Box of rocks trade update...

[JackCrafty]

So, I've been breaking the rocks I got whenever I get the change.  Lots of cools stuff Tom!  I'm going to heat the "carnelian" and the green chert to see what happens.  The "carnelian" looks and knaps a lot like alibates.

[Sasquatch]

That stone looks so cool! You got a good trade.  Those points look even better. Awesome job!!

[Majuba Tom]

I had been wondering what you thought about the stuff I have been learning on. I sent the best looking stuff I had found but it is always a crap shoot until it is spalled.

That green chert gives me fits I hope you can coax a point out of it. That basalt ( I think it is basalt) also gives me fits. I can only get small points out of it. If I try to much force it fractures on me so I started to try using a ash billet. It looks like that might be the way to go but I still have not figured that stuff out.

I can't wait to see what else you make out of that mix of rocks. Those points came out great.

[seminolewind]

Nice points Patrick !!!

[YosemiteBen]

JC - nice work as always. When you gonna come bust some obs with me in Yosemite?

[criverkat]

that's some sweet looking material and nice point to boot

[knapperhead]

Sweet points.....that should keep you busy for a while

[JackCrafty]

Worked some of that Basalt.  It was kinda hard maintaining length on the workpieces, there are pockets of ash or crystals that are very weak.  I snap off the tips or bases easily when getting down to the thinning stage.  Hard to run long flakes too.  Sometimes has layers that can cause whole areas to split off.  Overall, though, this Basalt is the nicest Basalt I've every worked.  It can be made very thin and with very sharp edges.









Also an update on some of the other material.  I will not be working on these three little piles of rock.  I will. however, work on the rest of it and post more updates...

[Bryce]

So basalt is knappable! I'm not sure if our Columbia basalt is the same. Does it need to be treated?

[Majuba Tom]

It is great you were able to get some good points out of the basalt. It just go's to show a relative new knapper like myself what experience can achieve with the same stone that I struggle with.

So basalt is knappable! I'm not sure if our Columbia basalt is the same. Does it need to be treated?

I have tried heat treating to 600 deg with no effect. Some day I will try some at 1000 deg. All the heat treating charts I found on line had no reference temps for basalt. Maybe someone knows for sure if heat treating works?

[JackCrafty]

As far as I know, Basalt is one of those rocks that doesn't respond to heat.  Rhyolite is the same way.  There are others too, just can't remember right now.

[streamflyer]

Those are awesome points. What do you use for tools?

[iowabow]

Nice work Patrick I really like the point with the hole.

[JackCrafty]

Streamflyer, here's a video that shows my tools. I use indirect percussion for most of my work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0Hou3YkqpI

Here's a vid with my technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=capGa8Mr-mU

[JackCrafty]

Thanks John!  That piece with the hole in it took me a while.  It's always difficult to save a certain spot on the point from destruction... or is it reduction?