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Novaculite questions
autologus:
I am wanting to learn to knap the stone and I have some questions about novaculite.
Does it need to be heat treated?
What about surface stone is it any good or should I try for quarried stone?
If I get started is there a cure for it?
The reason I am asking about novaculite in particular is because I live in Magnet Cove Arkansas the novaculite capitol of the world and obtaining material would be trivial.
Grady
Dalton Knapper:
Does it need to be heat treated?
Yes, it takes a lot of heat. Knapping raw Novaculite does not produce very desirable results. It can be knapped without heat treating, but any thin flakes will hinge and your work will get ugly real quick.
What about surface stone is it any good or should I try for quarried stone?
It depends on how long the surface stone has been on the surface and the porosity of the rock its self. Quarried stone or stone from some other disturbance is almost always better than geologically weathered stone (stone that has been weathered for hundreds or thousands or more years).
If I get started is there a cure for it?
The loss of your fingers is the only cure.
autologus:
Awesome thanks, although I am a little concerned about the cure. :o A member of my church has a quarry and told me he would give me 500 lbs of spalls if I would make him a bow and some arrows so I guess I need to be busy. :laugh: Oh what is a lot of heat? Can a turkey roaster accomplish the task or will it require a kiln?
Grady
1442:
Oh Man! 500 pounds of novaculite is gonna be a real big help in learning to knap.
I don't know nuttin bout heatin it, but I've worked some that's been heated to 800 and it was really sweet.
I think you've got the material part covered, now you can work on the fun part of learning to knap.
Enjoy it, and goodluck. Terry
RickB:
Novaculite, various colors (Arkansas) Spalls <2" 850
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