MISSING RIDGE
Gone But Not Forgotten
I was wondering if any experienced knappers had thoughts about the fracture force paths when knapping ;sharp- vertex- angled ridges versus smooth- vertex -angles -radiused ridges -which one seems to work best for you? I believe that any sudden changes in the ridge vertex angle-such as a step or hump will cause a problem area to be developed such as a hinge or shelf termination-smoothing such areas in the longitudinal ridge direction should craeate a path that will cause the force path to continue-what do you think? I am basing these thoughts on two things-first that sharp edges are stress risers and secondly on some smoothing experiments that I have performed on rough rocks when reducing thickness by percussion.Do you go to the trouble of smoothing any sharp ridges or removing humps etc.by abrading?