is there a flint knapper in the house?

[hipshot]

looking for suitable knapping material, such as obsidian, chert rocks.

taking up a new hobby.

can't get any further away from mamma, than the front porch, so i need something to keep my hands busy!

just jt:farmer:

[starcruiser]

in my recliner! Seriously, if you find someone from east central Ohio, Flint Ridge is famous for the quality of flint. It was traded as far away as the coast by the very early Indians. While the ridge area itself is in a state park, you can still get the same flint along the park boundaries. Here is a link to someone there that might be a source. http://www.flintridgeflint.com/ Happy knapping!

 

Mark

[BEER30]

My brother in law's brother is a napper in Missouri . He's GOOD ! He was invited to speak at a university in Missouri on arrowheads and napping. He pulled out an arrowhead and the Professor offered him boo-coo $$'s for it . Professor thought he had a real rare genuine artifact. He told him no he would not sale ! Professor kept pestering him to buy it all day long. It got to the point where my B-N-Law grabbed the little squirt by the neck-tie , dragged him to his pickup truck and showed him a 5 gallon buckets full of hand napped arrow heads he had made.

While I was in Missouri , I had him make a primitive bow and arrow set . He napped the arrowheads right before my vary eyes , then weighed them .3 arrowheads , less than a fraction of a gram apart ! As i watched him nap the arrowheads , he told me the key was fracturing the stone .Burying the stone underground in hot coals. Then striking the stone in a particular manner , using bone and antlers . Later I found out that he make surgical blades out of obsidian for some Doctors as well .

If I recall , there's plenty of good flint south of Dallas/Ft.Worth area .

 

BEER30

[hipshot]

gene, there are tons of river cobbles around here, but you cannot get a decent flake from 50 pounds of them.

they just won't work.

all the natives , went to other parts of the country, to get raw materials.

i am speaking with a friend , now , about GLASS!

he is in the stained glass window business.

stained glass will work, but it ain't the real deal.

just jt

[Jerry W]

How much flint you needing? I have a wheel barrow full of quality flint, your case is kinda' special so let me know what you need.

[nelsonrl]

gene, there are tons of river cobbles around here, but you cannot get a decent flake from 50 pounds of them.

they just won't work.

all the natives , went to other parts of the country, to get raw materials.

i am speaking with a friend , now , about GLASS!

he is in the stained glass window business.

stained glass will work, but it ain't the real deal.

just jt

 

 

I have been playing around stainded glass for several years, good hobby and does not cost much to start - good glass cutter, couple of different pliers, grinder, soldering iron (not the one you use for electrical work a mallet and some horseshoe nails - and your materials for each window. The glass is not cheap. I prefer to work with lead instead of copper tape, but thats just me.

[GigaWhiskey]

so i need something to keep my hands busy!

just jt:farmer:

 

 

HEHEHE, I will keep it clean. You need an iPhone. That'll keep yer hands busy and up-to-date here.

[hipshot]

How much flint you needing? I have a wheel barrow full of quality flint, your case is kinda' special so let me know what you need.

 

Jerry, you don't know how much i appreciate the offer, or how much i would LOVE to have the whole wheel barrow load.

now, having said that, i am compelled by nature to tell you , ALABATES flint is selling for a PREMIUM, today.

guys who are fortunate enough to locate a supply, are "sawing it up into slabs", about 1/2 inch thick and as long as they can make it.these "slabs", are selling for about $1.50-$1.75, per INCH!!!!!!!

don't short change yourself, bud.

check around on the net, and see if you can find a buyer.

 

 

OH, by the way.

i wasn't posting here, in askance of material. i was actually checking to see if anyone knew WHERE to find the stuff, without having to pay an arm and a leg, for it.

thank you my friend.

just jt

[hipshot]

HEHEHE, I will keep it clean. You need an iPhone. That'll keep yer hands busy and up-to-date here.

 

 

RICK!!! you just ain't right , boy!

love ya brother!

just jt

[Switch]

I use a piece of deer hide to cover my palm and with fingers curled to hold the obsidian tight against the palm, use the point of an antler to flake off chips to the desired shape.

[hipshot]

where do you get obsidian, Marv!!!????

there ain't none native to alabama , that i'm aware of.

just jt

[BradT]

What is a flint knapping ? Never heard of it ?

 

Brad

[Jerry W]

John,

When you have a minute, send me your address and I will box up some flint and send it your way.

[Switch]

where do you get obsidian, Marv!!!????

there ain't none native to alabama , that i'm aware of.

just jt

 

I'm from Oregon; only moved to AL about 5 years ago. Lots of obsidian in Oregon both black and black/red

 

Brad T,

Flintnapping is making arrowheads or spear heads using the primitive methods that the Indians used. At least that's the way I prefer to do it. If there is a more modern method, I'm not interested. Deer hide, obsidian or flint, even some types of agate, and a deer antler

Edited August 8, 2008 by Switch

[hipshot]

I'm from Oregon; only moved to AL about 5 years ago. Lots of obsidian in Oregon both black and black/red

 

Brad T,

Flintnapping is making arrowheads or spear heads using the primitive methods that the Indians used. At least that's the way I prefer to do it. If there is a more modern method, I'm not interested. Deer hide, obsidian or flint, even some types of agate, and a deer antler

 

 

 

thanks for straightening me out, there marv.

i thought you had found obsidian in Alabama!!!!

do you have to heat treat agates?

just jt

[Switch]

There are some agates that have a composition that more closely resembles glass which is preferable. If a potential piece for an arrowhead or tool is too hard, then heat treating will make the material more workable. In a pit, one should put two to three inches of sand, then layer your working pieces out and cover with more sand and build a fire on top of it. When you have a good bed of coals, then cover with more sand. Temperatures should reach at least 260 degrees, and higher for other types of suitable but harder rock. The cobbles should rise in temp. slowly and then cool slowly (figure about 24 hours total). When the pit is completely cold pull out your material and it should be workable. The best materials are those that most resemble glass and that is why obsidian is preferable; nature's glass.

[hipshot]

There are some agates that have a composition that more closely resembles glass which is preferable. If a potential piece for an arrowhead or tool is too hard, then heat treating will make the material more workable. In a pit, one should put two to three inches of sand, then layer your working pieces out and cover with more sand and build a fire on top of it. When you have a good bed of coals, then cover with more sand. Temperatures should reach at least 260 degrees, and higher for other types of suitable but harder rock. The cobbles should rise in temp. slowly and then cool slowly (figure about 24 hours total). When the pit is completely cold pull out your material and it should be workable. The best materials are those that most resemble glass and that is why obsidian is preferable; nature's glass.

 

hey MARV!

don't ever let anyone talk you into BUYING "Texas obsidian".

it is purely horrible.

today , i successfully reduced a 5 pound chunk, into tiny flakes and dust!

never did spall of a decent flake.

the stuff is too "heat fractured", internally to be of any use.

 

keep on makin' little ones out of big ones!

just jt

[BradT]

Thought you knew the rules, wheres the pictures of your new found hobby.

 

Brad

[hipshot]

Thought you knew the rules, wheres the pictures of your new found hobby.

 

Brad

i gots to get one completed , first!

sheesh!

give a novice a break, would ya!?

lol

just jt

[BradT]

i gots to get one completed , first!

 

Seems like it has been a couple of weeks what you waiting for !

 

Seriously hope your having some fun with it. Looking forward to seeing some pictures

 

Brad