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Author Topic: 80 pounds of dry obsidian  (Read 4842 times)

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Offline Zuma

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80 pounds of dry obsidian
« on: September 19, 2015, 05:53:41 pm »
If ya all have seen the big flake I posted for
tracker--- here is the skinny.
I was pretty sure it was Mexican black.
Didn't think it was as dry as it is.
It does not flake clean. There is always a
shatter effect with any blow or pressure flake.
It's like a mini explosion. I'll post what I have
done and welcome any advice.
1-- Rather than fill the ground somewhere with
 glass I wrapped the big flake in carpet and
sheets to cradle the flake and confine the debitage.
2-- thought I had a good platform but was impatient
finding a good hammerstone. I think it was to hard
and I didn't use enough umph because of that.
Well here are a thousand words.
Zuma
Notice the jajed edges on the mini flake
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Offline Tracker0721

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2015, 10:00:32 pm »
Huh. I'd just keep hitting it till I got some sharp gravel.

But maybe that was too big of bite? Doesn't seem like it tapered out at the end.
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Offline Tracker0721

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2015, 10:01:31 pm »
Oh, that's just reflection huh?
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Offline Tracker0721

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2015, 10:04:09 pm »
I get a lot of the POOF on mine and I think it's mini fractures from who knows. Rolling down a hill, accidental strike, maybe it dropped. Use more force. Solves everything.
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Offline JackCrafty

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  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2015, 11:09:37 pm »
I've had unpredictable results with green/banded obsidian from south of the border as well.  It's very brittle with lots of internal stress that can cause it to shatter in strange ways.  I've got a batch that I spalled but I don't use it.  I thinks it's at the bottom of my obsidian bucket so that's probably the reason I haven't thrown it out.
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Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline Zuma

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2015, 11:31:34 pm »
Quote from: Tracker0721 on September 19, 2015, 10:00:32 pm
Huh. I'd just keep hitting it till I got some sharp gravel.

But maybe that was too big of bite? Doesn't seem like it tapered out at the end.
You are right it hinged bigtime. (Poor hammerstone/power poor platform)
All products of impatience.

Patrick, thanks for the support. keeps me from being a green
obsidian orphan :'(
Zuma

Oh I did labor to get this out of the spall.
Snaped the ear with just a tiny bit of pressure??
« Last Edit: September 19, 2015, 11:37:57 pm by Zuma »
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Offline Tracker0721

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2015, 11:46:00 pm »
Well if you feel you can't handle it I'll be happy to munch it into glitter for ya  >:D
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Offline mullet

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2015, 01:06:25 am »
That's why I like Dacite.
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Offline caveman2533

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2015, 08:28:00 am »
Heat it and I am not kidding
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Offline Zuma

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2015, 11:14:48 am »
Heck I'll try some Steve. Do you have a temperature?
Soak time? Thanks
Zuma
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Offline caveman2533

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  • Steve Nissly
Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2015, 06:08:18 am »
No I remember reading an article from the old Fllintknappers exchange or the Tarp that was describing the same conditions and the gist of the article was that it had stresses in it and the heating relieved the stress. I would think you could go pretty high with maybe 500, take notes and let us know.
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Offline Hunts with stone

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2015, 07:24:15 am »
Your gonna need a bigger roaster hehehe
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Offline stickbender

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2015, 03:23:27 pm »

     Cold weather will affect it also. 

                                    Wayne
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Offline Zuma

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2015, 01:50:20 pm »
Well Rob, it looks like saw time.
I had the flake I took off today
do the oposite of what the last one did.
It must be a Clovis flake cuse it's
An OVERSHOT. lol >:D
Zuma
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Offline Zuma

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Re: 80 pounds of dry obsidian
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2015, 04:08:04 pm »
Quote from: caveman2533 on September 21, 2015, 06:08:18 am
No I remember reading an article from the old Fllintknappers exchange or the Tarp that was describing the same conditions and the gist of the article was that it had stresses in it and the heating relieved the stress. I would think you could go pretty high with maybe 500, take notes and let us know.
Well Steve,
I cranked these spalls up to 450 for a test 50 degrees every hour or so.
I let them soak an hour. Dropped back to 300 at 50 an hour.
Turned off the heat and let cool overnight.
Thanks to your advice I think I have plenty of good knapping for a long
a time to come.
The best part is getting a decent ground platform is now possible.
Still a little splintery where the spall I knapped seperated from the
mother ship.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2015, 04:13:00 pm by Zuma »
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