Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: seminolewind on December 28, 2013, 09:15:51 am

Title: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: seminolewind on December 28, 2013, 09:15:51 am
Ok...I thought that I would share somewhat of an epiphany that I had today. Notching has always been the bane of my existence, and I mean to tell ya I stall notches like nobody's business! Today I picked up a thin biface determined to make some notches worthy of a calf creek and found something interesting.

I found that it helped a lot bring the ledge up inside the notch all the way level to the outside surface of the biface. I would do this till this edge was very steep almost vertical. When I flipped the point over I carefully put quite a but of pressure on this steep "platform" inside the notch and popped as big of a thinning flake as I could. Once again I would bring the edge all the way up to the surface, flip and do it all over. I actually got some nice deep notches going !

This sounds simple now but from my experience in the past if I didn't bring that notch all the way to the surface the size of the thinning flake would be smaller and eventually lead to a stalled notch with no where for the tool to bite on to.

Hope it helps knapp on !!!

Seminolewind...out.
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: Trapper Rob on December 28, 2013, 02:10:34 pm
Elijah wheres the pics. of the point.
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: seminolewind on December 28, 2013, 02:23:36 pm
Didn't make a point just made a bunch of notches in a preform. Just practicing
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: iowabow on December 28, 2013, 04:49:32 pm
Sounds like your on track
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: papoints on December 29, 2013, 09:38:19 am
I agree with you that notching is the bane of my existence as well.  I have tried every single different tool I can think of but you can't replace a thin area to notch and a stout sharp tool.  You definitely won't notch through any lumps.....    I tend to stall mine when I am trying to raise the platform as you have described.  I nibble away at it and the next thing you know it is rounded and stalled.  Oh, and I tend to twist the tool and send ears flying :).
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: seminolewind on December 29, 2013, 10:40:46 am
I agree with you that notching is the bane of my existence as well.  I have tried every single different tool I can think of but you can't replace a thin area to notch and a stout sharp tool.  You definitely won't notch through any lumps.....    I tend to stall mine when I am trying to raise the platform as you have described.  I nibble away at it and the next thing you know it is rounded and stalled.  Oh, and I tend to twist the tool and send ears flying :).

Notching is just a plain ol pain in the ass !!!
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: iowabow on December 29, 2013, 06:30:21 pm
Would you like to see a short video on notching that Matt and I shot for ya on notching?
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: seminolewind on December 30, 2013, 01:26:03 am
Hell yes
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: StevenT on December 30, 2013, 11:06:47 am
I think one of the best tips I have picked up on notching is to make sure you square the corners of the notch before you flip it over. As you say, raising the platform up is another excellent tip.
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: Gus on December 30, 2013, 03:56:24 pm
Would you like to see a short video on notching that Matt and I shot for ya on notching?

Yes Please!

:)

-gus
Title: Re: Thoughts on notching...
Post by: iowabow on December 30, 2013, 03:58:51 pm
Would you like to see a short video on notching that Matt and I shot for ya on notching?

Yes Please!

:)

-gus
Gus I posted it on a new post also I posted a pressure flaking demo for simple flake points.