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Antler Billet vs Hammer Stone

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Bishop:
I was wondering if some of you knappers can give me a little info on the difference between using a antler billet vs a hammer stone, i have never done any flintknapping and was wondering if its just a personal preference, does one work better on certain materials?
thanks in advance
Bishop

D. Tiller:
The techniques are slightly different. The stones tend to make wide flat flakes and the atler make longer less wide flakes. But truly I dont see much difference when you get the technique down for both of them. Since the stone has more mass make a slower strike and a faster one with the antler. Angles change a bit too! There are some aplications where I like the stone better than the antler. To see this difference take a look at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Flintknappingtips

Marty is a fabulous knapper who specializes in the use of only stone, antler and other material that were available to early peoples. This will give you a chance to see the differences. He also trys to replicate the tool manufacturig processes as closly as possible.

Have fun and break lots of rock!

David T

mullet:
  Antler, stones, and copper work differently on certain rocks. Obsidean tends to like antler and soft stone. Copper, antler, stone works good on flint,chert, coral . Hammerstones and wooden clubs seem a necesssity with rock like Ryolite, onadoga  and other concrete like rocks.

Hillbilly:
Unless you're a knapping demigod like Marty, it's hard to pull off making a good point with only hammerstones. Hammerstones are usually used more in the spalling and primary reduction phases. It's hard to run long thinning flakes from a preform with a hammerstone. The antler billet will take those big long flat flakes off to thin the point. If you're using a hammerstone for your primary percussion tool, a soft one usually is the way to go. Harder hammerstones tend to cone-fracture your rock and run short, thick flakes that terminate in step fractures.

Bishop:
Thanks for the info so far guys, im learning a lot. Im trying to put together some basic tools so i can start cutting my self up.. ;D.
Bishop

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