Clay as arrowheads?

[Beleg813]

Ok, so if we can get pieces of porcelain and flintknap those into arrowheads...would it be possible, feasible, effective to mold and shape clay into thin arrowheads, throw 'em in the oven and then use 'em?

Or, is the clay just by being shaped alone not strong enough? Just curious..looking at quick ways to mass produce arrowheads (arrowheads that work of course!)

[jamie]

if i needed to go that far to make a point i think i would just use carved and fire hardened wood points. it is an interesting idea though. try it and let us know.peace

[Beleg813]

I have to somehow come up with a way to make arrowheads. Venisonburger gave me a bunch of bandsaw blades to cut out with either a dremel or a hacksaw (live in an apartment have no space), and my flintknapping is atrocious....so, I'm looking for alternatives.

The dremel / hacksaw option would work (and did), but it's also quite loud for apartment walls that are as thick as paper!!

[jamie]

bone and a file. score the bone with a knife and smash then abrade the point to shape with a file or even on concrete or stone. peace

[M-P]

Hi, I used to do high fire ceramics for a hobby.  It takes a special kind of clay and temperatures of ~ 2000ºF to produce porceline or similar glass like ceramics.  I think there are lots simpler ways to make arrowheads.    Ron

[Beleg813]

Thanks for the responses, guys

Jamie--I was thinking about cutting out some Gemsbok horn to do just that. I was going to cut trips down the length and then file my way to happiness err arrowheads.

M-P, Yeah 5 minutes after goofing with clay (made some beads from a clay polymer type of stuff, baked it in the oven) I didn't think an arrowhead made from it could withstand actual use in the field. So, after hearing that it wouldn't work from people who have probably been doing it a very long while (some before I was born likely), it ended up me realizing something wouldn't work myself.

Isn't there some saying about some things not being able to teach others they have to go and stub their toes themselves first to learn it?

Oh well hehe

[mullet]

   I tried that a few years ago with a mold .But melted glass in a kiln.It was actually easier to cut the glass out with my saw.I am going to try and cut some glass or Obsidean and polish it into a point and just chip the edge.