Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: StickMan47 on December 18, 2013, 11:18:55 pm
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Let me start off by saying that I know absolutely nothing about knapping. I been makin some bows and arrows and want to start collecting material for knapping my own arrowheads at a later date. I'm the guy that checks out all y'alls pics you post and drool at the stuff y'all knapp!
So today I stopped at my local nursery supply for some Christmas gifts for my mom. This is one of the larger nurserys in my area and I noticed a section with rocks and mulch and gravel. There was a section with fist sized rocks and I thought they might be knap worthy. I am located in southeast Texas if that matters. The sign labeling the rock called them Bull rock. I think this is just a size reference though because I don't recall reading anywhere about "bull" rocks. I looked at a few of them and they have the outer appearance of a kinda rough surface, however there were some pieces that had chips broken off and it looked similar to the stuff I see y'all knapping. It appeared to be kinda milky ranging from a light grey to dark grey and very smooth. So I gathered up 5 of them and was gonna buy them. The lady working there said they only sell them by the yard! Well I wasn't buying a yard of rock! The wife might have liked it because she'd have me building flower beds for weeks with all that rock! Long story short, after I bought several plants and a few pots, the lady give me the 5 rocks for free after I explained what my intended purpose for them was. I thought that was really nice of them, I wish I could knap so I could make them a little arrowhead display.
So what should I do, are they good rocks or flower bed decorations? I'll try to get some pics up soon so y'all got something to look at.
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Given your location and knowing that they use gravel for landscaping and it is most likely local rock, you may have stumbled on a great source. Show us some pics. try to take a flake off with a hammerstone.
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Most of it will need a little heat, but every now & then you will come across hi grade stone. I've made a lot of points out of bull gravel.
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Caveman I ain't got no hammer stone at the moment, no knapping tools in fact. I'm working on arrows right now, I'm slow to say the least! Mostly I'm just hopin I got some decent rock.
Tower, yea I figured on heat treating, I have been doing a lot of reading. Long time reader, first time poster :D
Got pics uploaded to PB.
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Here's some pics, hopefully!!
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/StickMan477/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery005_zps41003009.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/StickMan477/media/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery005_zps41003009.jpg.html)
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/StickMan477/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery004_zps06c34b79.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/StickMan477/media/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery004_zps06c34b79.jpg.html)
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/StickMan477/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery003_zps3b9f1b5b.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/StickMan477/media/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery003_zps3b9f1b5b.jpg.html)
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/StickMan477/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery002_zps147ab79b.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/StickMan477/media/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery002_zps147ab79b.jpg.html)
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It worked! Last one.
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/StickMan477/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery001_zps3a2620f0.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/StickMan477/media/Nursery%20Rocks/Rocksfromnursery001_zps3a2620f0.jpg.html)
So whats the verdict? Good rock or flower bed deco?
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I'm in SE Texas also (Orange) and bull gravel is my primary source of material. A lot of it is knappable but most of it aint. The knappable stuff can be primo self bifacing all the way to grainy and tough as you care to work. If it feels smooth when broken without too much grainyness it will probably work well for knapping. Concrete inclusions are common and most all of it has surface cracks that don't go very deep and can be worked off.
Holler at me and maybe I could help you get started when you're ready. I can give you a couple locations that will let you pick out individual rocks too. It runs 10 cents a pound normally, about 5 bucks for a 5 gallon bucket full.
Terry
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Hi Terry, I thought I was the only primitive in my area! I'm in Buna about 20 - 25 minutes from you! Yea we definately need to get together. I was doing some reading the other day and realized i missed a knap-in over in La. (Sulfer, Vinton area I think). I woulda liked to have attended that one. Do you build bows too or just the knapping thing?
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You posted pics while I was typing. The socond pic looks like a pretty good one that will work raw. The last pic looks like a good one but tougher and the other ones will be pretty tough.
There are some quartzite type stones in some of the gravel that make good hammerstones and some of it is knappable too.
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Thanks Terry. I picked up a very large rock that had quartz looking stuff about the size of a quarter where the outer part had broken off. I threw it back in the pile not even thinking TOOL! Like i said I'm pretty green on knapping.
At least i found something good for knapping.
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That all looks like decent stuff with some heat. Bigger the better for larger spalls. Turkey roasters are on sale at Wally World for fifteen bucks :).
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I never wanted to punch someone in the face more than I do now >:D >:D lol the rest of the country struggles to find good knapping stone and TX is selling it by the yard as gravel... hahahahaha yup, it looks good to me, I'd make a mess of points from that stuff... You reckon they'd deliver a yard to Florida? :o
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Looks like the stuff I loaded up out of a corn field south of San Antonio. Real good after heat treating 400-450.
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That's the reason I always check the landscape supply yards whenever I can. You can't beat the prices if you can find knappable rock. That gravel will work fine if heated, like everyone said. The lighter colors heat better in my experience. Some of the darker gravel will break up when heated. Make sure to dry out the gravel (200 degrees for at least 24 hours) before cranking up the heat.
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:'( :'( :'(
I' m with Twistedlimbs, you Texas guys are so fortunate to have so much rock available.
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Looks like keeper material to me. I like Texas rock and cowboy just told you how to take care of the grainier rocks
Tracy
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I sure am glad ya'll like my free rock! ;D I guess now I can start stock pilling this stuff.
Thanks for all the advice guys. Looks like I might have found someone local to get some knapping advice from too, good deal all around!
Ryan, you crack me up, if I had a dump truck I'd send it your way buddy.
Funny thing is, I was over at my mom's house the other day and she has a pile of this stuff for decorating her flower beds! Prolly got it from the same place I found mine. I'm gonna start my own pile now, heck I can always send ya'll some when ya'll get low :)