Knapping in Texas

[Parnell]

Man, that's what it's all about.  I tip my hat for your posting progression like that.  Well done, great post.  Cool to see some of your thoughts on the ABO tool side of things, recently. 

[Stringman]

Don't forge that incipient cones happen from over striking edges too often. If you tend to hit more than a couple times without getting a flake release, you could be causing those steps with the micro fractures you are leaving on the edges.

[le0n]

Oh.

Then that is definitely something I need to pay more attention to.

[le0n]

here's something i've been tinkering with.

i mentioned it on Spotted Dog's "trouble thinning" thread (ABO Board): http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,54896.msg747440.html#msg747440

anyway, the results have encouraged me to pick up the more challenging pieces in the box of rocks i have.

below is an example of what i'm learning to do with this method.

not slim by any means; and i wouldn't have touched this for anything other than practicing percussion strikes:





after a few strikes:


oh geeze, this end looks like fun








thinning that end a little more (and creating steps):


almost done:


more thinning steps, hah hah:


still got some thickness to it (my setup in the background):


a few more removals:


looks like a chicken drum-stick


where i left off:


flip side:


laying on the striker:


^^ fun stuff

now it's ready for pressure flaking and or notching.

[le0n]

from tonight:



started into it:


roughed out:


nasty steps:


cleaned up:


flip side:


thickness:


some of the better flakes:

[le0n]

another from tonight, and another from bowmo:

she's pretty:


there's a point in there somewhere:


broken down:


flip side:


finished up:


side two:


blury thickness (but it's clear that i need new shoes):


thickness; the tip could use some pressure flaking:


this rock is tough.

i dropped the point twice on the concrete floor and it didn't break; only from a foot off of the floor though, but still.

it emits a high-pitch sound like glass when it lands.

[Tower]

Great looking points.  I like the picture progress.   

[le0n]

^^ thanks, man.

it means a lot coming from you.

i marvel at your work on my computer screen, however, i actually had the opportunity to handle a few of your hunting points the other day. so many questions, hah hah.

[le0n]

this keokuk flake has been sitting on my desk for quite sometime now. i was always afraid to break it and or not being able to preserve the "focal point", so i left it at work where i wouldn't touch it.





it came home in my pocket today.

started into it:


the inclusion area was going to be trouble:



another sample of me supporting the ridge:





good grief, hah hah:


successful step cleaning flake from the other side:


shaped it a little more until i was left with this (ready for pressure flaking):




speaking of "ready for pressure flaking", here are all of the preforms that i've done with this indirect tine method:


all of these (aside from tonight's keokuk) are from the box that bowmo gifted to me. thanks again, man

[nclonghunter]

That's odd, arent they suppose to be broken at that stage...

[le0n]

^^ yep.

i took a photo because i knew i was going to break it.

then i took a few more photos to show how far i got before i broke it.

i'll probably snap it while notching, hah hah.

[le0n]

i've had the heat on this since yesterday evening, so 21 hours so far.



it should still be warm well into tomorrow afternoon.

so maybe i can retrieve the rocks on tomorrow evening after work.

i laid down sand (.5 cubic foot) in the fire pit until it was almost level with the top (layering my flakes and spalls within); then built the fire on top.



the metal bottom of the fire pit has been reading around 250°F for about 19 hours now, so i'm guessing the sand is at least 400°F; being that the top layer of hot coals is over 800°F.

hopefully this works because i put about $2 worth of Colorado (River) Bull rocks in there, hah hah.

[le0n]

they were cooled already and i dug them up.

check out what the sand sounded like when i removed the ashes:
https://youtu.be/FrxGYwLkOFQ

[Josh B]

I've really enjoyed following along on your thread.  That bull rock looks to be exactly the same stuff I've been picking up in Houston.  I'm going to have to try your indirect percussion method.  Thanks for sharing it.  Josh

[JackCrafty]

Any form of indirect in instantly addictive.  Make sure you have insurance that covers rehab...