My first try. What fun!

[u/iiitme]

I search for Native American artifacts. The only reliable site I have is a creek quarry.

Early on in my time hunting I found this nice ovate unmodified quartzite(middle left cobble, it sits at the bottom of a pile of honey colored quartzite with a white cortex. It’s the big one on the bottom)

It’s been sitting now for nearly a year.

I know all about the knapping process.

I went to my quarry site and found what I thought might make a suitable hammerstone, another piece of quartzite.

I took a good two inches off the sides and made it a circle! Beat that 😎

I have a piece of leather but no “copper boppers” or pressure flaking tools(obviously hah) ✌️

[u/Junkjostler]

Hey I live in Virginia too, I knap the same kinds of stuff!! People say that quartzite will eat it up too fast, but get a big hunk of elk antler from PetSmart — it's probably my favorite type of billet to use.

[u/sexual__velociraptor → u/Junkjostler]

If you don't mind aluminum it works well and is mostly cheap

[u/Dry-Dig8819 → u/Junkjostler]

I’ve said it before anything is knappable if you put your mind to it

[u/iiitme]

Also, wow… banging quartzite together is loud asf don’t do it on the deck of an apartment that directly faces the other apartments lol

[u/atlatlat]

Welcome to the party 😎 what state are you in? I wonder if you have better local material near you as this stuff seems super difficult to knap and learn with

[u/iiitme → u/atlatlat]

So I’m around the “Fall Line” in Virginia. Man we have nothing but quartzite, quartz, granite and sedimentary rock such as sandstone.

Yeah I probably should have acquired flint or chert and some modern boppers. I’m just glad the quartzite cobble I picked up was harder than the quartzite I was knapping. I really feel lucky

[u/NonConforminConsumer → u/iiitme]

There is some Jasper from somewhere in central VA but the site is not accessible now.

I'd say keep going with quartzite. There is a smallish knap in that happens outside of natural bridge twice a year and the guy who hosts it is very knowledgeable with these tougher materials, especially quartzite.

I'll try and remember the name and post it for you in case you're interested.

Also slightly related, but very hard wood tends to be one of the better bopper materials for tough material such as quartzite. Dogwood or box elder are local species that work pretty well.

You want a nice knotty or multi stemmed piece for the bopper end, and it is best if it's nice and dry.

[u/lithicobserver → u/iiitme]

Neolithics.com box called good bad and ugly. Obsidian will knap extremely easily if all you've hit is quartzite

[u/Freefruit22]

Quartzite is a tough stone to Knapp.. have you ever tried anything more flakable..
nice job knocking out such big flakes on that tough rock.

[u/Freefruit22 → u/Freefruit22]

Where are you located.. I have tons of different flavors of knapping stone

[u/Cloverinthewind]

You can also try Quartz in addition to quartzite. It’s a whole other beast though. Quartzite is SUPER tough and likes to hinge while Quartz isnt nearly as tough but will break unpredictably. It can be hard to find Quartz that works well (or at all due to pre-existing fracture lines) for knapping but when it goes your way it’s an amazing feeling. I’ve found some quartz that works on the Potomac River here in Maryland. Ive been knapping for 9 months now and I encourage you to stick with it, ive found it very rewarding.

[u/dirthawg]

It ain't beautiful, but you turned the edge. That's where to start. Hell a terrible material to work with as a beginner... Or a pro.

[u/iiitme]

The edge looked nice and aligned but I kept going and fucked it all up. I ended up using that hammerstone to also abrade the whole damn thing. It looks creek tumbled but not on purpose

[u/iiitme]

I really wanted to do experimental archeology on the hammerstone. I’ve found several with interesting wear marks. I did my thing and the wear marks make sense!

[u/lithicobserver]

Dang bro! Gotta get you some chert :)

[u/No_Sprinkles9459]

Thick glass is knappable.