Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Introducing the Collector's Annual "2009 ACOTW Bound Collection" from "Arrowhead Collecting On The Web"

Greetings from "Arrowhead Collecting On The Web", the monthly eMagazine.

I am pleased to make available to our subscribers and readers a spiral-bound hard copy collection of all of the monthly issues from 2009.

It is a color printed copy of each of the first 8 monthly editions of "Arrowhead Collecting On the Web"; from the Premiere Edition in May 2009 up to and including the December 2009 Edition..

The "2009 ACOTW Bound Collection" is printed on both sides of the paper, so the bound book includes over 128 printed pages all together, plus protective plastic cover sheets, front and back.

Each copy comes with a customized cover page with your name, or if you prefer, the name of a gift recipient. You can specify this with your order.

Each "2009 ACOTW Bound Collection" is just $39.95, plus $4.95 shipping. To order, simply click on this secure PayPal link:

Click This Order Link for 2009 ACOTW Bound Collection through PayPal

To order more than one copy through PayPal, simply click again on the secure PayPal link, for each additional "2009 ACOTW Bound Collection" which you need.

I hope you are able to take advantage of this special offer to order a complete hard copy "2009 ACOTW Bound Collection" including each monthly issue from this first year of your internet eMagazine "Arrowhead Collecting On The Web".

Sincerely,

F. Scott Crawford

Publisher, "Arrowhead Collecting On The Web"

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You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: www.Arrowhead-MakeYourOwn.com

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site: www.Arrowhead-Maker.com

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Use of Hammer Stone & Soft Hammer Percussion To Create Chips From Large Pieces Of Obsidian (or Flint or Chert)

Some folks have asked about percussion knapping and making small pieces (chips) for making arrowheads from large chunks of knappable stone, such as obsidian.

Once you have a local source of obsidian, then it is useful to have some kind of appropriate hammer device with which to break small pieces off of large pieces. You could use the old type tool, the hammer stone. Get a nice round river rock of granite or some other hard type stone. If it is heavy enough for its size, mass is important for this activity, then you can use it to break corners off of large pieces of obsidian.

Do not try to hit against a flat face on the target stone. Any fracture will initiate going into the mass of the stone, and only create cracks inside the chunk, not break off small pieces which are usable. Instead hit near a corner, and aim the fracture to follow along a ridge or edge on the surface.

Always wear leather gloves, and support the target stone on the ground, or on a thick leather pad. Also wear safety glasses, as small chips will fly.

A modern alternative to the hammer stone is to use a copper billet. I use a copper rod, 3/4" in diameter, by about 5 or 6 inches long. The end is rounded off by impacts. This is heavy enough, yet the metal is soft so it won't crush the target stone.

If you use a steel hammer it will just crush the natural glass.

The idea is to control the fracture. Obsidian naturally fractures in a cone shape, just like glass. If you have ever seen a hole in a thick glass window pane made by a BB, then you will know what I mean by a cone. The fracture radiates out from the point of impact at about 70 degrees away from the line of impact force.

The key is to align this fracture plane just under the face of the piece of stone which you are trying to break. That way the fracture plane travels just inside the stone and travels a good ways as it breaks. This can give you a nice long chip. Remember, you are in control of the stone, so you can tilt it to align the angles the way you want it to break. Practice hitting the stone in the same way or direction most of the time. Then you can modify the breaking angle by tilting the target stone, not changing your swing of the tool.

It takes practice to develop a feel for the angles and the direction of fracture.

I would suggest getting a couple of chunks and just breaking away at it to get the feel for the directions and force needed.

Good luck, and always utilize the safety gear.

F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, Texas



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You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: http://www.arrowhead-makeyourown.com/

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site: http://www.arrowhead-maker.com/

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Now Available: an iGoogle Gadget showing Clovis Point percussion knapping

One of the fascinating projects to which flint knappers of all skills pay attention is to the making of Clovis Points.

I have heard from several new knappers who are eager to try their hand at this particular ancient style of making a spear head.

For those of you who have an interest along this specific line, a few summers back I made a series of photographs of a highly skilled percussion knapper as he worked on a large obsidian Clovis spear point. This took place at a Knapping Workshop at Glass Buttes in eastern Oregon.

These photos have been linked together for your viewing in an internet device called a "gadget" which can be placed on your home page.

This is a link to this new Google Gadget which you can load on your Google home page if you are interested in making Clovis Points or other flint knapping projects: Mikey Makes A Clovis Point

See Mike Make A Clovis Point

***

Here is what iGoogle says about this gadget and how to use it:

Your friend has created something special for you to see every day on Google. The gadget will be available on your own iGoogle page. To go with this new gadget, you can also personalize your iGoogle page with the stuff you like. Your friend's gadget will change from one day to the next, so visit iGoogle daily to see what's new!

