Pickaxe Vs. Mattock: Is the Pickaxe same as a Mattock?

The pickaxe and mattock are two essential tools in gardening and farming but differ in appearance and use.

Read more on this article to learn about Pickaxe vs. Mattock. 

What is a Pickaxe?

A Pickaxe on the ground. 

A Pickaxe on the ground. 

A Pickaxe has a 3 to 4 feet wooden shaft. Also, some craftsmen use fiberglass to make pickaxe handles. Unlike the hatchet with a broad and horizontally fixed adze blade, a pickaxe head comprises a long and thin pick blade. 

Some of the common uses of a pickaxe include: 

  • Chipping soils and rocks in quarries
  • Digging through clay soils and rocky grounds
  • Digging trenches

A pickaxe needs to be sharp enough for carving or cutting wood. Also, railway workers use a railroad pick, a lighter type of pickaxe. But, a railroad pick is less famous than the hatchet and pickaxe. 

What is a Mattock?

A gardening mattock.

A gardening mattock.

A mattock has almost a similar shaft to a pickaxe. But, the handle is wooden or made of composite fiberglass. 

A mattock’s head has a horizontal adze blade on one side and a vertical axe blade on the other, giving the tool a T-shaped figure. Also, most mattocks weigh between 3 to 7 lb.   

Unlike a pickaxe that is limited to few uses, an ax is more versatile as it can perform various tasks such as;

  • Hoeing soils
  • Planting seeds and seedlings
  • Removing sods 
  • Digging through loose sand soils
  • Removing Stumps
  • Carving and cutting wood 

A fully built mattock combines a shovel and an axe and can strike and dig the soil without applying more force. Additionally, some mattocks have a single blade called an adze. The tool has a wide and horizontal blade. 

But don’t confuse this for a Pulaski axe that has a single axe without the Adze. Pulaski tools are more effective in firefighting because they can clear firebreaks and cut pieces of timber and wood.  

Pickaxe vs. Mattock: What is the Difference? 

A construction worker with a pickaxe. 

A construction worker with a pickaxe. 

A pickaxe and a hatchet have almost similar uses. Also, the two tools have some resembling features, such as handles. However, Pickaxe and Mattock have differences.

  1. A mattock has a wide and horizontal blade suitable for removing rocky particles of softer soils such as sand. On the other hand, a pickaxe has a thinner blade suitable for deeper penetration of clay and rocky soils. 

This pickaxe vs. mattock information is essential in deciding the tool to acquire depending on your needs.

Also, having both the hatchet and pickaxe in your store places you in a better position to choose which tool to use for different tasks. 

Conclusion

In a nutshell, consider your tasks when purchasing either of the tools. More so, you should bear in mind the type of soil you will be working on as you choose between the two. That’s all on pickaxe vs. mattock. For more, please consult us at any time.