Flintknapping - Beginners Part 5

[delphispolaris]

Where do you get your materials?

[paleomanjim]

@delphispolaris I travel long distances to collect my own rock, Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Arizona, etc...I go through a lot of rock....

[strongmanzack]

@paleomanjim did you get your obsidian in Oregon? Thansk for posting these videos! Very cool! very user friendly!

[paleomanjim]

@delphispolaris Most of my obsidain comes from Davis Creek California and Glass Buttes Oregon.

[mtgdustin]

///what is the reason for abrading????

[paleomanjim]

@mtgdustin Abrading is done to add strength to the edge. It is important to just abrade the part of the edge that makes contact with the percussor or pressure flaker. The goal is to abrade the platform just enough so that it does not collapse, but not so much that it becomes too strong and wont release the flake. So the amount of abrading or edge dulling is adjusted depending on the tools used, more abrading for copper or hammerstones, less abrading for antler of softer tools.

[TheGrimdoor]

you sure may have taught millions how to survive... if 2012 is true. hahaha

[usmcmajormichael]

i like the video thicks for the info sir :)

[Clearly69]

I'm having trouble releasing long pressure flakes. I tilt the rock to about a 65/ 75 degree angle and knapp downward and usually get 1 long flake and the rest about a 1/4 to 1/3rd of the total with.

What am I doing wrong?

[firecall2785]

i lol'd at the end XD

[flabluby]

i live in socal so i use mainly quartz for arrowheads, but my problem is i always get stuck on thinning out the rock, any ideas?

[paleomanjim]

@flabluby If you are using quartzite or quarts crystal both can be very tough and hard to thin out. Careful attention to platforms and lots of practice should help thin your points...., there just no short cut to thinning

[joelypozole]

Absolutley the best instructional I've seen, and I've looked around ! !

[paleomanjim]

@joelypozole Thanks!...jim

[andyjarhead666]

Eacellent and very informative and helpful videos! Thank you for sharing the skill & knowledge...

Is it safe to say that if you come across a rock w/Hertzian cone fractures [in a stream bed] it is potentially knappable?

Thoughts on practicing on porcealin/broken plates...? Is it worth the time?

[paleomanjim]

@andyjarhead666 Yes, any rock in a creek bed that has a concoidal fracture and is fine grained is potentially knappable. Porcelain works fairly well, many knappers have knapped toilet tanks, often called thunder chert!....jim

[jabames]

is making an otzi the iceman knife similar to how u'd make an arrow head but with a longer handle, id like to make a knife like that someday

[wolvenancestry992]

Hey Jim, great videos, im just getting into knapping and I was wondering if you know of any rocks that can be knapped in south Louisiana? Where I live you can still find arrowheads from a tribe that once lived here but moved to a rez 30 minutes north of where I am and im not sure what rock they used..

[paleomanjim]

@wolvenancestry992 Sorry, I know Louisiana has some knappable rock but I am not sure where it is located. I'd suggest checking on Paleoplanet, the folks on there are very helpful and someone should know. Also, I'd reccomend checking the local creeks, if there is knappable rock in the area it usually shows up in the creeks....jim

[ashnbrandon1]

wat kind of good rocks and stuff can u get in west virginia charleston

[paleomanjim]

@ashnbrandon1 Sorry, I've never been that far east. Perhaps someone else on here can answer?.....jim

[sevenheadeddragon]

wszystko jest wzięte z książki Whittakera, calkiem niezły wykład

[scarz1951]

I understand the angles on the edges of the stones. It's the striking angle of the billet, bopper or hammers tone that I'm wondering about. The vids look like the tools are coming straight down not inward. I've been told Waldorfs book is a good one and I've also been told its a waste of money. What do you guys say? I've got to get the striking angles of the tools clear in my noggin before I cans top making gravel.

[paleomanjim]

The shape of the platform determines the flake mass for the most part, but the angle of the blow can cause the flake to travel deeper. There's something to be learned in all. the books on the subject....jim

[MissouriTiger]

In your line drawings for platform angles, I think your arc lines are incorrect. If the angle is from he center line, the arc line should terminate there. At any rate, all of your drawn angles are visibly wider than what is written next to them, according to the arc lines. I hope this makes sense. Regardless, these videos are fantastic! Thank you for all the detailed explanations. -Greg

[paleomanjim]

Your are right, the angles are off a bit.,  It was hand drawn, no protractor used to measure angles. Hopefully it is close enough for folks to get the idea.....jim

[navyseal205]

is this a easy skill to learn when you get the hang of it?

[paleomanjim]

To be honest it takes several weeks to get the hang of it, and much longer to make nice looking points, but that is what makes it fun. I think you will enjoy the trek....jim

[navyseal205]

k it looks like a fun skill to learn you made some beutiful work

[bigNMhillbilly]

i cant tell u how much i apprieciate ur time jim...thanks for all the great vids!...got a little bit of Texas chert today..cant wait to get started on it...wonder if u could tell me if i should heat treat it or anything, a friend thats into flintnapping sugjested i might do that to it to make it a bit easier to work

[paleomanjim]

Most Texas cherts work well raw, many need no heat at all, but poorer cherts might benefit. Most will pressure flaker easier after heat treating. I'd suggest not to go over 400 degrees.....jim

[bigNMhillbilly]

@paleomanjim

sweet, thanks a bunch....glad to hear i dont have to go over 400', since i dont have a kiln...ill just have to piss off the wife when i stick a bunch of rocks in the kitchen oven lol

thanks again

[paleomanjim]

Kitchen ovens work fine. I used to put my rock in cookie tins and fill the tin with sand and a lid, then leave it in the oven. Each time my wife used the oven it heated the stone a bit more. After about a month the rock was well cooked!...jim

[JaySecurity]

Awesome series Jim, I've been looking for something like this for a long time. Thanks!

[cplrey]

Great continuation of this series of videos Jim. Keep them coming!

Ray

[FlintknapperJimmy]

Well done Jim. I'd say it's the best educational video out of any of the ones I've seen on this topic!

[paleomanjim]

I really appreciate that Jimmy and I look forward to your next video, Your insight into the path of ancient knappers is a valuable trek!....jim

[meforgodforall]

damn you for getting me hooked on knapping again!

[paleomanjim]

Thats a good thing!....jim

[darkcolmar]

You should write a book Jim.

[EvergreenBushcraft]

Thanks, this helped me allot! but i dont quite get the whole hertzian cone thing. any online referances or books that could help me figure this out more?

[paleomanjim]

The best source of info on this topic I know of it titled "The Formation of Flakes". Its based on experimental analysis and engineering. Its 33 pages, highly technical and publised in American Antiquity, 52(4), 1987, pp 675-708

[joneblaze82]

Eraillure flake scars, hertzian cone pricepal, fracture physics, Bulb of force and perverse fracture! great video man you covered it all, good stuff! should eleborate on the force wave and matrix understanding(cryptocrystallin­e-amorphous)! Love the vids man keepem going! I learn something everytime! Aloha

[82f150]

great series jim. i know it will help some of the new guys out.

[pumkinvine]

Interesting, thanks for posting these Jim.