Author Topic: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one  (Read 2706 times)

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Offline 1442

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obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« 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,
 

Offline 1442

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2015, 01:22:37 pm »
This was the roughest side. It cleaned up nice.

Offline 1442

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2015, 01:25:15 pm »
broke it. broke it again, then broke it one more time....

Offline 1442

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #3 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.


Offline Zuma

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #4 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
If you are a good detective the past is at your feet. The future belongs to Faith.

Offline jeffp51

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2015, 10:38:09 pm »
Good luck with the other two. I like seeing the steps as you go.

Offline Tracker0721

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #6 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!
May my presence go unnoticed, may my shot be true, may the blood trail be short. Amen.

Offline Chippintuff

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #7 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

Offline 1442

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Re: obsidian, pushed the limits on this one
« Reply #8 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.