Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Otoe Bow on March 01, 2008, 12:23:00 am
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Well, I had the day off, and the weather was beautiful. Unfortunately I had the usual Honey-Do's, so I spent most of the day doing them, but after I got them done, I sat in the sun soaking up the 70 degree weather with very little wind (rare in Oklahoma). Since it's been so windy lately, I still haven't had a chance to heat treat any real rocks, so I went to work wacking on an old toilet tank that I pulled out of the dump last week.
For an absolute beginner, I've had a lot pf problems working with totally flat material. I know that you're supposed to "zig-zag", but I always made the mistake of trying to start in the middle of an edge. After some experimentation with the porcelain, I found that if you start on a corner and then zig-zag it works out pretty well. Even though the point's not very thin, I did get all the flats off and came out with a fairly symmetrical point.
You guys inspired me to use the toilet tank, and I think it turned out pretty well for a first point.
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looks beter than i mine. ;D
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Nice work on the Johnstone, you can also Knapp some of the ceramic tiles and they come in purdy colors ;D
When working those flat pieces (slabs and plates) and doing the zig zag, never hit across the blank, always strike at a lengthwise angle, toward the tip or base and you are way less likely to snap it.
wvflintknapper
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That's interesting Robert, never heard that before - will definantly keep it in mind.
Wow Mike your really moving along :). I've never tried that thunderchert myself but hear it works and obviously so :o(great looking point!). So you gonna set the prairies on fire and cook some of that flint? I'm kinda waiting on burn bans myself down here. Don't think they'll notice my li'l ole fire though :D.
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Thanks guys. Robert, I'll try that next time too. I had to start pretty wide to move in and get rid of the finish glaze. I've also got some left over ceramic tile that's a pretty sandstone color. I may try that next. ;)
Yea, Paul, we have had our share of Burn Bans. We got about two inches of slow soaking rain two weekends ago, but when the wind blows 20-30 mph every day, it doesn't take long to dry out. I need a full day, with nothing else to do, :'( , and perfect weather so I can get that rock you sent me cooked. I've even been toying with the idea of loading my smoker up with sand and trying it in there. ::) I can fix supper too. ;D.
Either way, I'm learning. And having a blast. ;D ;D
Otoe
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That's all that counts man ;D. Keep us posted on your points, and I'm cookin some rocks next week burn ban or no 8).
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Deputy: "Sir"
Cowboy: "yes officer"
D: "you know we have a burn ban"
C: "yes officer"
D: "why did you build a fire"
C: "well, i'm cooking some rocks"
D: "Rocks?"
C: "yup"
D: "your cooking rocks?"
C: "yup"
D: "rocks"
C: "yep, rocks"
D: "you mean like stones"
C: "yep"
D: "your cooking rocks"
C: "yep"
D: "why are you cooking rocks?"
C: "to make them easier to break"
D: "your gonna break the rocks after you cook them?"
C: "no, you gotta let them cool down first"
D: "let me get this straight, your gonna cook the rocks, let them cool down, then break them up"
C: "yep"
D: "rocks?"
C: "yep, rocks"
D: "like stones...rocks... from the ground?"
C: "yep"
D: " ummmmm...i gotta go"
C: "have a nice day officer"
;D
Bishop
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;D ;D
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lol
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bish, you're killing me ;D
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nice lookin point. they looking real good lately- Ryan
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Hehheh ;D ;D. That's prolly about how It'd go Bish - cept, I'd be holdin a $500.00 ticket next to my soaked down smoldering pile of put out coals as he drove away :D.
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Good looking point. The johnstone is good stuff to learn that percussion on. Like Robert said, try to angle the flakes, especially in the early stages, and run your first series or two fairly short to get some convexity going-those flat surfaces love to step and hinge. We oughta have a toilet knapping contest-see who can come up with the coolest Clovis or Dalton or something from a chunk o' toilet. ;D
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I just happen to know where a poor ole forgotten toilet is laying in the woods ;D.
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Great job brother, you must be half caveman... or justa naturally good napper... thanks for sharing... Mike a/ho
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Bishop...that's too much. ;D
I kind of stumbled onto the tank by accident. I was walking the dogs on a old place we used to rent looking for Osage, (I found some nice trees too, but that will be a different post). I came upon a gully with a bunch of trash, and the whole toilet was there, shinning in the sun, (que choir music). I found an old wheel drum to break it into small enough pieces to haul out, (and yes, I cut my self :-[ ) I had almost a mile to trek to get back to the road. As I was walking out, I passed a tank battery where they were pulling oil off into tankers. The guy doing the pumping saw me and had to wonder what in the world I was up to, (take Bishop's hypothetical script and change the words a little and that's probably how it would have gone had the guy had the nerve to ask me what in the world I was doing. Luckily he was polite and let it go. :D :D :D). When I got back to the house, my wife just shook her head. She was polite too and didn't ask "why?".
While I said it was my first point, it wasn't my first try. I've busted one or two or whacked then down to nothing trying to get rid of those pesky steps and hinges. :'(. It's just the first one that looked like something at the end of the day.
I'm up for a Knapping "tank off". Sounds like fun.
Otoe
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Otoe
that is a fine point and i should have let you know that before i tried to be funny, i showed it to my wife and she thought i was fibbing about it being part of a toilet. Nice Work!!!
you know like most other things, when i didnt want a old toilet i would see them often, but now that i want to find one its like they dont exist..lol.
Cowboy steer clear of those fines. and your right, it prob would be, "sir we have a burn ban, here is your ticket and the bill for the fire truck".
glad i could give a few of you a chuckle.
Bishop