Main Discussion Area > Arrows
For you knappers...
Hillbilly:
If you're talking about percussion knapping, then a thicker spall is easier to work and get good long thinning flakes from. Percussion doesn't work too well on thin stuff. If you want to pressure flake arrowheads, then as everybody said, thin flakes are better to start with, but you'll have to shear the thin edges back enough to get a good platform to flake from. The goal of percussion knapping is usually to thin and shape the piece down to the point where you can pressure flake it. Also depends on how big of points you want to make.
Kegan:
--- Quote from: Hillbilly on October 08, 2007, 02:09:08 pm ---If you're talking about percussion knapping, then a thicker spall is easier to work and get good long thinning flakes from. Percussion doesn't work too well on thin stuff. If you want to pressure flake arrowheads, then as everybody said, thin flakes are better to start with, but you'll have to shear the thin edges back enough to get a good platform to flake from. The goal of percussion knapping is usually to thin and shape the piece down to the point where you can pressure flake it. Also depends on how big of points you want to make.
--- End quote ---
I meant I don't think he knows how to get a flake off of a core in the first place (and therefore has never used a flake he spalled himself). He used indirect percusion every one in a while with the help of his wife, but only taking off very small flakes when he does. Most of the time he just grinds thicker spalls from 3Rivers down until he can pressure flake them.
Hillbilly:
Yeah, I wouldn't buy spalls, definitely get whole rocks and spall 'em yourself. That way, you can knock off big spalls for bigger points, or smaller thinner ones for arrowheads.
Kegan:
--- Quote from: Hillbilly on October 08, 2007, 02:25:43 pm ---Yeah, I wouldn't buy spalls, definitely get whole rocks and spall 'em yourself. That way, you can knock off big spalls for bigger points, or smaller thinner ones for arrowheads.
--- End quote ---
Uh huh. Can't really make a hand ax out of a few little spalls either ;D
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