You can get back to your iGoogle page by visiting Google and clicking the iGoogle link in the upper right hand corner.

Want to share a message or photos with a friend every day? Then sign in to iGoogle and create a gadget of your own to send to friends.

***

Thanks for participating in flint knapping and arrowhead making projects with us. Once in a while, I will be creating additional "gadgets" such as this one, with a new series of related photographs which will be of interest to flint knapping enthusiasts. For instance, I have already created the next gadget about Clovis Points to show the completion of the sequence started in this first gadget: Mikey Makes A Clovis Point. It will be available in a week or so.

Sincerely,
F. Scott Crawford
www.Arrowhead-Maker.com
www.ArrowheadCollectingOnTheWeb.com

____________________

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: www.Arrowhead-MakeYourOwn.com

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site: www.Arrowhead-Maker.com

Friday, September 25, 2009

How To Make Your Own Arrowheads ~ Small Point Pressure Flaking ~

I am pleased to make available to you another in our series of publications, a new brochure about making arrowheads: "How To Make Your Own Arrowheads ~ Small Point Pressure Flaking ~ "

This publication was produced in response to a request from several new knappers for guidance on making and thinning small size arrowheads.

So, in creating these instructional materials, while demonstrating methods of careful edge preparation and advanced pressure flaking techniques to make and thin small arrowheads, I asked my step-daughter to work with me to create a number of photographs of each step. All of this information was then used to put together this new brochure.

Here is a link to download the pdf brochure for your use: SMALL POINT PRESSURE FLAKING

This electronic publication is in an 11" x 17" format, with 10 different page layouts. You are welcome to use it as a reference and instruction aid for your personal knapping efforts.

If you want to order a hard copy of this new brochure, for $14.95 plus $1.25 first class postage, simply send me an email and I will return a Paypal request for payment to you and then prepare your copy for mailing. The email address to use is: fscottcrawford@Arrowhead-Maker.com

Thanks for your participation in flint knapping and arrowhead making activities.

F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, Texas

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You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: www.Arrowhead-MakeYourOwn.com

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site:
www.Arrowhead-Maker.com

Monday, September 21, 2009

How To Make Your Own Arrowheads ~ Working With Blade Cores ~

I am pleased to make available to you a new brochure about making arrowheads: "How To Make Your Own Arrowheads ~ Working With Blade Cores ~ "

This was produced in response to a request from a primitive archery club in New Zealand.

They asked me to put together a display about the whole process of knapping arrowheads from stone. So, in creating the materials for them, using a "core" technology to make the points, I also shot a number of photographs of each step. All of this information was then used to put together the new brochure, which they could use in their display and for instructional purposes, as well.

Here is a link to download the pdf brochure for your use:
WORKING WITH BLADE CORES

The publication is in an 11" x 17" format, with 10 different page layouts. You are welcome to use it as a reference and instruction aid for your personal knapping efforts.

If you want to order a hard copy of this new brochure, for $7.95 plus $1.25 first class postage, simply send me an email and I will return a Paypal request for payment to you and then prepare your copy for mailing. The email address is: fscottcrawford@Arrowhead-Maker.com


Thanks for your participation in flint knapping and arrowhead making activities.

F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, Texas



_____________________

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: www.Arrowhead-MakeYourOwn.com

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site:
www.Arrowhead-Maker.com

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Pointing In The Right Direction

Once you select a chip of knappable stone (obsidian, flint, chert, jasper, etc.), a key step will be to choose which end of the piece is to be the point of the arrowhead. When you look at the smooth underside of the chip you will see a bulbous shape, rounded and slightly thicker than most of the flake surface, radiating away from the spot where the stone was struck to knock the chip off the stone. This is called the "bulb of percussion".

Usually arrowheads are made with the pointed end at the bulb of percussion, and the base with its notches is located at the other end of the chip. The secret is to use the portion of the chip which is essentially straight. Chips of stone naturally have some curve, as the chip follows the contour of the original stone surface. Yet, if you look at the chip in profile, from the side along the lengthwise direction of the chip, you can see the natural curve, and you can see what portion of the chip could be used, allowing a straight line to the arrowhead.

Now, you can use an antler tine to trim the chip to the general shape for the arrowhead. Lay the chip on a leather pad on your work bench. Place the smooth surface down. Then use the side of the narrow end of the antler tine to begin pressing at the thin edges, along the length of the chip, in a shearing motion along the edge. Hold the antler tine basically parallel along the edge and press down along the edge with the side of the antler.

