Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: triggerfinger on July 19, 2011, 01:25:30 am
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just wondering why copper tools
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Ease of use.
Availability.
Consistency.
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Why wouldnt iron, steel, brass,bronze or any other readily available metal be better? I ask cause i reshape my PF and ishi every fifth flake or so
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I think it's because copper is softer than some of the other things you mentioned it gets a little bit of "bite" on the stone and helps pop the flake off better. I'm sure someone more learned than I will chime in and shed more light on the subject.Ron
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I echo the above. The copper is a metal with simular qualities to antler but is more dense and therfore more wt. The other metals you mention have more wt but are so hard that they will slip off the platform and not stay with the flake as it is removed. Later when you get better there will be a time that metal will come into play but not yet if you are new. This is just my opinion.
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Ronnie is right, steel, brass, etc are too hard and will slide on the stone rather than dig in a little like bone and antler. When you are using steel doing edge work you are actually breaking the rock edge instead of pushing a flake.
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Also the harder metals, steel, bronze etc, will cause excessive shock waves through the stone, and can cause the stone to fracture, or shatter internally, and when you get to that spot, it falls apart. Also the steel will tend to bounce back, where as the copper will tend not to. The Copper is softer, and will absorb some of the shock. It will also deform, and actually grab the prepared surface, and help to pull the flake off on percussions. On pressure flaking it does somewhat the same thing, except that you are building up the force instead applying all at once as on percussion. I hope this makes sense. ;) It is my "theory", from what I have read, and from trying steel, and brass, and having the rock crumble, and finding internal fractures. :( :P
Wayne
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I knew there was a reason!
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My Opinion: Harder metals send the shock waves into the stone without absorbing some of the shock themselves. Copper on the other hand is soft enough to grab on to the platform and absorbe some of the shock! If you are having to reshape your ishi every few flakes then you should try some hard drawn copper or shape the copper by pounding into a four sided point on an anvil or other hard surface. You can then file the point to your desired shape. This will harden the copper and reduce the number of times you have to reshape it. If you have no source for hard drawn copper I might be able to send you some depending on the diameter you need. Good Luck! A/Ho Joe
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You shouldn't need to be resharpening your pressure flaker anything like as often as you say. That suggests that you are either trying to keep a needle tip on it (too sharp) or you're using very soft wire, or some combination. The sharper the point, the finer the flake and the less pressure needed to detach it, but that can be carried too far. If you are using copper ground wire, you can work harden it by beating out a point with a hammer on an anvil of some sort , rather than filing. Even better, chuck one end of a length of wire in a drill with the other end secured in a vise and spin it. The twist will harden and stiffen the wire making it wear much better. You can then hammer out your point which you will only need to occationally dress with a file.
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Im using the heaviest stuff you can get from lowes. I did drill harden it but maybe not enough. Maybe i should talk to wolf watcher about getting some of that stuff from him.
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I use ground wire and twist it 1.5 times then hammer the tip square and file or sand for shape. The lenght is important too long and the wire will bend.
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I always hammer mine till it is reshaped and warm. then I file it. Also shaping it on a fast belt sander will harden it too, it gets hot quick.
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Never make the tip of your pressure flaker any longer than how deep you want to ram into the palm of your hand. A really long one will flex and slip sooner or later, you had better hope you have a new and thick palm pad when it happens. Bill
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Never make the tip of your pressure flaker any longer than how deep you want to ram into the palm of your hand. A really long one will flex and slip sooner or later, you had better hope you have a new and thick palm pad when it happens. Bill
possibly the best knapping advice ive yet received.
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one more tip that may help. use an antler to make a point. then go back to copper. youll realise how nice copper is.
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AMEN to that, Jamie! Words of wisdom from the master.
We use copper because it works good. It's actually a lot more agressive than antler and is not fussy about how you set up your platforms, usually. Everything has to be perfect with antler.
The idea that hard metals send dangerous shock waves through the stone is kinda funny to me. A hammerstone, like quartz, is a lot harder than metal and "shocks" the stone quite a bit more than metal. Why is there no warning against using hammerstones? It's because not many people have actually tried to knap with steel, bronze, brass, aluminum, etc. Mild steel is actually very similar to copper but it's not used very often because it's slightly more aggressive. I haven't tried bronze or brass but I would if I had some. ;D
Ishi had at least one steel pressure flaker in his tool kit, if I remember right.
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My Opinion: There is a difference in using a hammer stone in a method of percussion and pressure flaking with a hard metal and is like comparing apples and oranges as to its effect. Some of the old timers like JB Solberger claimed that using nails for pressure flaking caused uncontrolled flake patterns and produced future problems. The material you are using also has plus or minus knapping ability with steels. Ishi's original "ishi Sticks" were tipped with wooden points hardened by fire. What ever works for you to successfully make a point is OK! I do also think that hard drawn copper is easier for a beginner to learn with! One man's ability and success with a particular technique may not be something that works for each individual. And the truth is some folks like Shannon are just going to be better than the rest of us no matter the methods or tools used! A/Ho Joe
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Never make the tip of your pressure flaker any longer than how deep you want to ram into the palm of your hand. A really long one will flex and slip sooner or later, you had better hope you have a new and thick palm pad when it happens. Bill
Bill, that sounds like some sage advise, brought about by painful experience.