Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: gene roberts on April 28, 2008, 12:32:25 am
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Does anyone know how easy/hard it is to pressure flake bone??? Does it differ with different animals,and with different bones?
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I don't know if bone has the structure to be pressure flaking. Percussion maybe. ;) I think folks grind down bone to make points. I have not done it but I have a few bone points and they were ground. Pat
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Like Pat said. Grinding is the way to go.
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AndreaS has a really nice build along on bone points. Check it out.
Mike
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Pressure flaking bone is like biting into a candy apple with false teeth......pretty darn useless, and messy. If you do manage to get a good flake, mount it on a wall as a trophy: you won't see too many in your lifetime.
I've tried percussion on bone too....not pretty. Your dog could probably be trained to chew a better arrowhead.
Grinding is the way to go. Use a dremmel type tool, disc sander, or belt sander. Wear a mask. And warn everyone that the air is about to smell like a crematorium. ;D
If you want to be primitive you can also grind the bone on a rough, flat, stone surface. But this is tedious and the stone loads up quickly with bone dust. Haft the bone fragment onto a stick to get better leverage or use a long bone....then cut the arrowhead off the top (after it is fully shaped).
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Thanks guys,thats all I needed to know.My dad has a dremmel tool,and I asked him what heads he had his reply"anything you can think of" Which brings me to my next point(no pun intended),What heads for the dremmel tool do I need???
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I've made a number of bone points. I find that a coarse file works best for shaping and sharpening and a hacksaw works quite well to cut the rough shape out
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Here's a step-by-step for using that dremel to make bone points. If you've got any questions, feel free to ask me.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,6487.0.html
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Andrea S: Its really easy to make a wooden clamp to hold the bone when you are working it. Just taper the end of a broom handle or willow of like size and split it lengthwise down the center. Put your work piece in and clamp it with a string or piece of leather thong. Saves epithelial tissue!! Have used that type of clamp on walrus ivory teeth. Don't know how to make those cute drawings like you do so you have to use your imagination!! Watcher