How to Make Arrowheads With Cooper Tools
One of the most primal tasks that anyone interested in primitive weaponry can undertake is to make arrowheads with copper tools. The basics of flintknapping consist of hammer strokes, polishing and pressure flaking. You can use a copper hammer to roughly shape the arrowhead before the polishing and pressure flaking processes. Polishing provides a smooth surface on which to begin the pressure flaking, which is the final step in arrowhead construction.
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Instructions
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Select a piece of flint about the size of a half dollar, as this will provide a finished arrowhead around one inch long. Break off small parts of the flint with the hammer to develop the overall shape of the arrowhead. Create a convex shape to the face of the arrowhead blade.
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Lay the knapped arrowhead on the sandstone boulder, and cover it with a handful of flint chips. Add water to the flint chips, and rub the arrowhead on the sandstone boulder until all of the surfaces are smooth and milky looking. This can take up to three or more hours.
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Press heavily into the edge of the piece of flint to make small sections "flake" away with the copper flaking tool. Work along one side until you reach the tip, and then turn the arrowhead over. Continue pressure flaking until both sides of the arrowhead are beveled and serrated. The serrations are what give the flint its cutting power.
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Tips & Warnings
Pressure flaking requires a large amount of force, and it is advisable to wear a protective apron and gloves when performing this part of the arrowhead making process.
