G notching demo

[Elktracker]

Cool I think I have all that stuff laying around might give one a try. Whats the wood for?

Josh

[iowabow]

The wood goes inside to push the horse shoe nail forward.

[Elktracker]

Ok gotcha thanks

Josh

[gstoneberg]

Thanks John.  Great pictures and descriptions.  The only problem is that this is exactly how I try to do it now.  As usual, the problem is not so much knowing what to do, it is executing it.   I do see a difference in the tool.  Mine is thinner and is a flattened ice pick so it looks like a very thin screw driver, though I have rounded the edges.  So, when I've started my notch it is very  thin (but not for long normally).  I typically snap off the corner trying to restart a stalled notch.  That's definitely what happened in that last one I posted.  So, I think my problem is more platform preparation in the notching. 

I do want to go down and visit Tower.  I need to be making a bunch of un-notched points in preparation.

George

[iowabow]

Shannon showed me a great way to restart stalled notches with a punch.  I will try to find the nail that I made and demo that process.  Hey Shannon if you are reading this could you post a picture of that nail punch.  Anyone that has a punch should post it also a diamond file works great.  I very rarely grab the file because I work hard on the platform thing. 

[Knapper]

And the actual notching point is made of?

[Tower]

Great thread. Love the detailed explanation & photos. Pertty neat way to hold the horseshoe nail. Many thanks again for the point.

[gstoneberg]

All right, I went out and tried John.  I stalled one notch on the second flake.  On the other side, I blew it out on the third flake.  Good grief.



It was big enough to salvage.



Notching is so frustrating.

George

[Jimbob]

George, I have the same problem.  I always stall them, I am starting to wonder if it has somthing to do with how thin you get the point.............

[bubby]

yep, the thinner the better when your notching, Bub

[iowabow]

I think you have good notches for what you started with.  You can still work them a little more narrow I think.  I would say prep the platform real good take a small stone and abrade it.  The reason why is because the thicker stone will require more pressure and therefore will want to collapse. A stall is the result of a crushed platform on both side. A platform collapses because it is to weak.  I will try to post pictures of a thicker point but the notches will be a little wider but should not blow out the sides. The notch on the right deep in the notch looks sharp and would need to be harden before I could remove a flake from it.  The notch on the left deep in the notch and on the edge has flattened and so the platform is not good.  Pressure from the otherside would remove very small flakes and help abrade the platform so that a good flake could be removed with adequate pressure.

[Stringman]

My experience is that, the tougher the stone the wider the notch. If i wanna make narrow notches I first must have a thin point that is flaking easily. Of course as I get better, i should have better resukts on harder, thicker rock. But as a beginner my struggle usually centered around tool control due to needing too much pressure. Once I started heating my own rock  and consistently getting easier working rock I noticed my flaking improve and my notches are getting narrower.

George, your notch looks fine, but I would widen it a little at the start. Another thing is the tool you are using might be sliding off the edge and causing your notch to stall. Try a softer nail (horseshoe nail) or flattened copper nail. JMO

[gstoneberg]

OK, thanks you guys.  That ice pick is pretty hard, I had to hammer the tar out of it to get it flat enough to use.  I do know that thinner points are much easier to notch.  This point fought me bad, and there's a hump just lower than mid-point that I could not get out.  A flake absolutely would not run there.  Consequently, the point is heavy at 159gr.  The base, however it about the thickness I usually get, though I could have made an additional pass and thinned it more.

John (and others), I need you to show how platforms are set up while notching.  I have no idea how to adjust a platform once I have the notch started, or what tool you'd use in there.

Thanks,
George

[iowabow]

OK let's talk tools. I have a lot of pressure flakers so I can change or replace tips and never have to stop and sharpen one during a sitting.  The copper is from grounding wire and is twisted to harden it.  The tips are hammered to harden and sharpen.  The following photos show the tools replacement tips and how I make then the exact Length.

[iowabow]

I use the copper to make my hunting points.  The horse shoe anil I use for real detailed work.  The following are photo the will show you how I work thicker stuff but first I have to go to the garage and work some scrap as a demo.