Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: FlintWalker on January 03, 2010, 11:55:55 pm

Title: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 03, 2010, 11:55:55 pm
  I rigged up a ventilation system in my basement the other day and made these two points trying it out.  The vent system works good, so I won't be letting crappy weather slow me down. ;D
 Made the 3" Stillwell today and the 2-1/8" pine tree yesterday.
 

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Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: mullet on January 03, 2010, 11:58:34 pm
 WOW!
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: sailordad on January 04, 2010, 12:07:23 am
very very nice,that first one the material is way cool looking
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 04, 2010, 12:39:46 am
Eddie yer silly ;D
 Tim, the first one is heat treated Buffalo river.
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: leapingbare on January 04, 2010, 07:47:51 am
Dang Shanon. i think i know the technique your using to flack those pine tree's, very impressive.
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: jamie on January 04, 2010, 08:09:32 am
beautiful work , them pine trees are scary looking.
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: DanaM on January 04, 2010, 09:33:03 am
that deserves a WHOLLYWUHEH ;D
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 04, 2010, 10:01:35 am

     Hey, I thought we told you to keep off of this site, for about ten yrs. or so!  At least that way, we can say, man, he's good, but he "HAS" been knapping for ten years......NOT 6 MONTHS!!!!!! :o Sheesh!! >:(
Those are way too good.  I think you must be buying them.  Better send them to me, so I can keep them safe for you. ::)

                                                                 Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: Outbackbob48 on January 04, 2010, 10:37:41 am
Hey Shannon, what are you using for a venting system, I've got 28" of snow on the ground so outside knapping is shut down for quite a while. Spending most of my time fighting the cold war instead of knapping:>}  I really like the stillwell an the pine tree isn,t to shabby either, good looking points.  Later Bob
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 04, 2010, 12:43:07 pm
Thank you all, I'm glad you like 'em.
 Wayne, I ain't buying 'em, but I wish I could sell some of them :-\

 Bob, I made that vent system with some old swimming pool hoses and a shop vac.
 I put all those hoses together (about 12')  I put my shop vac outside and ran the cord and hose through an old dryer vent down into my basement.  I rigged the hose up so it's positioned just below my knees while i'm sitting on a bucket.  While I abrade, I be sure to abrade right in front of the hose. It pulles all the dust outside and even while I'm knapping, all the tiny dust particles are pulled down and away from my face by the slight suction the hose creates.  It may not be perfect, but it's enough to make me feel better about things.
 The key is...get the vac outside. That way, you don't have to hear it and it blows it's exaust outside.  I reckon those silica dust particles are so small the filter system on a shop vac won't catch it all.
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: Pappy on January 04, 2010, 01:37:22 pm
Great looking points Shanon.Very impressive.  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: El Destructo on January 04, 2010, 02:22:04 pm
Man ...I am sure lovin that Pine Tree.......... ;D
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 05, 2010, 01:35:18 am

     Ok, Shannon, how did you get those lonnnng curving flakes on that Pine Tree? ??? :o Inquiring minds want to know......and so do I. ;)


                                                           Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 05, 2010, 01:58:56 am
Proper platform preperation prevents piss poor.....uuuggghhh  ???  I don't know  :-\   Really, I don't.  I just see what needs to be done, and try to do it.  Sometimes it works, sometime it don't. ;D
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: Justin Snyder on January 05, 2010, 02:03:40 am
Sweet points Shannon.
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 05, 2010, 02:12:01 am

     Well, I can tell you, I see what needs to be done, and sometimes it sorta works, and most of the time, it becomes gravel. >:(  Hey, when are you coming down, to enjoy the warm sunshine of Florida? ;D  You can go Frog Giggin with Eddie...... 8)

                                                                              Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 05, 2010, 02:21:30 am
That wasn't a proper answer Wayne.  I really don't know any secret though.  I will say, I don't use a sharp flaker.  I can't get one that's real sharp to throw a flake like that. The neg. bulb is too deep and it leaves too much of a delta. Plus, it's hard to get a big bite on a super thin edge without crushing it.  I like a wide, thin tipped flaker that will flex ever so slightly when I put the pressure to it. That way when the flake detaches, the flaker stays in contact with it a little longer, thus driving it farther. Kinda like antler.
  On the pine trees, I built a good slick convex preform with absolutly no overhang on the edge. Shape it to exactly the shape the point will be and give it one pass one each edge. After the first pass on one edge, I shear it to move the platform towards the other edge and repeat.  One chance is all I get, cause by the time I finish all four sides, it's too thin to try again.
 Also, I knapp in my hand with a small piece of leather to protect my palm.  The flakes won't "bend" over the center of the point if you use a grooved pad. They need to be in gentle contact with something to keep them moving across the point. As for the curves... it's all inthe wrist. ;D 
 Here's a picture of my flaker.  Hope this helps a little. ;)

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Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 05, 2010, 02:23:04 am
To heck with the frogs! I want an Osceola!
 I reckon I'm gonna try to make it down the first weekend in March.
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 05, 2010, 02:38:54 am

     You could be snacking on frog legs, while waiting for an Osceola Tom to come to you...... ;)  Maybe you will be luckier this year...... 8)  They can be frustrating at times.
                                                                        Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 05, 2010, 02:45:29 am
I actually like frog legs better than turkey.  It's the killing part that's so much fun.  I'm a lot like Eddie when it comes to that.  "Happiness is a dead critter" >:D
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 05, 2010, 02:48:56 am

     Well, there you go.  Get yer frog legs, all cooked up, and go sit in the palmettos, or oak scrub, or pine scrub, and gobble, at each. ;)

                                                                                         Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: jamie on January 05, 2010, 06:30:12 am
Proper platform preperation prevents piss poor.....uuuggghhh  ???  I don't know  :-\   Really, I don't.  I just see what needs to be done, and try to do it.  Sometimes it works, sometime it don't. ;D

dude you are the rain man of flint knapping.  ;D
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 06, 2010, 02:07:28 am

     Jamie, that is the phrase I have been searching for, to describe him, that was socially printable! ;D

                                                                      Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: sailordad on January 06, 2010, 02:12:19 am
Proper platform preperation prevents piss poor.....uuuggghhh  ???  I don't know  :-\   Really, I don't.  I just see what needs to be done, and try to do it.  Sometimes it works, sometime it don't. ;D

dude you are the rain man of flint knapping.  ;D

hee hee hee

i'm up for frog legs and and osceola too!

if things work out the wife and i will be in Daytona next month hope the arm weather sticks around that long down there  ;D
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: stickbender on January 06, 2010, 02:29:14 am

     Actually Sailordad, it probably will be warm by then, and the hotel pools filled.  These nice cold fronts usually don't last long, or are intermittent, at best. ;)

                                                                         Wayne
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: GregB on January 08, 2010, 10:22:04 am
Very nice Shannon!
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: StevenT on January 08, 2010, 11:51:36 am
Awesome points. Thanks for showing your flaker tip. I would just about kill to be able to run flakes like that, so I am trying to follow your description. I understand the good slick convex preform, but I don't really understand "absolutely no overhang on the edge"? What would overhang on the edge look like?
Title: Re: Stillwell and pine tree
Post by: FlintWalker on January 08, 2010, 12:07:41 pm
"Overhang", would be a combination of deltas and neg. bulbs left over from a previous run of flakes. It creates a very small area of concavity right along the edge.