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Hafting a stone point question

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dinorocks:
I was told a while back that there are rabbit droppings mixed with pine sap (tar) on the "glue" that I melt for hafting stone points to the arrow shafts.  Are the rabbit droppings for filler, to help with the glue setting, or something else (or someone is pulling my leg)?  I'm making some new hunting arrows and someone asked me...

Thanks!

Dino

dinorocks:
ahhh...just figured it out.  Fresh sap is too sticky to be used as is and needs a temper added to increase its strength and make it harden properly...rabbit droppings have partially digested vegetable fibers and makes an ideal tempering agent.  Charcoal is also used as a tempering agent.

Hopefully I can harvest with this arrow...it would be my first stone point-harvest deer!

mullet:
Yep, not hard to figure out why when it starts to stick to your fingers. When you wrap the point, be sure and carry your sinew or thread about two inches down the shaft to strengthen it from splitting when you hit something.

Pat B:
The dried rabbit poo, like charcoal adds body to the pitch and adds strength but won't make sticky pitch un-sticky.  When I make pitch glue I start with hard, brittle pitch(not sticky), add some bees wax to soften it somewhat and finely ground charcoal to add body. If you use sticky pitch it will remain sticky until the volatile oils evaporate which can take a long time. If all you have is sticky pitch you can cook the volatile oils out but you have to be very careful doing this because it will ignite if it gets too hot. Also cook it outside for safety sake and to keep out of trouble with the rest of the household.   -C-   :o

mullet:
Pat, I've come up with a quick way to build a Pitch ball like Dino had pictured.
I have been splitting small pieces of "liter knot", pitch pine or any other tree with volital sap.
Then throw it all in an old pot and bring it to a rolling boil. Then with your designated stick, start twirling it in all of the resin that has floated to the top. Just twirl, cool and build up some more.

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