What are the parts of a pick axe?
What are the parts of a pick axe? |
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| There are two parts that comprise a pick axe: the head which is the metal part and the handle which can be made of either wood or fibreglass. | ||||||||||
Pick axe head |
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Today, pick axe heads are made from metal, which is most often a form of forged steel that has been heat treated and tempered to improve its strength and toughness.
The eye of a pick axe head is the hole in the centre through which the handle is fitted. The flatter, broader side of the pick axe head is referred to as the chisel, while the rounder more pointed end of the head is called the pick. A pick axe head will normally weigh between 2-3.5kg. |
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Why is the pick axe head curved?The curve in the head of a pick axe serves to make the contact of the pick with the ground or rock more of a right angle, making it more effective, and also reducing the chance of the pick becoming bent as it strikes. |
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Pick and chisel |
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The pick end of the pick axe head is used to break, split and chip rocks and hard earth. | |||||||||
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The chisel is used to pry and separate splits and fractures within the rock. | |||||||||
Pick axe handle |
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| There are two types of pick axe handle: wooden (usually ash or hickory) handles and fibreglass handles.
They range in length from 66-97cm (26″-38″) and normally weigh around 1kg (2lb 3oz). |
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A wooden handle | |||||||||
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A fibreglass handle | |||||||||
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