Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: david w. on December 31, 2008, 10:44:43 pm
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Which one would be easier to knap?
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Both work very easily. The Dacite will break easier (more brittle). So try both! PD (amateur)
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(http://www.fototime.com/36C34E9CEF10520/standard.jpg)
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Ok I will try both. :)
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since i am a western guy i would say dacite...some people say that it chips just like obsidian..but i think that is a load of crap..its a little tuffer..when you chip obsidian and dacite alot you know the differance....but chips very well...about novaculite i have very chipped it...but from what i have seen it looks like a good rock to chip if cooked right...john
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The novaculite I would get is heat treated so i would think it would be very easy. I have never knapped obsidian so I would know how to compare it
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david,i would do as pete and try both if you can...even if you turn it into gravel you will still learn some thing...its all about fun.
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Ya I will get alittle bit of both.
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HEy David,
I've knapped both. I think heated novaculite is actually a little more brittle than dacite, but that's my opinion. I've noticed on both that you need to set up platforms carefully and grind them well when percussion flaking. Because they are both kinda brittle you don't need to hit the platforms hard to detach large flakes...if the edges are prepared properly.
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I've chipped both, also. Personally I like Dacite. Novaculite depends too much on how good or bad it was heat treated. And it is a B#$&H knapping raw.
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Dacite is my absolute favorite. It will make the finest hunting heads you could want.Not the prettist color, I'll grant you,but it knapp's easy and is tougher than obsidian.Very Sharp too ! And it's good to go right out of the ground.No cooking needed. Frank
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I like my obsidian that knaps more like dacite. ;D
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Thanks for all this help it looks like I will get more dacite
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Yeah, they're both good. i like dacite. And Justin, I like your obsidian better than the glass buttes stuff myself.
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Ya Justin, I like yours too...its easy for me to break into tiny little pieces and decorate my driveway with... :D.....Brian
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my vote is for dacite too. hard to beat for functionality- Ryan
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Is daciute the same as grey Obsian?
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from my point of view no...they have some same character but are differant....when you have a rock that is part obsidian and part dacite you can really see the difference...but dacite is a wonderful rock to chip and i love seeing the flake scares in that rock makes it look really cool...some people might have a differant opinion than me but when you live in the land of dacite you really get to know what its like.john
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David: What little Dacite and Novaculite I've worked both flake very easily and make good points (heat treated Novaculite that is). I like em both so could'nt reccomend one over the other - all that stuff is easy compared to what I'm used to hitting :).
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:)
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WhenI started making points I knapped both and they were good for learning the ropes.No pockets ,fossils,crystals,grains........hey I'd like some more!
Bone pile
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Man I'd have to go against everyone and say Novaculite (heat treated) and like mullet said it has to be heated right or it will still be rough,
This is probably my best and favorite point I've knapped to date. it was from a large nicely heated spall.
And the 2nd was outa a not so well heated slab and i dont like it as much.
Dacite is a joy to knapp to and probably the recommended rock for beginner.. Novaculite will do what i call finger nail easy. and that will make it harder to presher flake.
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I've done most of my stuff in Dacite on Obsidian. I think, depending on the grade, dacite is great. Some dacite knapps more easily than others. The stuff that is almost bassalt but still glassy is tough and really sharp. I like to make points from this that I would want to stand up to some punishment. But Obsidian on the other hand is still sharper and will kill a deer or any other animal just as well.
Just my two cents worth!
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a guy from work gave me a big chunk of obsidian he found in a creek bed,color is purple.my question is do i need to heat this stuff and if so,how do i do it?
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Obsidian needs not heat treatment. Now the thing is ...."Purple?" Is it irridescent? Shimmers in the light? If so you have rainbow obsidian. Nice stuff but make sure you prepare your platforms well. It tends to fracture along its planes where the colors differ. So hing flakes can happen if you dont prepare platforms well.
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there are probably 100 types of obsidian.. you can find the stuff from south America through Mexico and USA and Canada.. also in japan and on most islands. with every color in the spectrum and all grades.. just most common obsidian comes from around glass butts and those are the colors most people know.