G notching demo

[iowabow]

OK I took a pile of pictures I am going to load them all but without writing because it will take forever.  I happened to find a blank that I never got back to finishing back in the day.  It is very thick and should be a good example how to notch thick work.  In the end I shaped the right side and base so you could see how the notch would look finished.  I want to leave the otherside unfinished to remember the past.   I also put pencil lines down so you could see material being removed. 

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

[iowabow]

Well that's it for the photos.  Hope it helps.

[gstoneberg]

Thanks John.  Nice pictures.  I'm impressed that you notched a point that thick.  I don't think it's working though.  I went out tonight and tried again.  First I made a copper notching tool.  Then, I made a small point which turned out pretty bad.  I blew out one side and stalled the other.



So, got disgusted and picked up a long, thin piece of coral from Eddie that I'd given up on because I'd made it so narrow without getting it thin.  Surprisingly, thinning went great and I like it a lot.  I decided to make real shallow side nocks and good thing since I stalled one right away.  I'm a lost cause John.  Hopefully in time I'll figure it out.





Now I'll stop posting pictures in your excellent thread.  Thanks for trying.

George

[Gus]

Awesome Thread iowabow!!!
Thank You for your time and effort to help the hapless (me)... 

Good Grief George!!!
That Coral Point is Beautiful!!!
You have come a Long Way from the middle of last year.
Your flake scars and symmetry are goals I would love to attain in my sorry rubble factory!
I have faith that you will figure out your notching style!

-gus

[iowabow]

By god I think you got and you don't even know it! Look at the top point and focus on the right notch it is perfect.  The only thing I would change is lighter pressure on the first couple of flakes. This will keep the point from breaking at the bottom.   Also I think that this leaves one technique left that we have not covered and it is the angle of the tool.  I will post a couple of pictures to cover this maybe a video might work better.  I will think about it today and post it tonight.  Your notching is going to get better and better as your pieces get thinner.  If a notch stalls try picking at the corner to remove small flakes to start it again.  It will also be helpful if you go and buy a diamond file at this point to restart the notch. This will help you understand how to restart them with the pressure flaker.  Sometimes I keep trying like ten times by sharpen and changing tool shapes.  I will at times push real hard to make a tool dent to the shape of the texture on the platform to give it more surface area.  Shannon told me that the dust from abrading will help create friction also. Please do not stop posting your attempts it helps everyone learn and you are getting much better. I would guess in three weeks this will all be in the past and you will be helping others figure it out. 

[gstoneberg]

Yes yes, tool position pictures or a video would be very helpful.  I'll go out and get a diamond file at lunchtime.  Thanks again for the help.

George

[jamie]

well done john. from grasshopper to master in a year. 

[iowabow]

well done john. from grasshopper to master in a year. 

That is funny! Well I worked last night making the blank for the video and still have a little shaping to do tonight.