Main Discussion Area > Flintknapping

two latest and first crack at obsidian flake

(1/2) > >>

jayman448:
was at an archery tournament last weekend and shot worse than i ever have... o well, but i sat down with a guy i know a knapped a birdie (my specialty) also a question for u i guess. why would one ( this guy i know) prefer basalt over obsidian to work with ??????

bronco611:
more durable and less band aides?

mullet:
Easier to tell when you cut yourself :-\.

Chippintuff:
I rarely work obsidian and glass now because I do cut myself more often with it, and mistakes on it are more often disastrous. Also, I almost always end up with a piece that is entirely pressure flaked when I use obsidian or glass. Those patterns are pretty, but I like more variety. Basalt seems to be slightly tougher, and mistakes on it are less disastrous. That's just my take on it. A lot of knappers, especially west coast knappers, prefer obsidian over everything else.

WA

Zuma:
Since you know the guy , why not ask him? :)
I am not sure what basalt you are talking about?
Can you explain as I would imagine there are way different grades of it.
The basalt around my way is mighty tough.
I guess it's what you grow up on or do well with.
I really like obsidian but my eyes don't. I hardly ever get cut
as I don't smack it as hard as cherts.
thanks Zuma

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page