Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Thesquirrelslinger on June 25, 2013, 11:42:05 pm
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A (cruddy looking) sharp point made from a beer bottle bottom using a file for percussion, abrasion, and the tang for pressure flaking. It doesn't "grip" well enough to take thinning flakes reliably... plus this is strong glass, and I am not that strong...
I tried to take a thinning flake off of it and drove the tip into my finger, broke it off, and had to pull it out with pliers. I think I am done knapping for a bit. I see why you guys use copper or antler. Maybe BL or osage pieces?
top
(http://s20.postimg.org/72ob8njwp/113_4080.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/72ob8njwp/)
bottom
(http://s20.postimg.org/p47g6gdxl/113_4081.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/p47g6gdxl/)
EDIT- click to enlarge... you can see how horrid it really is ;)
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Stick with it, cutting yourself is just part of it :-\
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Yep, we all give blood sacrifices to the spirit of the stone. It heals pretty quick. I started Abo & with glass.
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Don't worry about the look of it, all points will have mistakes and imperfections. It doesn't matter what stone it is or who made it, the flaws are what make them cool and unique. Oh, and wear some leather gloves :D
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Don't give up! That point would do the job intended and is way more point like than my second. If you are going to knap glass you can make yourself a pressure flaker with a dowel and a soft nail from one of the big box stores. Get yourself a hand pad and go to town! Use the file to sharpen the flaker :D I bet that tempered steel didnt grab the edge very well.
Jason
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you're getting there. Go on youtube and look for paleomanjim, allergichobit (our own jackcrafty) and flintknappingtips. Those are the three best knapping channels on youtube.
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Don't give up! That point would do the job intended and is way more point like than my second. If you are going to knap glass you can make yourself a pressure flaker with a dowel and a soft nail from one of the big box stores. Get yourself a hand pad and go to town! Use the file to sharpen the flaker :D I bet that tempered steel didnt grab the edge very well.
Jason
the tang of the file seems very soft. I can easily bend it (and have several times making this point). I can also scratch it with my pocketknife... which is high carbon.
I have gloves, but I think I would cut myself more with them than without(they are BIG)... I have watched many of allergichobbit's knapping vids... that's how I made this point...
I am not giving up, I am giving my finger overnight to clot and heal a bit ;) I am going to try agian today!
I think this is going to turn into a bad hobby... I will spend too much time doing it...
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This helped me tremendously when I was starting out. http://www.cavemanchemistry.com/oldcave/projects/stone/bottle.html
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is it just me that can not see the picture? Ed
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Thesquirrelslinger I did this one today for ya. Hope it helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvl3e21z2ew
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Don't give up! That point would do the job intended and is way more point like than my second. If you are going to knap glass you can make yourself a pressure flaker with a dowel and a soft nail from one of the big box stores. Get yourself a hand pad and go to town! Use the file to sharpen the flaker :D I bet that tempered steel didnt grab the edge very well.
Jason
the tang of the file seems very soft. I can easily bend it (and have several times making this point). I can also scratch it with my pocketknife... which is high carbon.
I have gloves, but I think I would cut myself more with them than without(they are BIG)... I have watched many of allergichobbit's knapping vids... that's how I made this point...
I am not giving up, I am giving my finger overnight to clot and heal a bit ;) I am going to try agian today!
I think this is going to turn into a bad hobby... I will spend too much time doing it...
I don't do well with gloves either. Not saying that you or anyone else shouldn't wear them but I like to feel the work. Did you use indirect with the file? I never thought of that. Luckily flintknapping cuts seem to heal quickly- probably because the flakes are so darn sharp.
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I don't do well with gloves either. Not saying that you or anyone else shouldn't wear them but I like to feel the work. Did you use indirect with the file? I never thought of that. Luckily flintknapping cuts seem to heal quickly- probably because the flakes are so darn sharp.
That's precisely it actually. Glass and obsidian are the sharpest materials known to man. They literally go in between the cells instead of cutting through them. Chert and other materials, not so much but still heal pretty fast.
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I don't do well with gloves either. Not saying that you or anyone else shouldn't wear them but I like to feel the work. Did you use indirect with the file? I never thought of that. Luckily flintknapping cuts seem to heal quickly- probably because the flakes are so darn sharp.
That's precisely it actually. Glass and obsidian are the sharpest materials known to man. They literally go in between the cells instead of cutting through them. Chert and other materials, not so much but still heal pretty fast.
yea, the spot where I drove a flake into my finger seems to be healing abnormally fast.
but the big cut on the back of my finger isn't.
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Did a flake run into the back of your hand or did thr point?
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Did a flake run into the back of your hand or did thr point?
I was holding the point, it slipped and the pointy end of the point hit the back of my left ring finger. not a deep cut, but its wide, and right above the joint. Makes it hard to bend my finger, makes it seem like its much bigger.
I was holding the point, flaking with pressure near the pointy end, my pointer finger was right next to the end of the point. Drove a small flake under the corner of the nail, not super far in(I got it out with a knife and pliers, it was easy). It was a small, spear-like flake. Nearly healed, and its only been 2 days!
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Ah, thought as much. Flakes are thin enough to not do too much damage to cells. That point tip is not, it ruptures the cell walls and bruses it in the process. The same as with any other cut.
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Thanks for the vid! (I haven't watched the whole thing yet though.. a few mins to go)
I made another(smaller) point and a blade-like object. Pics up soon.. once I find the camera!
Thanks for the biology(?) advice... have tried cutting leaf samples with glass scapels(super thin flakes mounted onto a wooden haft) and it makes it easy to see stuff.
BTW humans don't have cell walls, we have cell membranes ;)
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:P lol. You're welcome for the vid.