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preforms VS rough

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redwasp:
hi, i was just wondering about preforms. Are they better for the beggining knapper or is it better to get the material rough and spall it out?

cowboy:
That was me a few years ago, I tried em both - still have some sawed out blanks in the shop that I've had for couple of years and am still beating out points from the spalls I produce myself. The blanks I have to buy since I don't own a rock saw but at the same time I have access to all the flint I want. I think it would be more of a personal prefference. If you do own a saw and have a limited supply of rocks there will be less waste than with spalling..

redwasp:
Thanks Cowboy, I have some georgetown chert that Ive been working on only been knapping 2 days. Since I dont know what I'm doing i seem to be wasting alot, thats why the question. I wish i had a rock saw.  Just seem to me preasure flaing would be a better place to start. mabey I'm wrong.
 

Bishop:
Redwasp
im right there with ya, i was wondering the same thing. my first attenpt at thinning a spall ended in a lot of unusable flakes and the spall turned into a small rock that i couldnt thin any further. now i just thin till i get a decent flake then jump right into pressure flaking it, for the most part i end up with something that resembles a point, maybe to thin, maybe to thick, but it gives me pleasure and decent results for now.
Bishop

Sleddman:
Redwasp,  A couple of things to think about.  There are several ways to work with rock. Each is it's own art form and have differsnt ways to go about making your point. If you intend to make arrowheads and eventually blades and knives out of flint or obsidian I suggest you use spalled rock or nodules of flint and learn by practicing to make your own by thinning. If you are having problems you do need to get with someone to get some pointers. It will take about five years off the learning process in about a month. If you arn't near someone you can get instruction tapes that you can learn almost as fast. Let me know what you want to do and I could give you some honest suggestions. I don't sell them so it will be honest. As far as using slabbed materials. I agree with Cowboy by conserving raw materials especially when you get into some exotic or rare rock. But in doing this you have to learn to prepair and flake the preform differently than you would the old way. Two tapes I would suggers are,  If using slabs for arrowheads ( Lap Knapping, with Craig Ratzat), if using raw flakes for arrowheads (Making the Cahokia and Ishi Points, with Jim Redfearn.  Good luck, be glad to help just email.  Sleddman

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