Got some stained glass scraps, i need some pointers.

[all_atv]

I got a box of assorted stained glass scraps, with all different colors. Its all thin stuff but I think it'll work if I can figure it out. Can I get some tips on knapping glass? Ive tried a little on flint flakes and stuff but only a few rough small arrowheads. Does the glass need to be heat treated? What types of tools work for glass? Would it be better to cut it to the right shape first? Just thinking of small birdpoints to start with. Heres a sample of some of the colors and some have textures.

 

[TripleCreek]

Atv,

Teaching knapping over the internet ? This alt to be good.

No you do not need to heat treat glass, the purpose of "heat treating" rock is to make it more "glass like". Your glass looks to be a little thin to Knapp well. In order to Knapp rock or glass, you need to develop a lenticular shape to the stone. Flakes do not travel well on a flat surface. Also, you are going to be dealing with a "square edge" around the entire perimeter of your glass. In order to develop an edge that will support "platforms" to effectively push flakes off, you need to get rid of that square edge. The best way is called bifaceing, take a short flake off one edge, on the corner of your glass piece, then flip it over, and used the flaked surface to push a flake off the other side, back and forth, until you have gotton rid of the square edge around the entire perimeter of your piece. Now you have a "slightly" lenticular shape, and you can grind this edge to make a stronger platform to push your next set of flakes "a little deeper" this time around. Now start to grind, and scrape your arrowhead shape a little, and move your platform "up" above the center line, to one side or the other, and pattern flake you arrow head from top to bottom on one side of the glass at a time. Do all four faces. Finish your shape, and run a final set of sharpping flakes down both edges, and your done. Simple right? Try this and post some pictures.

If you live near a river, try looking on the sand bars, to find the frosted bottle bottoms, that collect there. Those bottle bottoms will make better arrowheads, and the "frosting" on the glass really makes the flakes travel well. Also, most of the bottoms are lenticular shaped to start.

Good luck,
3creeks

 

[vibes]

wheel tile nippers.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Triple Creek gave good advice! Ill just add that if the glass is 1/4" thick or less, I would use pressure flakeing only..
BTW, obsidian & glass will cutt ya & you wont even know it until your leather is soaked with blood! Keep the flakes cleared &/or wear gloves.

 

[PrimitiveOne]

ATV,
I have been down the same road and tried stained glass. It just is to thin for beginners. I did find however that beer bottle bottoms work great! To remove the bottom just drop a six inch nail (or bigger) point down into the bottle. Next cover the hole with you thumb and moderately shake the bottle up and down. The bottom will amazingly pop off. It takes a coup[le of tries but you will figur it out. Also working with glass can be hazardous breathing in the dust which is vertually invisible, so make sure you are well ventilated. Here is a great link on doing this project.

www.cavemanchemistry.com/oldcave/projects/stone/index.html

Here is one of my heads from a landshark beer bottle.