oil flints

[Billnpatti]

Yeah, I feel your pain. Why, just this morning I got up and had to put on my pants. Then I had to eat breakfast. After breakfast, I had to sit in my chair and cogitate while drinking a second cup of coffee. After some serious cogitating, I struggled out of my easy chair and planted a flower. Busy, busy, busy. Whew! This retirement is tough. It's going to take me a while to recover. :rotf:

 

[George]

I've been retired for 22 years, Bill, and I'm sorry to have to tell you, it doesn't get any less hectic and busy. Man up! :wink:

Spence

 

[BrownBear]

...retired for 22 years....

I'm right behind you at 20 years, and you're right. If anything it keeps getting busier and busier.

Wife's traveling right now, and you'd think that was mouse play time. But noooooo.........

There's this thing called a honey-do list. :slap:

 

[ohio ramrod]

My dad had a Studabaker champion, and my brother and I played "space ship" in it for hours every Sunday while dad visited grandpa. We flew it to mars and beyond! :idunno:

 

[Patocazador]

You're lucky. My folks had a Studebaker Lark ... it didn't look like a space ship; it looked like a split-level red coffin.

One day they ran over my beagle with it. It broke the beagle's leg and I swore a vendetta against it. It lasted one more year and then everything fell apart within a few months and I cheered.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Focus gentlemen.....I sure don't want to be the leading authority or the last word on oil flints....Think about that.... :haha:

 

[BrownBear]

A new leaf is turned? :rotf:

 

[M. De Land]

That was my thought (WAG = wild ass guess)as well.
We know they were shipped in casks and heavy oil would probably cushion the ones in the bottom from impact and fracture in shipping.
I know some knappers keep their pre-forms, spauls and flakes in water an claim it makes them more predictable in how they work. I don't know that oil has any such effect on chert or flint.

 

[tenngun]

Most of the chert around here is white/ light gray to yellow brown. Much of the points are dark brown to red. Rifleman pointed out to me 30 years ago that burning the chert colored it and made it work easier. Did oiling do that? Or burning in oil?or cooling in oil post burning?

Burning also makes the flint feel oily or greasy to the touch.

 

[M. De Land]

I knap a bit of chert periodically that has been heat treated and have no doubt that makes it work easier than non heat treated but I have not proven to myself that water soaking does.
It takes 6-8 hours in a kiln to heat treat it properly I've been told and I've tried both natural and heat treated. The later works easier for me.

 

[pargent]

:hmm: I do know that if you get oil on flints they do not spark very well :hmm: :idunno:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

We know they were shipped in casks and heavy oil would probably cushion the ones in the bottom from impact and fracture in shipping.

I'm betting they didn't pack them in liquid oil, as you pay for weight, and that would be very heavy. Either they simply coated them by rubbing them with an oil cloth, OR...,

..., I've noticed that knapped flits of English have a very shiny appearance, compared to the outer area of the spall they come from, so perhaps it's simply they look "oily"?

LD

 

[Black Hand]

Some flint I've worked with has an "oily" sheen & appearance.

 

[Artificer]

Spence,

Is it possible they used the term "oiled" to describe the colour? I may have missed it, but there seems no mention of French or Dutch "Amber" flints in your documentation?

Gus

 

[Rifleman1776]

Focus gentlemen.....I sure don't want to be the leading authority or the last word on oil flints....Think about that.... :haha:

I once belonged to an ml forum where the owner believed himself to be the final and absolute authority on flints. He believed and encouraged the storage of flints in kerosene. I thought this was a silly concept and did some research which included asking geologists at several universities and our Arkansas State geology department. All said this was pure nonsense. One said if a flint was stored in water it might penetrate the flint about .005" in 500 years. I posted this info on the forum and it made the owner so angry :cursing: he threw me off. Oh, well.
On topic, I don't know what the term "oil flint" means either. This avocation is kinda fascinating, isn't it?

 

[coloradoclyde]

Spence,

Is it possible they used the term "oiled" to describe the colour? I may have missed it, but there seems no mention of French or Dutch "Amber" flints in your documentation?

Gus

From what I've been able to find "oil" flints or "oil" chert come in several colors and even multicolor. However they all share a glossy appearance.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I posted this info on the forum and it made the owner so angry he threw me off.

I probably would have promoted you.... :haha:

 

[Artificer]

Spence,

Is it possible they used the term "oiled" to describe the colour? I may have missed it, but there seems no mention of French or Dutch "Amber" flints in your documentation?

Gus

From what I've been able to find "oil" flints or "oil" chert come in several colors and even multicolor. However they all share a glossy appearance.

Interesting. Thank you.

Gus