Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Lombard on March 21, 2010, 08:54:39 pm

Title: Broken rocks
Post by: Lombard on March 21, 2010, 08:54:39 pm

Sat out in the car port while it was raining today, and chipped away at some stone. Came close three different times. Three times while trying to thin the bases some more, I snapped the tips off about two thirds of the way toward the tip. All I ended up with today, is broken rocks.  :-[

Title: Re: Broken rocks
Post by: jamie on March 21, 2010, 09:00:22 pm

sounds like you may have too much grip on the stone. i stopped breaking a lot less tips when i loosened up on my grip. i lay my fingers on the stone very lightly and use the ball of my finger pads to keep the stone from moving . keep it up. peace

Title: Re: Broken rocks
Post by: Lombard on March 21, 2010, 10:08:33 pm

Thanks for the tip Jamie.

Title: Re: Broken rocks
Post by: zenmonkeyman on March 21, 2010, 10:30:57 pm

Put some lumber into the back of your palm pad, so when you grip the point it doesn't put all the pressure on the edges of the stone as it sinks into your hand.  Hot tip I saw on Youtube yesterday!

Title: Re: Broken rocks
Post by: sailordad on March 21, 2010, 10:36:32 pm

yup,did that all day yesterday
every piece i picked up i busted
the death grip will do it every time
i ruined 4 really nice 8"x1.5" slabs of some gorgeous obsidion yesterday,all cause of the death grip

Title: Re: Broken rocks
Post by: Bill Skinner on March 21, 2010, 11:25:31 pm

That is an end snap caused by the shock wave running the full length of the preform.  Try pinching tightly where the flake is going to come off.  Also, pressure flake your platform to make sure it is below center.  Use a light hit, an isolated platform will run a flake a long way.  Bill

Title: Re: Broken rocks
Post by: StevenT on March 22, 2010, 12:05:36 pm

It happens to everyone. Just part of learning process. I snapped one this weekend myself. Listen to the suggestions and just keep at it.