Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Parnell on February 28, 2010, 11:41:57 pm
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I got some tutorial time in this weekend with Clause Van Order. I posted a lot of pictures from the Big Cypress Shootout. He really showed me how to get the basics done and well, my flintknapping I dare say, may be finally born. Claude gave me the lightest point and the two darker points are my first really decent ones. I tell you though, my left hand palm is pretty bruised up from the pressure flaking. I had a great time this weekend with Claude - he really is of the salt of the earth. Nice as they come. Here are some pictures.
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I've heard him described as a "true southern gentleman". I hope to knap with him sometime. Your points look nice.
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some nice work there. I'd like to meet him some day..
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Nice points your lucky to get pointers from someone like Claude :)
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Looks like your on your way,nice looking points.Sitting with Claude you'll learn something, a very interesting fellow.I wanted to go down to the shootout Sat but the weather sucked.
Bonepile
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Great points. You can't ask for a better teacher than Claude. In one day sitting with him without a bunch of people will knock about two years off the learning curve, unless you're Shannon. I guess the next time I'll get a chance to see him is after he moves to Tenn.
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great work
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Things I did last evening/this evening. I'm going to just post stuff I'm working on. Please feel free to point some stuff-make suggestions, out to me as I'm really trying to learn...
Made a new bopper which I like better. No lead in it. You can see the other I was using - the cigar tube- looking thing.
Some new pictures...
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Hey I see the obligatory band-aid! ;D Is that some of the rock you picked up at Dade City when we went? I still haven't had a chance to play with my bucket full. Keep at it.
Swamp
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Heya Bjorn,
Yup - I'm starting to work through that bucket. My pressure flaking is definitely improving but I just don't think I'm reading the rock right yet. I'm still getting a lot of stepping. It'll come together with practice though...
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Gee I'v see that type of "unleaded" booper before.................I call them Claude clubs and once you get the hang of them you'll like the results.
Bone pile
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Steve, You know I'm not an expert, but it sound like you aren't "pushing/pulling" at just the correct angle. I push the flaker straight in and then try to push/pull it off at close to 90 degrees to the flat plane of the rock, grabbing the flake as I go. That is probably really confusing, but it's the best I can offer. ::) I just have not done enough to explain it better. Fact is that may only be what I THINK I am doing. Have you heat treated the rock you are working? I'm glad i picked up one of those buckets of spalls, I know I won't be able to work anything bigger for a while any way, and I bet I'd make a whole lot of unusable junk working down a big piece. Plus it is a really nice variety.
Roger, It's a shame a "Claude" does not come attached to one of those clubs. Now that would be a handy tool to have. ;D
Swamp
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I haven't heat treated any of it yet. I need to go pick up a toaster at the charity shop...
I'll be really curious at how much it makes a difference with the work.
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I haven't heat treated any of it yet. I need to go pick up a toaster at the charity shop...
I'll be really curious at how much it makes a difference with the work.
Steve, take the wife garage saleing this Sat morning. Cheap entertainment. Might find some cool tools too. $5 for a toaster oven is what I pay, but I'd pay $10 if I HAD to have one ASAP. Be sure it hits 500 degrees. Makes a huge difference in that local chert I have, but it's still tough. I need to play with that more to see if I can make it easier. It also made a big difference in the coastal I picked up from the Withlachoochie a while back too. You might want to get an ID on some of that rock to be sure it needs it. The obsidian obviously doesn't.
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Here are some of the things that I've been working on. I'm getting much better flakes. I'm definitely getting a feel for some consistency and I like making little bird points with the flakes. They are sharp, too. Very fun. Even more interesting is my wife has decided that she likes flintknapping! I think that's great - just hope her hands don't end up looking like mine and that she stays away from my bucket of rocks! Her things are on the left side.
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We all need to meet somewhere,,like Lithia Springs Park on the Alifia River for a weekend camping and chipping. We can also go up the river a little bit and get some Coral or Tampa Bay Bottom. Your chipping looks good. Give yourself a break though, heat treat it. ;)
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Sounds good to me. I'll be off work after this week - spring break at school. Don't know if you'll be around over the next couple weekends to think about it? I'll give you a call.
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Hey, if you have room, I would like to get in on that also. I will bring the beer. I would love to get some coral, and I need to get my pressure knapping up to par. I have actually gotten fair at percussion. It is the pressure knapping that I am still having problems with. I may be busy this weekend, I am not sure, My Buddy who is building my house in Montana, and his wife, are in the Bahamas for some R&R, and might be back this week end, and I wanted to get him and his wife to come up to My Girl Friends, house in Palm Bay, for some Garlic crabs, before heading back to Montana to finish my house, if I have the finances left. But I would love to do something like that. I would love to find some points, and just find some coral to work with. I have two small pieces that I am saving from my destructive hands, till I can get my pressure knapping in gear. When are you heading up to N.C. ? I thought you were leaving almost as soon as you got home?
Wayne
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I'm going to Pappy's Easter weekend, turkey hunting. I have class this coming weekend. The river is muddy right now but will probally be clear in a few weeks. It will be better if we wait till all these Cold Fronts quit coming through.It is supposed to rain again Friday so the river will turn to crap again.
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Alright, thanks, just let me know when. I know the weather has to be above 70 for your sensitive heating system...... ;D
But just let me know when you can go.
Wayne
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Sounds good.
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That cold water won't bother me. I have a 13mm thick wet suit. ;D
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You know......you are always trying to cheat mother nature! ::)
Wayne
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I did my first openwater dives in 38 degree water. Now that'll get you used to some cold water! Ouch!