The video teaches the difference of the angle of the platform on the work piece for Antler and for a Soft Hammer stone like a “gritty” Sandstone. I apologize in advance if my question does not fit exactly with the context of this video. I worked this entire weekend on 3/8 inch DACITE slabs. No crack or ash pockets in the slab material. I was very careful zig-zagging the perimeter. Then I went around the perimeter removing “opportunistic” SHORT flakes and raised the edge preferentially to one side. In the process of doing the latter flakes were detached of inconsistent length on either side, but as the flakes were relatively short no flake was longer than a bout 3/4 inch, and no “steps” were ever created. So now after watching your video I now see my platform angle was too shallow for using a Hammer Stone. But at the time I was ignorant of this. Until watching your video. But I did abrade in a downward direction with a coarse piece of grinding wheel, to raise the edge above the centreline consistently around the perimeter of the work piece. So here is when my troubles began. I decided to use a trial-and-error approach. Indirect Percussion along a few inches, then switched to the Gritty Soft Standstone for a few inches and lastly the Ishi Stick. As I did not have or had established much if any convexity, I held the work piece at an angle to avoid creating steps on the flat Slab surface. For the Hammerstone i did the same. My flakes for the Hammerstone were inconsistent no doubt because the striking point was not as precise as Indirect. The Ishi Stick took a lot of muscle to detach flakes even though I have Pressure Flaked for 30 years and consider myself proficient in this singular endeavour. I gave up on the Ishi Stick. So I went back to the Hammerstone. I am as careful as I can, but apparently not careful enough. Shortly my work peeves is in several pieces. I did everything to avoid end shock. So now after watching this video, is it correct for me to conclude I should NEVER have used a Hanmmerstone on shallow angle platforms and I was asking for trouble? Should I have used than Antler Billet on the thin shallow angle platforms? Was I an idiot using Indirect percussion on shallow angle platforms and should have instead waited until I established convexity after using the Antler Billet? I am wondering if the Copper indirect flaker and the Hammerstone were too much for hard brittle Dacite? I have lost my way here. Maybe it’s all practice and I am expecting good results too soon?
Dont get discouraged, its a long slow process. I became frustrated many times over the years, but progress comes with practice. Our ancestors had the best teachers and no doubt learned much faster. It does give you an appreciation of the real skills they had. Glad you like the vids
Another great set of videos!!! loved the more detail and easy to follow instructions. I continue learning differant things everytime i watch you videos. (I have watched em all about 3 time so far). Thanks!!! The tape is nice but i keep thinking it might hinder a flake each blow you make. You can try useing a colored dot or more distinct shape and smaller, seperate from the rock color. But great idea!!
I'm pretty new, to your channel and knapping both. Thanks for all the excellent videos, especially the details of what you're doing and why. I've really learned a lot from you. Do those overshot flakes maintain convexity or can they 'dish out' the flake scar creating further problems?
hi ,very kewl , and thanks for shareing .consider mexico and Aztec weapons , strange its obsidian but the weapons are different ,i saw a stubby knief ,in some art, that has clearly 3 broad flakes down a seven inch length ...so how does early s american stone work stand out or follow on , euro an am.indain habits an traditions ? is there a fat book on this ?
When abrading, what is the difference between moving the abrading stone linearly (back and forth or up and down) and rotating the abrading stone on the edge of the piece?
+flatlander19545 I found lots of material recently at a landscaping materials yard where they carry rock and other earth materials for landscaping, like flagstone, limestone, sand, mulch etc. They had a huge pile of chert cobble.. I walked into the office with an armful of stones and the guy just gave them to me..
