Shooter, I am in the same boat. But I have made six decent points. Not exactly how I wanted to, but they will do the job, and don't look too bad. I still can't seem to make a decent spall, but like they said, I just keep at it trying different angles, and methods, and different power levels in my strokes with my bopper. I don't have really good material to work with, but I think that is a good thing, because, if I can make a decent point out of not so good stone, then I should be able to do a lot better with the good stuff. I have a mix of some good stuff, and some that is not quite what you would want to try to make a point out of, but I use it anyway, because I learn from it. I am lucky in that I can occasionally go to Eddie's, and then we go to Claude Van Order's house, and I get to watch him. Eddie gave me a couple of buckets of stuff, that is like I said, a mixture of decent, and good, and what the hell? But it has really helped me. I didn't have anything to practice on. Just keep at it. You're gonna get cut, bashed, and sore hands, and inner thighs, from this addiction, but just keep at it. I get really frustrated at times, when I get a really nice piece of obsidian that Eddie gave me, and I start getting a nice point going, and then @#@$$#@!!!! it breaks in half! Or, I take too big of a flake, or chunk out, and now I have this piece of stone, that is now going back into the bucket, for later. I still can't seem to get them thin as I would like, but occasionally, I do. I still can't get consistent long flakes, but occasionally, I get more of them than previously. So I am making progress, but not like I would like to. I see the beautiful stuff on here, and I think, Man, if I could just do that......Well some day. I am aiming for that goal, to be able to put something on here, that is close to what has been shown on here. I don't think it will be any time soon. I still have to get with a friend of mine who doesn't live too far from Eddie, and Claude. He knows where there is some stone we could use. I need to get a lot of it, because, I need to keep on practicing, and I want to give a bunch to Eddie. He has really helped me a lot with what he has given me. He is a lot better than he gives himself credit for. But like the others have said, just keep at it, and If you can find someone in your area that knapps, all the better. I would doubt that they would refuse to help you. Instead I would think they would be eager to show you what they know, and help you to develop your skill. I think it just goes with the type of person who is into knapping. You just automatically want to share your knowledge, and spread the addiction......
Wayne
