Shearing?

[david w.]

I was reading a tutorial on knapping a slab and the author talked about shearing something.  I don't know what he means by shearing.  Could someone explain this?

[Hillbilly]

Shearing is simply using the side of your tool to rake down the edge of the piece, taking short flakes off the bottom to raise the edge so that you can turn it over and the edge will be below centerline.

[david w.]

thanks Hillbilly thats much clearer

[leapingbare]

David, shearing a edge is lasy knapping. 

[mullet]

  Gotta agree with Jesse. And Jesse, got the package today. Thanks buddy, totally unexpected. I've been wanting to try that rock ever since I saw those points last year.

[leapingbare]

  Glade you liked it. only one piece of that rock is heat treated and its marked with a  ( H ) just cook the other pieces at 500* for 4-5hrs. post some pics of what you make outa erm.

[mullet]

 I was wondering about heat treating it. I'll post the pictures.

[Pat B]

Guys, is shearing a good way to resharpen a stone head already hafted to a shaft?     Pat

[DanaM]

Guys, is shearing a good way to resharpen a stone head already hafted to a shaft?     Pat

I don't think so Pat, I have a shearing tool made from a piece of copper pipe pounded flat on one end then radiused so you
can shear the edge by laying the point flat and rolling the tool along the edge.

[billy]

HEy Pat,

Shearing an edge will get it kinda sharp if done right, but for my final series of sharpening flakes I use a relatively sharp antler tine and press off small flakes that leave a finely serrated edge that is sharper than an edge made by shearing. 

[Hillbilly]

Pat, I use a little bitty Eddie-style dental tool with a really sharp point for resharpening. Just go down each side and zigzag it, taking off really small flakes. If it gets too thick and dull, you might have to do some more vigorous flaking.

[mullet]

 Pat, I use an Itty-Bitty, case hardened, sharp pointed former screw driver and do like Steve said, taking very small bites.

[leapingbare]

yes yes very small flacks.
 a trick is to rest the point of your tool on the platform and instead of pressting in and down to remove the flack, just press down , this will give you a very small flack with a very very small delta.