The # 1 to improve my knapping.

[Prarie Bowyer]

I'm a cheater knapper.  I take a flake that I can see point or blade in and then muddle my way to a sharp edge.

I need to learn more aobut thinning and how to get my flake to travel further across the surface. 

What is the # 1 thing that enables a flake to travel far.

I have done a few complete overshots on accident.  Had no idea what I did right or wrong.

I'm trying to get through a set of wine bottoe bottoms but I can't seem to get the convexity out on the cupped side because my flakes dont seem to want to run far enough.

What the heck?

I"m using pressure knapping and some light bopper work. 

[Bugtussle]

I am sure more skilled people than I can help you with this but I can tell you what helped me...

Turning the edge (making the wavy line) around the piece, I push down and in at about a 45 degree angle and I get short flakes... but after I grind it the platforms and sharpen my flaker, I push in at more of a 20 to 30 degree angle and it seems to elongate the flakes.  But remember both hands have to stay steady or else your holding hand can move and ruin the angle... hopefully that makes sense...

[bubby]

if ya get on youtube there are several good videos that will show bottle bottom knapping, seeing always works better for me when i'm trying to learn something, bub

[TRACY]

Nothing wrong with sharpening flakes!

The convex side is easier to run flakes and is the inside surface of most bottles. The concave side is the outside surface of the bottle bottom and is harder to get long flakes from. What works for me is to zigzag an edge and then abrade. It seems like I initially work the convex side into the concave side to bring the whole edge up to a centerline by pushing down with a pressure flaker. This will eventually "flatten" the piece so you can then flake both sides of the bottom and start shaping it into a triangular shape.
I hope this is not too wordy and confusing. Like said, watch some videos online and it will come together for you.
Good luck and practice.

Tracy

[papoints]

Definitely experiment with your flaker tip angle.  Keep it sharp!  The tip of the flaker should almost feel like you are pointing up when you start your inward pressure.  Keep the platform location in mind and remember the ridges.

[gstoneberg]

I think glass is MUCH more difficult to work than obsidian or heated chert, and I think bottle bottom glass is the hardest glass to work.  With glass, when I add enough pressure to run a long flake I typically break the point.  There is almost no glass in my debitage pile.  People who consistently get points out of bottle bottoms have my respect for sure.  So, I have no help for you.  Good luck though.

George

[Thesquirrelslinger]

Hmm. I will be content to work bottle bottoms...
Anyway, what about the actual tip angle of your flaker? e.g what degree taper?
Currently my stuff is either sorta rounded(the end of a file) or very pointy(nails)...

[papoints]

I like mine really sharp.  Just get in enough practice with dull ones so you don't insert it into the end of your finger like someone I know.....

[JackCrafty]

I get a lot of questions that ask what the "#1 thing" for this or that.  Well, I will tell you that in knapping, there is always a combination of things going on.  That's what makes it so difficult.


All things being equal, high quality glass is the best material for flake travel.  High quality obsidian is a close second.  Just look at what was done with obsidian in Meso-america.  The long blades are marvels of the ancient world.  If you want to learn to run long flakes, practice on glass.

Anyway, here's the deal, to run long flakes consistently you've got to have six (6) things:  (1) experience, (2) well prepared platforms, (3) lots of force, (4) a good grip or support for the workpiece, (5) even support for the flake or no support at all, and (6) a non-stepped, convex surface with one or more ridges.

(1) You get experience from many hours of failures.
(2) You learn to prepare platforms from many hours of crushed edges.
(3) You learn to apply large amounts of force without breaking the workpiece by breaking many workpieces...
...so, you get where I'm going with this?

Your flintknapping will improve slowly by correcting mistakes and performing damage control.  If you absolutely have no idea how to correct the mistakes, then someone must teach you in person.

Hope that helps.

Edit:  Oh yeah, get yourself about 20 bottle bottoms.  You can't expect good results on anything less than 20 pieces of material, at a minimum.

[twisted hickory]

@ Jack Crafty

I just got started on two whisky bottle bottoms. Dang! I can't drink 20 bottles worth my liver will be shot when I have enough bottoms to learn how to do long flakes!

[JackCrafty]

Just go to a couple parties.  You'll come home with plenty of bottles if you volunteer to clean up.   

[threefingers]

Everybody has their own method,i drop a nail and pop out the bottom,use a small billet to clean the edge,once cleaned,if you hold it up at eye level with the high side up there is almost a straight piece in the center.don't worry about the high side,with a pressue flaker and grind stone start working the edges that curve down,keep grinding and setting platforms til you have the bottom flat.while doing this you also have to get your basic shape.Then work on the high side or inside bottom of the bottle.As far as your angle/flake travel that comes from doing it over and over,Just make sure you stay far enough away from your last flake when pressure flaking,you want to kinda run next to a flake,too close and it will kill itself in the last one.Keep in mind that to get a flat piece you ain't gonna have much left,but what is left can be really nice when finished

[JackCrafty]

Here's some of my vids on bottle bottom knapping:

Removing a Bottle Bottom with a Nail : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McGJ8mVV3L4
Cutting Bottle Bottoms in Half : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3f__hY71x4
Blue Glass Arrowhead from Half of Bottle Bottom : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5asfoHsxI2w
Another Blue Glass Arrowhead from the Other Half : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq9fqK3VAoE

[twisted hickory]

 

Just go to a couple parties.  You'll come home with plenty of bottles if you volunteer to clean up.   

 

[TRACY]

@ Jack Crafty

I just got started on two whisky bottle bottoms. Dang! I can't drink 20 bottles worth my liver will be shot when I have enough bottoms to learn how to do long flakes!

Check with restaurants that serve alcohol and ask for them to save them and call you when they're ready to get rid of them.

Tracy