Main Discussion Area > Flintknapping
How do you handle big bumps and triangular shapes?
mullet:
Claude VanOrder taught me to tackle the turtle back first by setting up larger platforms and hitting it so it crossed the ridge diagonally. Taking it slow and whittling it down as Scott describes.
Ghost Knapper:
Here is how I would tackle the piece in the video. Note that I would be using a copper bopper (smallish medium one)
So the first flake. This is about 12.75 seconds into the video. I would remove this flake from this face using the existing edge/platform. I would then remove some short clean up flakes and then remove one to the right of this flake to remove the remaining cortex. (see note at bottom)
Secondly I would do the following:
First I would remove the red area by removing short flakes. The platform is the area in red while the flakes would be removed from the opposite side of the piece. This would create a continuous platform.
Abrade continuous Platform
Next I would remove the short flake outlined in blue. This will help isolate the existing ridge for the larger flake.
Abrade again
Then I would remove the larger flake outlined in blue.
Those two examples should dramatically reduce the "turtle back" shape and make it more manageable.
Note: I would only use this existing edge if I was using a copper bopper, I personally do not think antler would react well to the existing edge, and I personally do not have enough experience in other percussors to say how they may react.
bubby:
I love watching videos of guys like claude van order chipping, there is an ease ro the way they knap , heck if I'm not knapping slabs i still struggle
mullet:
Bubby, I've known Claude for over 30 years. he has been my biggest influence since I started. What is frustrating being around Claude is he can carry on a conversation , not really look at the rock and then it seems knapping is tooo easy. I really hated it when he moved from 20 minutes of my house to two hours away.
Ncsnipe:
I would point you to a few YouTube videos to help you along. The first vids are by BOHUNTER, they are his problem rock series. There's a lot of great info in these vids. Pay close attention to his platform setup. The next couple of vids are by paleomanjim in his two sandwich knapping series. This technique really helped me remove across the middle and coast to coast thinning flakes. The final vids I would recommend to help you out are by our own JackCrafty. His vids seem to deal with small and irregular rocks often. Hope this helps.
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