Do not overlap the edge except for a tiny distance, and press down along the edge, breaking off small pieces to trim the thin, curved edges into a straighter line leaving a thicker amount of material along the edge. Just press enough to break small pieces off. You will need to hold the flake in place, but do not press down on it too much, as you can break it.

Odds are, you will break some chips; that is why I provide a dozen pieces in my Beginner's Knapping Kit. Each piece will teach you more about the process.

This trimming action can quickly provide a chip in nearly the size and shape of your finished point. You can trim it to straight edges in a triangular shape, or to curved edges in more of an oval configuration. Trim the base to fit your shape.

Next time we will discuss how to begin the pressure flaking to shape and sharpen your arrowhead.

F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, Texas

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: www.Arrowhead-MakeYourOwn.com

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site:
www.Arrowhead-Maker.com

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Edge Preparation Gives You The Edge In Pressure Flaking

Since so many of you have requested and downloaded the "How To Make Your Own Arrowhead" instruction book recently from my web site, http://www.arrowhead-maker.com/, I thought you might enjoy this story. The other day I had one of my new arrowhead making students come by the house to pick up his Beginner's Knapping Kit. Mike lives 30 minutes away and took the opportunity to save the shipping cost.

Anyway, when he came by the house, I was working on an obsidian blade. It's made from a spall of transparent black obsidian from eastern Oregon . Originally I used the chunk of obsidian to produce a good number of the middle sized chips which are used in the Beginner's Kit for making arrowheads.

After these chips were removed, I had left what is referred to as a "core". I worked on the core a little more with my percussion tools to end up with a fairly large "pre-form" for a spear point or knife.

Then I began using pressure flaking to remove the rough parts and prepare for finishing the blade. Eventually, I had the piece worked down to the condition where I was ready to finish its form with some careful pressure flaking.

I was about half finished with the final series of pressure flakes when Mike showed up.

So, I took the opportunity to show him how the edge of the blade was set up for that finishing series. Making the edge angles correctly, grinding the edge enough to give the pressure flaking tool a good seat and grip, so that it will not slip off. Plus, retaining enough material mass at the ground edge to have sufficient strength to resist the pressure load until the force is built up enough to drive the desired flake a long way across the face of the blade.

Fortunately, I had good luck with the impromptu demonstration for Mike. The finishing of this blade went well.

So, here it is. It is what is called an Agate Basin blade. This was a Paleo-Indian weapon used for hunting large game at the end of the Ice Age; woolly mammoths, giant buffalo, etc. These were used at the same time and after the Clovis type weapons which are so famous for their uniquely thinned, fluted bases. The Agate Basin point is just not fluted, so it has the lens shaped cross section for the full length of the blade.

F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, Texas

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: http://www.arrowhead-makeyourown.com/

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site:
http://www.arrowhead-maker.com/

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Post 3 -- Abo or Neo -- Antler Tine or Copper?

One of the on-going choices which knappers face is the choice of tools to use for pressure flaking, or for that matter, in percussion (hammering) work on larger pieces of stone.

The selection is between stone, bone and antler tools compared to copper and other metal tools. Between what we call paleo or aboriginal (abo) type tools and methods compared to neolithic (neo or new) style tools which may actually be made of soft metal such as copper.

The reason there is even a debate is that in late Stone Age societies in northern Africa, like Egypt, or in northern Europe, like Denmark, the knappers were sometimes using copper tools to work flint.

Most think that in the New World the local folks did not use metals, only stone, bone, antler, even wood tools for working flint and obsidian. Thus, some feel that only these naturally derived materials should be used to authentically work with flint and obsidian in making stone tools and hunting weapons.

However, I would like to point out that, even in North America, there are a number of cultures which used copper tools ... around the copper-rich areas of the Great Lakes, of Arizona, of Mexico, etc.

I have seen ancient rods of native copper in the Field Museum, in Chicago, which are over 2,000 years old. They very likely were used as pressure flaking tools, much as those tools which were used by one of the last native indigenous knappers, "Ishi", when he demonstrated the processes at a university in California back at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.

So, the choice is to be made. You can use copper-tipped pressure flaking tools, or deer antler or bone flaking tools. Both are readily available. And in the Beginner's Knapping Kits which I supply to new knappers, I provide both.

The process of working with the two tools is similar in method, and essentially identical in objective. You want to be able to trim the thin edges of the chip, so that the edge will be strong enough to absorb enough pressure to push off a long flake. This takes some practice to perfect. Actually, it takes a lot of practice. But once you achieve this a few times, you get the hang of it and are ready to harness this capability to shape the stone to your planned design.

