Knapping Floor Tile

[JackCrafty]

On a scale of 0-10 (with 10 being easiest to knap), here is where I place high-grade floor tile compared to other materials:

10  High-grade Heat-treated

9    Glass/Obsidian

8    True Flint and Highest-grade Cherts

7    High-grade Chert and Medium-grade Heat-treated

6    Medium-grade Chert

5    High-grade Porcelain and Ceramic  (includes high-grade floor tile)

4    Low-grade Heat-treated

3    Low-grade Chert

2    High-grade Quartzite and Rhyolite

1    Low-grade Quartzite and Rhyolite

0    Low-grade Ceramics, Natural Cortex


I usually don't recommend anything lower than a 7 for beginners and for those who want to work on advanced flaking techniques.

Note:  This scale has been updated on this thread:   http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,52976.0/topicseen.html

[JackCrafty]

Thanks for the input Brian!  What do you think of the knappability scale?

[jeffp51]

also thanks.  I can't wait to try it.  I am flying home from Germany tomorrow.

[JackCrafty]

Here's a vid I just posted on tile from Home Depot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz1s4XwY1Dw&feature=gp-n-y&google_comment_id=z125y1o50xvxfvjzb04cdnerfquysdqjgzw0k

[vinemaplebows]

Thanks for the input Brian!  What do you think of the knappability scale?

Yes, that is a fair grading system. There is plenty of great materials that far outweigh the floor tiles, but on cheap easy to obtain for most people other than glass....tile is a good practice material, and with your knapping videos that show a step by step....hopefully we will see some success.

VMB

[mullet]

Looks good, Patrick.

[JacksonCash]

All I know is that the linoleum stick on tile the old owners left in my house doesn't knap for beans.

[JackCrafty]

 

[Chippintuff]

Buy a few small samples. It should be cheap. Even if you had to buy a few square feet, it would still be cheaper per point than most stone. If you have not knapped any slab material, it would be good to study a tutorial or watch a few videos on how to tackle it. Experiment. I have knapped a few pieces of floor tile, and it was fun to work and made nice points. I never knew what specific type it was, because I dug it up in the yard. The finish looked a lot like Patrick's, no gloss, and the flakes did not travel as well as good stone or glass, but it was still good stuff to work.

WA

[Zuma]

Sometimes you can get the (broken in shipment) and left
 over cut pieces given to you for free.
Look for the tile cutting saw at Lowes or Home Depot.
If there is a lot of scrap, ask the associate from the tile area
for some.
Usually they feature an inexpensive tile at the front of the
tile section. Many boxes with broken tile.
Also get to know some installers. They are often shopping in
 the tile area. They like to get rid of their scrap and have tile
from different sources.
Zuma

[JackCrafty]

Excellent advice Chip and Zuma.   

[Chippintuff]

With almost all tile, there is no need for a saw. Buy a tile cutter for $20.00 on the internet or at Lowe's or Home Depot. It is fast and works very well. It's just a supped up glass cutter. I have been using one to shape slabs that I cut from flint/chert.

WA

[JackCrafty]

I need to get one of those.  Much more accurate than a hammer, I imagine.