Napped my first points last night........(Pics Added)

[slayer1]

When I get home I will post some pictures. This was the first time I have ever tried this. My wife said they resemble arrowheads.lol I have been using some flint flakes that I bought from 3 rivers. I have a few questions for some of you more experienced nappers: The flakes I have been using are very thin in some spots and very thick in others. On the thicker spots I am having trouble getting the excess material off. The platforms are not that great, I can get it off but I usually have to take a good deal of the material I wanted to use for the point off in the process. In my limited experience it would seem that I would be able to get more uniform thickness of rock if I was able to start with a larger stone. In other words it would give me better angles to work with and thus flake the material off in a more uniform manner. Am I on the right track here. I will try to post some pictures later to better explain this. Thanks for the help.

[ber643]

We like pictures! Practice is the main thing and just getting started puts you on the right track. It is a long learning curve and watching others do it helps a great deal - when and if you can. Keep at it, slayer1, and enjoy it. Be looking for the pics.

[Linc]

Pics,pics,we want pics.          

[slayer1]

Well I finally got around to adding the pictures of my first points. There not all that great but I guess its a start. knife river was not lying when he said get ready to bleed. I have cuts all over my hands. Oh well...it was worth it.
 
 

[knife river]

Very nice for your first try!  The good thing is the cuts heal fast.    

[Linc]

Darn good points,better than my first attempts.    

It will take practice to thin out the thicker areas.You are probably better off working with flakes like you have till you have the basics of pressure flaking and platforms down pat.With the points you made,did you do any percussion? Percussion will thin quick or it will break the point quick.Percussion itself will take a lot of practice.

You may want to wear a leather glove on the hand you hold the piece with,or both hands for that matter.LOL.Believe me,I learned the hard way.I only bleed once in a while now.

If and when you want to go to bigger flake then I would go to a dealer of knapping supplies.You will be able to talk about your needs and the size of flakes or spalls you are looking for.

[slayer1]

Linc, I uses both flakes and larger pieces. I am starting to learn what a platform looks like and where to strike. I had some very good pieces started but ended up breaking them. I have found(on larger pieces) that when you find a place on the rock that is concave with a ridge to one side or the other that when you strike the stone the flake breaks to the middle of the piece. It seems once you get one started its easy to "follow" the flakes down the side.

[TimBow2]

nice 1st's

[ber643]

Hope your using Super glue on your guts (don't put your glove back on too quick - or you may not get it off too quick -   :p  ) Good start!

[northern fisher]

They look nice.I think the red and black ones sharp looking(no pun intended)

[Rusty in Fla.]

Don't wait for more chips to practice. One of the best things to practice on is an old toilet. Break it into large pieces with a hammer and work them down from there.
  A fellow near me makes beautiful necklaces by knaping heads out of colored glass bottles. Blue is the prettiest, but brown glass is a close runner up.
   Nice work there, keep it up.

   Rusty <><

[2fletch]

Slayer1, Where are you located? You are in an area with several very good knappers here in North Carlolina. "Carolina Traditionl Archers" club has some excellent knappers in it's midst, and seem to always have a group at their sessions.

I do a little bit of knapping, but don't pretend to be accomplished. If you're close by the Mebane,NC  area, stop by. I have a traditional archery shop here (Eagle's Flight Archery), but also have a  rock pile behind the shop.    

Looks like you're off to a good start.

2fletch

[slayer1]

Hey Don, I stop by about once a week. You sold me the knapping stuff and the flint. Thanks for the start.
Scott

[2fletch]

Hey Scott, sorry about that. I should have checked out your user name to see who you were. Looks like you have been busy since you were here (last week).

I thought that the obsidian looked familiar. That should have been a clue.

Just remembered, there are some local guys who are talking about a knap-in here in the area. Ask me about it when you're here next.

2fletch