tips please

[jayman448]

i have a heck of a time getting to the pressure flaking stage. i keep creating terrible steps or just snapping my glass. and with stone i just keep making turtles. what the heck is up?

[nclonghunter]

Grind those edges to make them strong. A strong edge will create better flakes. Making platforms to concentrate your flakes where they need to be removed is also important. Go to knapping events or meet with an expierenced knapper and get first hand knowledge....Hope this helps..Good Luck

[knap_123]

Watch you tube videos

[1442]

What method are you using?
Direct percussion with copper bopper reduction, I like to use a large size bopper. The greater mass of a larger bopper just seems to drive bigger flakes for me.
The strength of your platform is critical. Thin edges just can't support big flake removals. They crush and give up a smaller flakes because they are too weak.
Initiations from thin platforms create thin flakes that are prone to step because they are thin and easier to break.
Thicker platforms with initiations closer to center line create thicker flakes that are stronger and less likely to break off.
Yellow wristing (hitting too softly) delivers enough energy to initiate a flake, but doesn't deliver enough energy to keep that flake traveling till it runs out of the rock some where.

If you are doing ABO,  none of this applies.

[jayman448]

im using a copper bopper

[iowabow]

I learned to knap very fast. Not bragging I just used this website as a resource. Search my profile and select started by me. You can read my thoughts and see my journey. This will be helpful because you are asking the same questions as me. This will really help you.

[iowabow]

Here is a link to the first time I started really shooting  flakes.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,22851.msg310001.html#msg310001

[Zuma]

im using a copper bopper

If you are doing small glass a  deer antler billet works ok.
It doesn't need real good platforms. I hardly ever grind when doing a
big glass blade. If I do grind an edge I use a rough sanding belt. 80 grit
Elk is even better than deer. It's softer and sort of digs into the ragged
platforms to make a non crushing contact. fastest points to make.

[le0n]

i keep creating terrible steps or just snapping my glass.

how thin is the glass you are working? if you're just starting out, perhaps you can go straight to the flaking stage if it isn't too thick.

just a thought.

[jayman448]

i probably could go straight to flaking but i am trying to put at least one pass with percussion for thinning and experience

[le0n]

if they're snapping, i'm guessing you're hitting above center line or the piece needs a little more balanced support.