Next time, we will talk about edge preparation some more. This is vital to achieving effective pressure flaking.



... Coming Next ... Preparation Gives You The Edge In Pressure Flaking

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: http://www.arrowhead-makeyourown.com/

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site: http://www.arrowhead-maker.com/

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Post 2 -- Making A Plan Of Action To Make An Arrowhead

For the beginning knapper (person who makes tools out of stone by breaking stone -- knapping), making an arrowhead usually begins with a flake or chip of stone.

What Kind Of Stone Is Useful For Making An Arrowhead?

Usually we will need to use a type of stone which can break fairly easily, is brittle; yet it is hard enough to be useful and endure as a tool; it usually breaks with a sharp edge, so it can be a cutting tool; and, for any repeated manufacturing benefit, it should be a kind of stone which breaks in a manner which can be controlled and repeated.

Over the millennia, our ancestors learned, by trial and error, that many varieties of the stone material which we call quartz will fit these requirements. They found that particularly fine grained forms such as flint, chert and jasper worked best. These materials brake in a cone-like fracture pattern. They are tough, so they endure as a tool in use. They are hard, so they stay sharp enough to be useful. And they break in a way which can be planned and repeated, so that a skilled knapper can create a new tool according to the plan which he has in mind.

They also found that some kinds of volcanic rock also meet these requirements to make useful, sharp tools. In particular, obsidian and other similar volcanic rock, which is high in silica, are especially useful for knapping purposes. Obsidian is not as hard as quartz type stones like flint and jasper, but it makes up for that with its sharp edges and excellent knapping characteristics.

In the knapping kits which I prepare for new students of making arrowheads, I include both flint type stone and obsidian materials. These make an excellent starting place for a new knapper.

These chip or flake pieces are broken off from a larger chunk of the same material. This can be done by striking a corner or edge of the larger chunk with a hammer stone or a large, heavy piece of a deer antler, from the base or trunk of the antler, called a billet.

Safety First & Safety Always!

Remember always, that when you are working with this kind of stone, it is very sharp. So you must wear leather gloves to protect your hands, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes, and use a leather pad to protect your legs if you are resting the stone on your leg when you knock off small pieces for pressure flaking into arrowheads. Safety practices are always mandatory. In addition, make sure you work in a well ventilated, well lighted area, preferably outside. Also it is a good idea to have a ground or floor cover like a tarp or similar sheet of material to capture the small pieces of stone, so that you can gather them together when you are finished. You do not want your pets or children or any one else to step on the sharp remnants.

What Kind Of Tools Do You Knap With?

The next part of the plan is to select a tool to use to trim the stone piece into the shape of the arrowhead which you want to make. In the next posting we will discuss several types of tools which are useful in making arrowheads.




... coming next ... Selecting And Using The Tools To Break Stone To Create An Arrowhead

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: http://www.arrowhead-makeyourown.com/

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site: http://www.arrowhead-maker.com/

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Post 1 -- Thoughts on Making Your Own Arrowhead

How To Make Your Own Arrowhead.

"It's so easy the cavemen did it ... for thousands of years" ... and so can you, with practice.

Actually, ancestors of all of us used stone for hunting weapons for a very long time. The use of metal only replaced sharpened stone, bone and wood in the last few thousands of years. And then, in most of the world, the knowledge of "flint knapping" became a lost art. It wasn't until the Europeans came to the Americas that Old World eyes once again realized the efficiency of stone arrow heads and knife blades.

Making Your Own Stone Arrowhead.

All knapping begins with a piece of stone. Then you break away the parts of the stone which do not fit the idea you have in mind for the final product. This process is called reduction. The thing is, that once you break a piece off of a stone, you can not put it back. Unlike clay or metal, which can be reshaped, a stone tool is not moldable or bendable or malleable. You break it to change its shape.

To break stone you must obey the laws of physics. I think that observant flint knappers were the ones who first codified knowledge of the physical laws which provide order and predictability to the world around us. Much was discovered by trial and error, and then passed on to students from the masters of stone craft.

... coming next ... Step One in the Process of Making Your Own Stone Arrowhead

You are invited to visit my web site for more background information and photographs related to the making of arrowheads: http://www.arrowhead-makeyourown.com/

For fully photo-illustrated process information related to the making of an obsidian Gunther style arrowhead, plus photographs of a number of ancient and authentic Gunther type arrowheads, you are invited to visit my other web site: http://www.arrowhead-maker.com/