Author Topic: New rock arrived. (Read 1785 times)

ionicmuffin · « **on:** September 11, 2013, 06:12:57 pm »

I just got some obsidian and dacite, 20 lbs of each. I've worked obsidian a bit but never dacite, how does each respond to different tools like soft vs hard hammer stones and copper boppers, how about antler billets (mine are kind of small.) these chunks are pretty big and are wonderful quality. they are roughly 6-8 inches in diameter and the obsidian has some more long chunks rather than square circle kind of thing.(looks good for some blades)

cowboy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 11, 2013, 07:47:11 pm »

Sounds like some blades and a bunch of points. All I can say is back waaaay off on your swing if your used to chert

.

mullet · « **Reply #2 on:** September 11, 2013, 08:55:04 pm »

And get a box of band aids.

YosemiteBen · « **Reply #3 on:** September 11, 2013, 09:20:28 pm »

Hey Muffin man! Obsidian is definitely not chert, like has been said before - slow and easy and you shouldn't get cut up too much.
Ben

caveman2533 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2013, 11:09:15 pm »

use a medium hard hammerstone about the size of a navel orange to spall with and then a smaller one to thin some more, Then a billet should work pretty good.

ionicmuffin · « **Reply #5 on:** September 11, 2013, 11:17:22 pm »

sweet i should be able to try this soon and get some results.

madcrow · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2013, 11:32:05 pm »

Yep, when you start bifacing, just give the dacite love taps til you get used to it or it will over shoot in a big way.

Mike_H · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2013, 08:41:55 am »

I recently got some dacite myself. All I can say is, be very careful when pressue flaking arrow heads ot they will snap.

Knapper · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2013, 08:51:19 am »

And remember. Flint knapping is a blood sport

Knapper

ionicmuffin · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2013, 03:52:03 pm »

I'll remember that. I should be picking up a box of band aids and a silver or white sharpie so i can mark out the flakes i want to take off and see if i getting it. I will probably get to the knapping tomorrow and saturday and probably sunday.

StevenT · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2013, 03:10:13 pm »

Don't forget a tube of superglue when picking up the band aids.

Knapper · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2013, 03:39:15 pm »

Super clue is a knappers best friend. Not only for fingers but for when you've been working a point for four hrs. and make one to many flakes and break the tip.

I just glue it back on and into the shadow box it goes

Knapper

ionicmuffin · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2013, 07:21:03 pm »

ok, so ive been having a hard time getting it to knap the way i want it to, often it doesnt flake but takes a chunk out that is big in the middle and thin on all edges

caveman2533 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2013, 09:48:14 pm »

Sounds like you are trying to take too big of flake, striking into the piece too much , striking to far back. Sounds like you are getting deep heavily bulbed flakes, that are hinging out.Try to hold the spall for now with its center plane nearly level, Strike your platform strait down, on the edge. Remember that the face of the platform angle needs to be less than 90 degrees. grind platforms pretty well. Pictures would be great.
If you are spalling chunks the same applies.

Primitive Archer