hand printed' gifts only from Trial-a-Bite Rock & Fossil Tours in association with photos4fun:

Please note that order times vary with the time of year. We will notify you of order times on your enquiry.

Ceramic Mugs

Have your own rock and fossil themed mug. All mugs are dishwasher safe.

Choose from designs, unique to Trial-a-Bite Rock & Fossil Tours

Alternatively why not have you trip immortalised as  your own personalised mug, with a picture and slogan of your choice.

 £7.99  a cardboard 'mug box' for an extra £1.00

Coasters

Why not have you mug complimented with a co-ordinated design on a temperature resistant coaster

 £2.50

Mouse Mats

Have your own rock and fossil themed mug. Choose from any of our designs or use your own.

 £7.99

Fridge Magnets

Choose from a selection of fossil designs on a fridge magnet

£2.99 

T-shirts

Your design - or any one of ours listed below printed on a white T-shirt. Available in sizes from 3 to xxl.

Trial - a - bite Designs

Coming soon

 Please Note - All prices do not include P&P, "We only charge you, what we are charged for this"