Some knapping advice, please,

[Dittybopper]

Hey guys.  I just started knapping arrowheads, and any advice on what shape to make them, what material (ie., glass, obsidian, flint, etc.) is best for a hunting arrow, how to mount them, how to practice with the least chance of breaking them, and anything I might not have thought of would be greatly appreciated.  

Here are my first few attempts:

     

They go in order in the way they point, from my first head to the most recent.  I'm starting to get the hang of it, I think.  The last 3 points are fully bifacial.  The last two were supposed to be a knife blade, but I broke it while finishing it up, so I made some lemonade instead.

[Stumpkiller]

Wow!  You must be a natural.  I have seen much skankier work from guys who have been working at it for years.  If those shapes I would personally go with the lower left.  (Some states don't allow barbed heads, specify a minimum width, and other states don't allow flint - check first).

[Dittybopper]

Heh, me?  A natural?  Hardly.  I didn't show you the ones I busted while trying to make them.  Plus, you can't see the all step fractures in that picture, but they are obvious when you look at them in person.  Those five heads probably account for well over 10 hours of breaking rocks.

I'm in NYS, and according to my reading the heads have to be at least 7/8ths inch wide, which the last head is, they can't be barbed, and they have to have 2 cutting edges.  

I made the pressure flaker, but I'm going to make an Ishi stick for pressure flaking because it's hard to run a good flake with that small flaker.

[jcarter]

I just started knapping as well, here is what I have found out!

A grinding stone is a MUST,  roughing the edges of your material helps you really set the platform so you can push with your knapping tool to produce the longer flakes.

I alos use a file to keep my copper tip pretty pointed, that allows you to drive smaller, cleaner flakes vz. having a dull, rounded edge on your flaker, the flakes come out sloppier IMO!

Check out youtube, that's where I learned!  GOOD LUCK!

[Dittybopper]

You can't see it, but I have a fist-sized rock that I use as a combination hard hammer/abrader.  Using it has helped me get from point A (pressure flaked only) to point E, if you will pardon the pun.  Having an antler baton also helps (only used that on last two points).

It's hard keeping that tip sharp!  For my Ishi stick, I'm going to make the tip a bit longer so that I can hammer-harden it more effectively, and it will give me more to file down to a point.  I may keep the original flaker for making notches, it seems to do that well.

[Dittybopper]

OK, after scanning around a bit, it looks like I should start thinking about making them out of something tougher than obsidian, and that I should make them longer, perhaps shooting for a 2.5 or 3 to 1 ratio of length to width.

[Stumpkiller]

Geez  I didn't even notice you were a Brother New Yorker.  As long as it's not barbed and is 7/8" minimum width it all flies here.  I'd throw anything you showed at a deer in great preferance over a mechanical.

Do you have a copy of the Traditional Bowyer's Bible Vol III?

 http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Bowyers-Bible-3/dp/158574087X

There is a good chapter on knapping broadheads.  Believe it or not there is a readily available material known as "Johnstone" or "Thunderchert" that will supposedly make a good knapped head.  It is the porcelin from toilets!

In the Traditional Bowhunting magazine that existed before the current one there was a feature on a guy who knapped glass heads and went hog hunting with them.

[Dittybopper]

Originally posted by Stumpkiller:

Do you have a copy of the Traditional Bowyer's Bible Vol III?

   http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Bowyers-Bible-3/dp/158574087X  

There is a good chapter on knapping broadheads.  

My father might have a copy:  He's the one that built most of my bows.  I know he has at least the first one, so I'll give him a call.

Oh, and I know about 'johnstone', and I even have some, but it was a bit tougher for me to work with at first.  When I get a little better, I'll work on trying that.  Thanks!

[Dittybopper]

I should also point out that I've been using "Flintknapping:  Making & Understanding Stone Tools" as my reference.

 http://www.amazon.com/Flintknapping-Making-Understanding-Stone-Tools/dp/029279083X

[Dittybopper]

OK, here is my latest head.  This one is flint, and probably thicker than it needs to be.  It's also thicker on one side than the other.  I made the Ishi stick in the pic also, but mostly didn't use it to make this head.

     

Any advice/tips/etc?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

That's a pretty good looking head.

 keep it up.

 Stiks

[Marvin M.]

Looks like you are coming along very good in your learning curve.

This is on my list of things to do.  Bought a kit from Three Rivers.  Just haven't had the time yet.

[Dittybopper]

Thanks guys.  I don't think I'd actually use it:  There is a big step fracture on the back, and like I said it's asymmetrical, but hey, not bad considering I've only been doing this a couple weeks.

[Knapper]

The questions that you are asking could easily fill a book.  I have three recommendations to make that will surely help.  First, get D.C. Waldorf"s book "The Art of Flint Knapping".  Secondly,  after you have read the book, especially the first few  see if you can locate an experienced flint knapper in your area that might be willing to help you along. Third, check on the internet for any knappins that are held in your area.

Flint knapping is like anything else is a lot harder than it appears to be and there is a lot of information that you must understand to be able to chip flint.  There is a large learning curve in flint knapping as with any other endeavor.

It looks as though you are heading in the right direction and you have the desire so make the first step and buy the book and study it.  Notice that I said study not read.

Good Luck!

[Skipmaster1]

I have been playing around a little and made a few pretty good heads. I read a lot of stuff on it but the best thing I found was to find an experienced knapper in the area and work with them. Look for a local primitive gathering, this is starting to get into the time of year when they pop up all over the place.

[Jon Stewart]

check out Paleo Planet and Primitive Archer.com.

Use youtube as there are many videos to help you out and they are free.