abo really is very different than copper

[iowabow]

I have been working abo for close to a year. I really feel like I have overcome addiction abuse feelings I had when I stopped using copper. The biggest difference is mostly pressure flaking work. I work  above the center line and at an angle 90% of the time. I am still learning to thin the biface more effectivly. So I would have to say the bopper work is the hardest to learn. It seems the technique changes as the work becomes more flat and is very difficult to explain. I have almost stopped abrading completly which is really cool because I dont like jumping back all the time. Just thought I would share some thoughts with fellow ABO-ers. Enjoy the pionts.

[Sambone]

Very nice looking points. I'm just learning all this and I use ABO tools. My biggest problem is thinning.

[jamie]

great work john. not abrading is definetly a plus. was helping a friend who uses copper and realized how much it sucked to constantly abrade

[iowabow]

Ya thinning with antler is very hard for me. I think real hard before hitting.

Scott if you read this the point to the left on the table is from stone we got in your area.

[Trapper Rob]

Nice points.
Rob

[Stringman]

Yep, it has a distinctive look, for sure! Nice points, John. I'm not an ABO man yet, but I can appreciate the contrasting styles.

Scott

[Tower]

I began this adventure abo. Heck I didn't even know there were others who practiced the trade. I look back at my abo points & find it hard to reproduce them after 7 yrs of copper. You make beautiful points my friend!   Tower

[bowtarist]

Really cool stuff John.  I haven't had time to be on line much, or work in the pit, but still love to see all your work and posts.  Those look great, dpg

[JackCrafty]

The biggest difference for me is tool breakage with Abo.  Copper is way less maintenance. Also, notching with Abo is difficult and frustrating for me if narrow notches are needed.

Great looking points!

[iowabow]

The tool breakage on the pressure side of the process is definitely hard to get use to. I am now making multiple inserts for the handles so that I don't have to worry about running out. Hey Jackcrafty can you post a picture of your pressure flaker? I have been putting stones in the slot/hole to lift the antler. I was just wondering how you manage the consumption issue. Also I have two different lengths for the ishi stick and the hand held pressure flaker. This way when the ishi insert is too short I move it to the short handle pressure flaker. I can get about 25 points made from each 1.25inch of antler if I reduce well with the antler bopper.

[Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive]

I've never even held a copper tool before, Ive only ever done 'em abo.  I was always afraid if i used copper, I'd quit using deer antler!  it took me a while to get them thin, but eventually you get a feel for it.

[JackCrafty]

OK, here are two of my Abo pressure flakers, moose antler inserts, a stick to drop into the bottom of the hole when the insert wears down, and my favorite type of Abo-tool arrowhead.  Rulers (and my cat) are for scale...  heheh



In these next two pictures, you can see a small piece of buckskin next to the insert.  The buckskin is pushed into the hole at the same time as the insert so that the insert will be held in place snugly.

[iowabow]

Nice setup jackcrafty i see you have inserts to lift the peg as you go... cool. I will attach a photo when I get home from hunting and if I dont hit one.

[iowabow]

Just finished the a set of six abo hunting  points for for a guy. Enjoy

[Tower]

Very nice set of killer points. I really like the one in the upper left. What is the material?