Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Bishop on March 05, 2008, 11:24:35 pm
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I took my first stab at knapping this afternoon, I started with a small hunk of Novaculite and ended up with a smaller hunk of Novaculite with a bunch of hinge and step fractures in it...lol...i did get some good flakes and one of those really good "cracks" you get and the sound lets you know it was a good flake....plus i had a heck of a lot of fun and i was not bleeding when i stopped.....I have a decent basic dvd i watched through once so im gonna watch it agan and try to soak in some more info and get back at it tomorrow, the only problem i can see is that this is really going to slow down the progress on the two bows i have about half done.. ;D
Bishop
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great knapping is addicting ;D
thats good you didnt leak ;D
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We all need more hobbies ;D - bows, knapping, arras, quivers. Work sure does get in the way..
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Just make sure you do it outside or in a very well ventilated space. Silicosis poisoning kills!
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No blood!! Redo ;D
Keep at it Bishop. (Listen to me, sounding like a pro ;D ). It's kind of funny, I was showing my work off at work that I keep on my desk, and a girl there gave me a big old chunk of glass slag to make here a point from.
Be sure and post pics.
Otoe
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Yeah! I tried to get a few ZZZ's in myself this afternoon! ;D
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Way to go Bishop, I need to learn this skill also hope to sit down with some of the guys at Pappy's and get some instuction.
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most of the cherts and flints will cut ya eventually. but if you start playing with obsidian and glass. prepare to invest in band aids ;D keep it up and have fun
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Way to go. Keep at it- get about thirteen tons of rock and beat it into gravel, and by then you'll be starting to figure it out. There's nothing like the sound of a good flake popping off. :)
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thanks guys. as soon as i get something that comes close to looking like a point i will post pics.
I read some instructions on making a copper tipped pressure flaker which had a 3/8 male air compressor fitting inserted into the handle with a set screw installed so you can just feed copper wire when needed instead of making one with the wire glued into the handle, the instructions didn't have pics so either i was seeing it wrong in my head or my local home store didn't have the right kind of fitting. do any of you do anything like this? is there something else i can use besides the fitting?
thanks for the encouragement and any advice
Bishop
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Bishop, I just drill a hole in the stick and epoxy the ground wire in the end. It takes a while to wear it down. When it does, I just grab it with vice-grips and pull it out. Then I just put another piece in.
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Mine is an old wooden broom handle with a hole drilled in the end for whatever size wire, a set screw tapped into the wood on the side (don't overtighten ;D) and a peice of bailing wire tied around the end to keep it from splitting - prolly made a hundred arrow heads with it so far :).
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i was under the impression that they when the copper wore out you had to thss them and make new ones, not the first or last time ill be wrong..lol.... i picked up plenty materials to make them the way you describe so ill make a few and should be good to go.
thanks guys
Bishop
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Mine's the same as Cowboy's except I use duct tape instead of baling wire..... :)
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Mine are the same but I use fiberglass and epoxy resin and or carbon fiber.
David T
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Bishop, another little tip. If you are using ground wire, it's soft. Put one end in a vice and grab the other end with vice grips and twist it so it spirals a little bit. This will make it harder and last a little longer.
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im pretty sure its just copper grounding wire, bare copper wire from the Home Depot. i will put it in the vise and give it a twist. whats a better option, copper nails maybe?
Bishop
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Nails are real good. It tok me coaxing my Home Depot man into stocking them.
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I been knapping for 20 years,making my own shoot arrows for about 10 years,now I am making my first bow,what I've heard guys call going full circle.(Always been "Primitive") This is starting to be alot of fun. Those points will come,just keep whacking them rocks. Frank
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I made some pressure flakers today, a couple regular sizes and a couple smaller sizes, also hammered some of the copper wire flat and made a couple notchers, used the tips you all gave, will try them out in a couple days...hope they work...
Bishop
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Hey Eddie, you say your Home Depot carried copper nails now? What are they normally used for, besides Knapping? I can't find them anywhere and get strange looks when I ask.
Otoe
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Im having the same problem Otoe, they seem to be associated with wooden boat building, the only other thing i have learned is that they are kind of expensive compared to regular nails. ive hit every home center, farm supply, hardware store and co-op i know with no luck. prob have to get them online.
Bishop
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copper nails are also used in high end roofing and gutter projects. need to go to a real hardware store that would cater to a local specialist. better yet seeing as your on the computer you can just get some online. i finally made one last year wheni started working some of the texas concrete. i used a piece of antler and put a 1" section of the nail in it. when it wears down just replace it. i think its already been said but its best to hammer it to a point then use a file to clean it up
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I buy a pocket full of copper nails every time I'm at a knap-in. Most people who sell knapping supplies online carry them.
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Does any knappin' go on at Pappy's classic (I can see the responses to that one already ;D). It's looking better and better each day that I may actually be able to make that trip. If so, I may make that my big purchase for the trip. 8) 8)
Otoe
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There will be knapping at Pappys Look at What is this thread in this same Title there is some rock I can get alot of but I dont know anything about the rocks for knapping
Ron
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Hey Guys, the old fellow I buy my leather from has a box full of copper roofing nails in his shop. The other day he ask me if I needed some for knife handle pins. If I can get a few, I'd be happy to send some to whoever needs some. Saw Filer
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I've never tried nails. Early on I found an old power pole down by the lake and stripped all the ground wire off it. They must have used stiffer wire waaay back when, I got about six foot of it and think it will last me for life. Tried the same size ground wire from the Depot, was too soft - kept bending on me. Didn't try twisting it though ;D.