Bopping Chert - newbie

[BowKids]

Hi all, I am a newbie knapper. Been bustin rock for a couple weeks with some hammer stones just to get the feel. Got some copper boppers recently and noticed that the chert digs into them. I set up a roughed up isolated platform and give it a 90 degree whack and it leaves a trace of copper on the rock, gouges the bopper. Is that the wrong tool or is that normal?

Found a lot of field chert where I live here in northern Missouri. Probably not the best quality but good for learning.

 

[xin]

Use angles less than 90 degrees. You will then get some good flakes.

[cowboy]

Yup, ninety degrees is too shallow. You want to drive flakes through the stone to at least half way across for thinning. The stone will bite into the copper but that's ok. You need that copper to hold for just that split second to send the shock wave through the stone. Setting up platforms and getting the angles right are key. If you could find somebody to sit with or watch some videos you'd be lightyears ahead .

[PeteDavis]

Percussion's the hardest thing. I'm still in the stage of partial demolition. By the way, pressure's easily practiced on glass. Raw flint, makes a man of ya'. PD

[cowboy]

Durn, that's a nice point Mr.Pete . Seems like I've watched you become one of the masters .

[PeteDavis]

Thanks Paul. Your are generous. Glass is a sorta headstart but I've only done a few of 'em. Back to rock to really learn.

I posted this one over on PP so I'll apologize for the redundancy. But it's an older scrap of glass I found in the holler last week. It's glass that they used Manganese Oxide to clear up the melt, and the MnO absorbs UV light and turns purple over the years. I was quite pleased with this 'un-it goes to my girlfriend for keeping now. PD

[cowboy]

Sheesh man, your on a roll - that's purty!

[mullet]

  That's pretty, Pete.

[billy]

Pete,

You need to send those ugly points of yours to me....IMMEDIATELY!!   

[PeteDavis]

Obsidian makes me bleed. Anyone ever percuss a 5/16ths slab? I wonder if that would work. I can't get the flakes to travel. PD

[mullet]

 I watched Claude and Bonepile do it today. I came home and started one myself. Somebody at the knap-in was selling some Super, heat treated pin-head coral slabs for about $4 for an 8" piece.

[Otoe Bow]

Man that some nice work there Pete.  I hope to make some flakes this weekend my self.  I'd like to say I have a free weekend, but the wife's got too many honey-do's in the Que.  Something about me being gone for a year makes her think I'll fall behind. 

Mike