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Deerhunter's flintknapping thread
Russ:
Quick question. Why when im holding a rocm and i hit one side does the other side pop off? Its so annoying! I can hit one side without the other side popping off!
Parnell:
--- Quote from: Deerhunter21 on October 22, 2019, 07:56:51 am ---Quick question. Why when im holding a rocm and i hit one side does the other side pop off? Its so annoying! I can hit one side without the other side popping off!
--- End quote ---
Mmm, don't understand. Please clarify that question. rocm? rock? Not sure what you mean about hitting on side but the other pops off...
Russ:
hmm ok. So I have a rock. Im holding one side and brace it with my finger where the flake should come off. I hit the place but instead of a flake coming off where i hit it the other side of the rock breaks off and i lose probably 1/10 to 1/2 of my rock. not a flake, but a piece of my rock. the angle of the place where the piece pops off is close to 90 degrees.
Russ:
here. normally the piece is square because im trying to zigzag edge, then it breaks off and it happens all over again. I cant get enough power with my pressure flaker to zigzag a pretty thick spall and my indirect is falling apart.
Parnell:
Ok, I see what you are getting at.
My initial thought is that you are holding your spall too tightly in your left hand, assuming that you are right handed. The energy transfer from your percussion strike is well thought of as 50% from the impact and 50% from its ability to flow through the rock itself.
It is not only the ridgelines, ledges, step-fractures, etc. that keep it from being elliptical in cross section, part of the problem, but also, how you cradle the stone, where you cradle the stone, how much pressure you apply to the stone where you hold it and flinching a bit at impact...all these things will impede the flow of energy through your planned flake.
It seems that the back or broken off side, as shown in red from your drawing, was a choke point for the energy transfer and...el snapo.
Imagine the spall you are working with like holding a baby bird. You ever hear of the Classic Rock band named .38 Special? To quote..."Just hold on loosely, but don't let go, if you cling too tightly, your gonna lose control."
Let the force flow through you, young Jedi. ;D
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