Tools For Pressure-Flaking
From the book Flintknapping: The Art of Making Stone Tools
by Paul Hellweg
Softcover, 111pp. $5.95
This book is available from OCB Trading Post (626) 914-0306
Pressure flaking is the process of giving an artifact its finished shape by pressing away unwanted material. A pressure tool is used to do this; it is placed on the artifact's edge and is the instrument through which force is applied. Proper use of the pressure tool allows the worker to regulate both the location and the direction of applied force. Since both of these factors are variables in percussion flaking, the pressure method offers the worker much greater overall control. It is through pressure flaking that the skilled flintknapper is able to make finished artifacts that are well-proportioned and regular in form.
Pressure Flaking Tools
The flaking tools used by the knapper are almost as important as the choice of lithic materials. A confusingly wide variety of items will function as pressure flaking tools. The following is only a partial list of tools that have been successfully utilized by Don Crabtree: antler (deer, elk, moose, caribou), bone (limb, rib, splint), teeth (beaver, marmot, and other rodents), ivory (elephant, mammoth, whale), sea shell, coconut shell, hard woods, jade, pebbles, and metal (soft iron, soft bronze, copper). Of all these, the two most suitable for the beginner are antler and copper.
American Indians commonly used pressure tools made from the tips of deer antlers (tines). Tines are strong enough to do pressure work, yet their softness allows them to grip the stone's edge. This is an important property of all pressure flakers - especially since proper technique involves downward as well as inward pressure. Harder pressure flakers have a tendency to slip; the result is inferior workmanship plus increased danger of cuts to the worman's hands. Antlers are thus still among the best of tools. If you have trouble locating them, try either a swap-meet, taxidermy shop, or Indian curio store.
Many ot today's best flintknappers prefer pressure flakers made from copper wire. Copper has the same hardness/softness characteristics as antlers, but it has the advantage of greater convenience. The copper wire is set in a wood handle which makes a better hand grip; also, the copper does not wear down as quickly as antler tines. If you're a purist, then please note: there is evidence that copper was used in prehistoric times by both the Hopewellians and the Mesoamericans.
The best copper pressure flakers are made from heavy-gauge wire. Either 2 or 4 gauge hard-drawn wire will work. Wire of this size will be approximately as thick as a 20d nail, and almost as stiff. One inch doweling makes an excellent handle for the wire. Drill a hole endwise slightly smaller than the wire, then hammer about four inches of wire into position - leaving about two inches of copper exposed. Finally, file the wire to a pencil point and the pressure flaker is ready to use.
The copper tip will dull during use, and it will have to be continuously resharpened. This will gradually shorten the exposed wire, and eventually it will be too short for effective use. When this happens, you can revitalize the pressure flaker by simply cutting away a piece of dowel to expose a new length of wire.
Copper wire of the correct size and hardness will likely be hard to find. You will probably not be able to get it from ordinary hardware or building supply stores. It can be special ordered from electrical supply companies, but only in large quantities. Your best bet would be to check with an electrical contractor or a scrap yard that deals in used metals.
If neither copper wire or antler tines can be found, then an ordinary nail can be used. A nail can be made soft enough to use as a pressure flaker through a process known as annealing. Select a 20d or slightly larger nail, heat it until it glows red, then allow it to cool gradually (no dunking in water).
An annealed nail can be mounted in a wooden handle just as copper wire. Drill out the doweling as described above, and drive the nail in position. To finish the tool, simply file the exposed head to a workable point. Nails should be used as a last resort, however, since they are hard (even when annealed) and have a tendency to slip. Slipping can be avoided somewhat by keeping the working point roughened.
If you become seriously interested in making arrowheads (or other pressure flaked artifacts), you are likely to accumulate a whole set of pressure making tools. The tool kit of an experienced knapper is likely to include flakers of antler, copper, and perhaps steel - with several sizes of each. A variety of tools gives the worker flexibility. The larger flakers are for general work, and the smaller ones for delicate tasks (such as notching tiny arrowheads). But only one is all you need to get started.
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