Just started up flint knapping and need some direction. Do you find your own stone, buy it or what?
I live in southeast MO and have access to dozens of creeeks that are full of stone. What is best?
Also, does anybody know of any good places to purchase obsidian for knapping?
Thanks
"Do you find your own stone, buy it or what?"
Yes!
"I live in southeast MO and have access to dozens of creeeks that are full of stone. What is best?"
Best for what? Get some of that Burlington, Kaolin, Cobden, or whatever the knappable material is in your creek and start knapping.
"Also, does anybody know of any good places to purchase obsidian for knapping?"
www.neolithics.com (http://www.neolithics.com) Glass is cheaper -- maybe even free. Enjoy yourself!
Speaking of glass, what thickness and or is there a certain type that's better?
Go to a glass shop & see if you can get some scrap 1/4 - 3/8 plate . .
Be careful & use all the safety stuff. Glasses, knee pad & most definitely a palm pad.
This eneadvor is going to take you a while. It's not as easy as it first appears.
Practice on the glass 'till you get the techniques down.
Have fun!
Larry
A good source of thck glass is old TV screens. It is close to 1/2 inch thick. It has a slight curve but is thick enough that it can be "straitened out" as you knap. It make one of the best glass points for hunting that I have used. You can also use the back. Be careful of the stuff inside the tube, don't breath it and wash it off before you work it. Bill
Use what you can get your hands on. Finding your own stone you will learn more about what to look for. Practice practice practice. Most importantly finding it costs nothing other than time to pick it up and maybe a little gas.
also old toilets tanks
I've heard that TV screens contain lead so be careful. I'm using glass to learn on and have also ordered some preforms from neolithics. Craig Razat(runs neolithics) is a highly acclaimed knapper. There are tons of vids on youtube. Watch them and try to get some one on one with an experienced knapper(which I am not). find a knapp in. Galss can be obtained from glass shops. They will probably give you their scraps. The right tools really help too. I like the ishi stick as it makes it easier on my wrists.
Here's a link to my recent post. http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=066721;p=2#000018
It is a head I did from 1/4" plate glass using an ishi stick and a smaller pressure flaker. I've been at it for about two months. When I learned to drive my flakes half way across the piece I got a lot better.
If you can't find any glass. I have access to a lot. Let me know.
I'm getting intrest in this as well, Good info guys and good thread..