Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: knapperhead on October 30, 2013, 12:28:43 pm

Title: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: knapperhead on October 30, 2013, 12:28:43 pm

I have a square block of rubber with a channel carved into it. It seems bulky and un-natural in the hand so I usually just double up the leather pad and use that. The only problem is the flakes stop short, either from contact with the pad or poor technique. I was curious what some of y'all use.
Thanks,
Matt

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: Stringman on October 30, 2013, 02:31:52 pm

Here's a look at the one I'm using.

(http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s670/cotton7611/2EFB6BC1-FA3F-4B38-A928-DE3F2B6DB4B4-1803-0000015B6BFA1A3B_zps12c9a0b2.jpg)

I find that if I use anything bigger I begin to snap points because there is too much contact with the point.

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: bowtarist on October 30, 2013, 03:35:14 pm

I used to use a leather pad but cut my left index finger a couple of years ago and it hurt too bad to bend that tight.  I now use a rubber pad, some sort of conveyor material I think, and it seems to work pretty good.  I have slot cut in one side like you mentioned, but when I notch I use the bottom of it w/o a notch. That's what works for me.  I got the material from a great guy here on PA flintknapping page.  dp

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: seminolewind on October 30, 2013, 04:32:33 pm

I agree with stringman I use a piece of 23/32" hardwood plywood that is cut into an oval and sanded slightly into a dome at the top with a notch cut in it. i domed the top so it only makes contact with the pad where I'm applying pressure. I also glued leather to it....I'm sure it's not the best and kinda ghetto but works pretty good and I don't break a lot.

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: Trapper Rob on October 30, 2013, 04:36:26 pm

I use a rubber pad with a grove cut in it.

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: Dalton Knapper on October 30, 2013, 05:07:31 pm

I use a variety of pads, but mostly a slotted pad. The black ones are from truck mud flaps or conveyor belts. Sometimes I put leather on top of those or any pad. The brown ones are plywood, aluminum and leather on top - fancy! The way I pressure flake seems to destroy the pad and eat through the wood on bottom, so I added the layer of aluminum and glued them up with contact adhesive then cut and sanded to shape. I am thinking about sloping the edges down on either side of the slot because I break a lot of tips off points by getting pressure on them.

According to Jim Winn, when a flake you are removing touches the pad, it stops - hence the popularity of slotted pads. I have also heard that soft leather in contact with the point makes a flake travel further, but I am unsure if that is really true since I almost always avoid knapping on soft leather.

(http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss187/benhenry007/Pads_zpsdfe5aabc.jpg)

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: knapperhead on October 30, 2013, 07:50:42 pm

thanks for the input and photos. i like the idea of the domed pad. I guess I just need to work on my technique and maybe widen the groove a little more.

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: Knapper on November 01, 2013, 01:23:57 pm

Me too, Thanks. Good post
Knapper

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: Dalton Knapper on November 01, 2013, 02:18:54 pm

Just an interesting tidbit note to my leather covered pads. I used to work at a historic cotton museum and we were rebuilding a late 1800s cotton gin. The main drive belt was leather, buffalo leather in fact and was about 2' wide, 20' long and about 3/8 th inch thick. We had to cut the belt and guess what I did with the scrap! It makes great knapping pads.

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: JackCrafty on November 11, 2013, 10:13:29 pm

I use a domed pad:
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/ScreenShot2013-11-11at74955PM_zps0d91f1b4.png) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/jackcrafty/media/ScreenShot2013-11-11at74955PM_zps0d91f1b4.png.html)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/ScreenShot2013-11-11at75023PM_zps4448eb44.png) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/jackcrafty/media/ScreenShot2013-11-11at75023PM_zps4448eb44.png.html)


Or a rolled pad:
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/ScreenShot2013-11-11at75311PM_zps64282e04.png) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/jackcrafty/media/ScreenShot2013-11-11at75311PM_zps64282e04.png.html)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/ScreenShot2013-11-11at75323PM_zps17e06c39.png) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/jackcrafty/media/ScreenShot2013-11-11at75323PM_zps17e06c39.png.html)

Title: Re: What type of pressure pad?
Post by: skyarrow on November 12, 2013, 11:22:10 am

Im with patrick i either rooled pad or something domed i did get a cool rubber over aluminum pad from outbackbob when i was a the calssic a few years ago i use that alot also. It has a channel in it andni had a rubber covayer belt pad from tower that my dog ran off with and i could never find lol. For me it more preference what ever works to get the result i want my flakes are just as long with a grooved pad or a rolled up piece of leather i think it all boils down to technique if your skilled enough you can use just abouy any pad to push a good  flake