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Trying to get my Abo on...

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turbo:
Great looking kit and results, can you tell us more about the billets? Specifically the short/rounded one. It looks like mine that are used like a hammerstone.

iowabow:
Yep that's cool you definitely got that middle stage thinning figured out. My bet is your one happy knapper. I like that you brought shorter antler billets to the table. Could you explain how you use them?

Tower:
Years ago while arrowhead I found a percussion thinning flake that was long, flat,& paper thin with almost no bulb on it. I tried many , many things to reproduce those of flakes in my initial thinning stages.  I know copper works different that antler. Still I tried.  Eventually I figured out how to reproduce those flakes with percussion. I started using shorter heavier bopper percussion tools . 
When I was building my Abo kit I made a short heave antler billet, like my copper one.   I had the same success with it.
1st off , using a shorter billet gives me more control & accuracy. 
Sometimes I hold it like a hammerstone. Other times I build a small strong platform. Maybe a 1/4" wide with copper, 1/8" worked great with antler.  I drop down with a slight angle into the platform . I use the outer edge of the percussion tool to do this.
I get a flat,thin flake with very little bulb.  If the platform is built right with a ridge for the flake to follow it can be long .
I hope I've written this in a way that makes sense.   I haven't had a cup of coffee yet !!!
This moth of seems to work for me.   I hope it can help a few more. 
I might add that I use this method on heat treated flint.   I haven't had the same results on raw stone.

Stringman:
That explanation actually makes a lot of sense. The technique is different, but the physics very closely resemble what I do on the outside of my leg with copper. I've tried free hand work between my legs and my accuracy suffers greatly. Still your description is excellent!

Great job making the journey back to abo and demonstrating once again how incredible your talent is. Kudos!

iowabow:
Thank you that was a great explanation.

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