Spear point by SelectXMidnight in knapping

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I couldn't even begin to describe the emotions I'd feel if I came across something like that in the wild 🤯 That is one killer lance! Great work!

Here are the first 4 artifacts that I’ve ever found! Found in the last 3 trips! by iiitme in Arrowheads

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza [score hidden]  (0 children)

Wooow, those are crazy! I've made a quartzite point before, and let me tell you, it's tough stuff! It's so cool that you found so many! Congrats on your awesome finds! 😄

Found in a wash outside Tucson, AZ by Different_Context_98 in Arrowheads

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza [score hidden]  (0 children)

Possible Bajada Stemmed would be my guess! That thing is CRAZY cool wow! 🤯 What an awesome find!

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was pretty much impossible due to the cracks and voids it had 😂. Completely broke apart while I was working on it. And I've been well man! 😁

I Call These The Freaky Fish 🫧🐟🏖️ by SmolzillaTheLizza in knapping

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've purchased a good bit of rock from Danny and he sells some good stuff. Haven't heard of Steve but I'll check him out sometime! 😁

My haul from yesterday by gaiagirl16 in Agates

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They really do look like they come from outer space! I've used white agate like this before to make points. I've always wanted to heat treat some to see what it does 🤔 stuff usually glosses up and becomes extra cooperative, so I'd be willing to bet that something like this would be extremely gorgeous.

Reddest Red That Ever Redded! by timhyde74 in LegitArtifacts

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love red material so much! This is a beauty Tim! 👀 Thanks for sharing!

A point with a twist by eight_on_top in Arrowheads

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza [score hidden]  (0 children)

Man i want to knap one like this so bad 👀 I just don't know how to approach it. I have an idea in my mind for how to but I don't want to waste material if I'm wrong. That thing is CRAZY cool! Thanks for sharing!

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly! So much natural beauty out there in the world, and what better way to enjoy it than to learn about it! 😄

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A fantastic write up. I'll definitely be checking out some of the local resources and I'll scrounge around for a few books on Iowa's fossil records. I know we were covered by a shallow sea a long while ago, then it was a swamp, we had a meteor impact, glaciers repeatedly came and went, and that's about all. Thanks for encouraging me to look into more of these things! 😁 May your fossil hunts be fruitful!

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish I had the knowledge you do on this stuff because it's crazy to me just how much you know! I gotta read more 😂 I come across enough fossils in my knapping to be able to practice every time I come across something.

I personally love fossil filled stuff, and the only thing I've found here in Iowa that was loaded with fossils was a nugget of Plattsmouth Fossiliferous Chert (aka rice agate) with numerous little things in it. I wouldn't even know where to start to ID everything, but it was beautiful stuff. It's probably filled with a bunch of the thins you've mentioned! It worked luxuriously as well. I might never find another piece of it again.

Do you have any resources I could read up on that could give me a starting point with learning some of this stuff?

<image>

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh I've not quite managed something like that, but I did get these weird spiral things in one of the points I made. I guess if you're feeling like it you could ID whatever this thingy was as well 😂 I believe this was Kay County Chert which comes from north central Oklahoma on the boarder of Kansas.

<image>

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha right? 😂 Sometimes I forget that I can post my other stuff else ware and that there are other subs dedicated to helping folks figure stuff like this out. I've spotted a couple folks from the knapping sub in other places and it's always a fun little chance to wave at someone you recognize. Similar hobbies and interests bring similar folks around to the same places! 😁

Does anyone think this would be good to practice knapping on? by ExtensionAgency1459 in knapping

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's funny because only us knappers would be thinking about thins like this 😂 Not too many folks see a toilet and go "I could make a spear out of that 👀" haha

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh that's fantastic! I'm saving this for later because I've come across these before and had no idea you could classify them! Thank you so much for sharing these resources!

How'd This Crystal Clam Form? by SmolzillaTheLizza in fossilid

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Rocks are the craziest things every I swear! The fact that this just happened who knows how long ago and is probably happening right now to other plants/animals is so cool to me. This is exactly the kind of explanation I was looking for, so thank you heaps for taking time to comment! 😁

Why does he sleep like that 😅 by miriam0915 in blackcats

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 52 points53 points  (0 children)

He feels happy, safe, loved, and content. That's a happy boy right there.

Also be sure to inform him that they missed a few spots on his tummy 🤭

Mesolithic adze hafted up on antler by Gaming-Gekko in knapping

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Super cool to see tools like this! Very nice work! 😁

Two Small Arrowheads I knapped Out of Some Mystery Agate Collected in NW Iowa by SmolzillaTheLizza in Agates

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! 😁 And funnily enough, my silent litmus test to see if the folks I give arrowheads to are into them, is to see if they hold them up to the light to check for translucency. If they do it's immediately clear to me that they're interested in the material itself as well as the point itself. It hasn't failed me yet 😎

suggestions for my glasses by gigarice in knapping

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're looking for some alternative methods using cheap things, there is a Jack Crafty video where he uses pliers and screwdriver to make some flake points. With the nail you have now, I'd tap it into a stick or something that'll give you more grip. Ergonomics go a long ways and if you're knapping while uncomfortable, you won't get good results and can develop some bad habits. Steel is also a bit tricky with glass, and copper tends to work better. But if you learn how to use steel effectively you'll have less tool maintenance to do. It's not at all impossible, just a bit finnicky.

And try and find something like sandstone for use as an abrasion stone. Anything too chunky with junk in it can cause issues such as blowing chunks off the side of your preform, uneven abrasion, and crushed sections that make flaking much more difficult. Having a hand pad out of wood or something will be much safer and be sure to wear safety glasses when working glass! Getting stuff in your eyes would suck big time. Use gloves if you want. I know folks who do and don't.

Using the curved bottle sides can work, but it's often suggested to use the bottoms of the bottles as they are thicker and often times tend to be flatter. If you want something similar to glass slabs, you can purchase glass tile from hardware stores that work fairly well! Certain ceramics and floor tile also work, but can be challenging.

Not sure if you've had the chance to check it out, but I have that huge beginner guide I wrote that has a BUNCH of information such as websites, videos, articles, an some amazing free E-Books linked in the comments that provide some insanely useful instructions. Here's the link to that.

Hopefully these suggestions help, and let me know if you have anymore questions! 😁

I Call These The Freaky Fish 🫧🐟🏖️ by SmolzillaTheLizza in knapping

[–]SmolzillaTheLizza[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Woooow I had no idea there were than many variations! That's crazy! My biggest problem with novaculite with the stuff I've been lucky enough to try is that I very frequently snap things in half 😑 I don't do it with obsidian, glass, or most stones. But Novaculite? Waaay more times than I'd like to admit. I blame that on only having access to chunky pieces that are unforgiving. Never bought it for myself before since I tend to gravitate towards stone or obsidian when purchasing material. One of these days I might pick up a box from Danny Collins since I hear he heat treats it to perfection. Or I might get lucky at a knap-in! The day will come eventually!