New to Flintknapping, Questions.

[rileyconcrete]

Well guys I have been making a few bows and arrows, and now it is time to learn flintknapping.  I have been watching some utube videos and reading up on it and also watching what you guys post on here.

I have some obsidian and some dacite, and was wondering how you guys work each one.

I have a couple antler billets/pressure flakers that I have been experimenting with.

what is best pressure or percussion?

I have a hard time getting the flakes to go even a 1/4 the way across a piece.

Maybe you can give me some pointers.

Thanks Tell

[Hillbilly]

I have some obsidian and some dacite, and was wondering how you guys work each one.

You work all materials basically the same, except for the amount of force, and maybe billet material on some stone. The principal of conchoidial fracture is pretty much the same on all stone that breaks that way, you just have to hit some rock harder to get the same effect. Obsidian and dacite are both very easy to knap, and don't require much force to detach a flake.

I have a couple antler billets/pressure flakers that I have been experimenting with.

what is best pressure or percussion?

It depends on the situation. Both are used in making a typical point, except that points can be made from small thin flakes or slabs by all pressure flaking. Percussion is used to thin a large piece and get it to the late preform stage. Pressure flaking is used for final smoothing, shaping, and sharpening, and to set up platforms for percussion flaking.

I have a hard time getting the flakes to go even a 1/4 the way across a piece.

Maybe you can give me some pointers.

Platforms, platforms, platforms. Make sure your platform is below center line of the piece, and at the correct angle. Use more inward than downward pressure when pressure flaking. Flakes follow ridges and convex surfaces. Flakes don't run through concave spots, nor do they run far on a flat surface.

[rileyconcrete]

Thanks Hillbilly I will work on the platforms, and the angles.  I think that is most of my problem.  I will get to work and see what I can produce to post pictures.

Tell

[sailordad]

only thing i will ad is to go to a knapp in and sit down with otehr knappers
or find someone localy that will sit with you on ocassion

[Hillbilly]

only thing i will ad is to go to a knapp in and sit down with otehr knappers
or find someone localy that will sit with you on ocassion

x2. I learned more in a weekend at a knap in when I started than I did in a year on my own.

[aaron]

i see you're in ID- why dontcha come to the glass buttes knap-in? It's a perfect place to learn, gather rock  and unwind. it's in the end of march. also, watching some youtube vids may help.

[rileyconcrete]

Aaron,

Yeah I am in ID.  It is only a few hours to glass buttes.  What all goes on during the knap-in?  Maybe I can attend. do you have the exact dates?

Thanks again for all your insight guys.

Tell

[stickbender]

     Tell, by all means go to the Glass butte Knapp in, you will meet some great knappers, and get so much more with a hands on tutorial.  See if Emory Coons will be there, and Keenan, they will help you.

                                                                   Wayne

[aero86]

hate to steal your post, but this is a newbie question   anyways, when napping, best to use an almost pencil like point? or a little more dull?

[sailordad]

first of all i am no expert,but this is what i have learned in a years time
as far as the tip of the tool goes.
i know some will say a nice sharp tip
i have found that differant material will work better with a sharp point,or a dull point
now when i say sharp,i done mean like a pin tip unless your trying to get a sharp edge
i like mine to be either some what shaped like a flat blade screw driver but not that thin
or blunt and round.
differant thinks for differant folks too,you will find what works best for you

[aero86]

ok, thank you.  ive been getting a bit better with my flaking..

[Hillbilly]

The Sharpness depends on what you're doing. In general, a sharp tip will initiate a flake easier than a dull one, but a dull tip works good for heavy flaking with an Ishi stick sometimes because it won't bend on you. Different materials respond differently to different tips, also. In general, I would try to keep them faily sharp, but not needle sharp. Copper tools should be sharper than antler tools as a general rule. For final edgework, I like a small flaker just as sharp as I can get it.

[aero86]

groovy.  i use a copper tool.   guess ill sharpen it a bit and see what happens.    anyone live close to north east texas? dallas area?