Epic Fail!!

[chertle]

I was trying to work some heat treated keokuk and ruined it.  I thought maybe if I could post what I had left you guys could help me figure out where I went wrong.  I don't know if you can tell much detail in the pictures or not but I could use all the help I can get.  I keep trying to thin and get a big ridge in the middle and can't break it down.  Thanks guys!!

[Outbackbob48]

Chertle, If your getting a big ridge in center an you keep losing width it is because your thinning flakes are not going past center thus the ridge in center . Make sure your platforms are below center and well abraded then hit with enough force to carry past center. Once you start to get stacks go from a differnt direction , if you keep going at it from the same direction it just keeps stepping an gets worse. The best way is get to a knappin a someone will help you, easy to do hard to explain. Later Bob

[Will H]

I second what Bob said

[cowboy]

I'll have to third that one. Did you say your husband knaps? that blade is thick but for a beginner not too bad. You need to get with someone to show you - can't beat that..

[JackCrafty]

With great thinness comes great responsibility...or something like that.

That point is thin enough!  Give yourself some time.

[chief deer]

The piece is not ruined. Make a knife just abrade the mass  that is by your thumb rather heavy. Your edge is already below center pinch between your thumb and middle finger rest tip on little finger tip the piece up a shade to get a good angle an smack it. Now clean the tip with a pressure flaker and staighten up a bit. Keokuck likes a real stiff p;atform and no yellow wristing. Mike

[gstoneberg]

Don't feel bad, I did 2 just like that tonight. And I'd been doing so much better. Didn't take pictures though, not as bold as you.   The guys are giving you good advice, but I know how hard it is to do it, even when you know what you should be doing.  Just keep practicing, you'll get it.

George

[StevenT]

Here is something you can do with those thick in the middle pieces. You may not want to attempt this right now, but if you keep knapping, then at some point down the road you will start thinking about fluting. Hang on to your skinny pieces that have the bulging middles. They are really good for practicing fluting. It is easy to set up the fluting platform on these thick middle pieces. And chances are when you are learning to run big ol flutes, you are going to bust quite a few pieces. So if you break one of these, it is better than breaking a really nice piece you put a lot of time in.

[chertle]

My husband does knap and he is helping me a ton!!  I think that is why I am doing decently   I do have to say though that I am not asking him for help soon enough.   Mike, I will definitely try what you suggested with making it a knife.  I have a question though........what is yellow wristing?  Thanks for all the advice everyone......I know it can't beat getting in a pit with all of you but I will take what I can get

[StevenT]

I think he means don't be afraid to hit it.

[chief deer]

A lot of times a guy gets to thinking about breaking the piece and suddemly you get scared to hit it like you mean it. Keokuck and novaculite are a lot alike when it comes to platform prep. They like heavier platforms. Mike

[jamie]

thats actually an excellent knife. learning to thin will happen down the road, but look at some true paleo pieces and you'll notice they arent thin at all. makes em weak

[Jimbob]

I agree with Jamie, if your going to have a functional knife, you want it to be kinda thick.  That way it is less likely to break on you and youll have room to resharpen it a few times.

[chertle]

Well.........I tried.  That is all I can say.  I took everyone's advice two nights ago and tried to make a knife out of my failed point.  I was doing really well and actually kinda proud of myself and then I hit it once more and took too big of a flake off.  I would have posted a picture but I didn't want anyone laughing to death   I think my lack of expertise really took a shining with this one!!!  It looks like a butter knife!!!  It is the actual shape of one.....perhaps my inexperience took ya'll's advice a little too literal!!!  Oh well as a lot of you say knap on or keep knapping!!!!  That is what I will do.  Out of school and gonna devote my summer to learning more!!!  Please keep giving me advice because I am listening and learning I just may not be able to show it sometimes

[Bevan R.]

I, for one, would really like to see your 'butter knife'!