Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: 1442 on September 28, 2015, 01:20:07 pm

Title: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: 1442 on September 28, 2015, 01:20:07 pm

 Yeah! I pushed the limits all right.  :-[

Jeffp51 sent me three pieces of obsidian and I told him I would post results of working them.
This first one was flaking extremely well and most strikes produced nice overshots just feathering out the other margin until I took a flake lengthwise and it went crazy just before terminating. It took a steep dive then turned right back 180 degrees and left a big groove half way across the width on the wide end. I was able to work it out and get the first side cleaned up pretty well, but when I started working on the other side, it just broke in two repeatedly. I'll have to get a handle on that on the next two pieces with better support or summpin.
But anyway I finished it up best I could and am gonna post it cause I said I would.
Here's what I started with,
 

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: 1442 on September 28, 2015, 01:22:37 pm

This was the roughest side. It cleaned up nice.

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: 1442 on September 28, 2015, 01:25:15 pm

broke it. broke it again, then broke it one more time....

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: 1442 on September 28, 2015, 01:32:54 pm

OK! I got serious and got a finished point out of it, then took a showcase photo with some of the reduction flakes, which should yield bigger points than what I got here. ???
Stay tuned, I have two more pieces to work.

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: Zuma on September 28, 2015, 02:13:25 pm

My guess for your breakage would be that you
were working into to much mass on the second
(square side). I usually try to work the piece
from the thinner ends towards the middle.
Creating good stiff platforms as I go.
Hard to describe using side vs edge.
You can work two sides from one edge
or one side from both edges ???
Better luck next time. ;D
Zuma

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: jeffp51 on September 28, 2015, 10:38:09 pm

Good luck with the other two. I like seeing the steps as you go.

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: Tracker0721 on September 29, 2015, 12:25:37 am

Happens to me a bunch man, don't ya love it! May have been hitting too high up on the piece and not the very edge. If i do that with obsidian it doesn't bounce off, it snaps. Good luck with the rest!

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: Chippintuff on September 29, 2015, 12:43:48 am

That's why I don't like obsidian. I am used to banging on Texas chert, and I have a hard time adjusting to obsidian or other frail rock.

WA

Title: Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
Post by: 1442 on September 29, 2015, 02:32:40 am

I'm used to working landscape gravel mostly.
I was barely swinging seemed like and getting overshots at first. The first break occurred when I was just kind of brushing the edge getting rid of a slight lip from previous flakes.
I'll get to work on the next one soon and try to get better pics.