While at the Flint Ridge knapin, we decided to try an experiment, that as far as we know hasn't been done before. After seeing Ed Mosher, make an 8.5/1 W/T ratio from one of Bill's copper billeted glass preforms on his first try with a moose billet. Bill decided with Ed's agreement, to make a preform more to Ed's liking while using a copper billet. Ed instructed Bill as he went, on what kind of platforms he preferred for his moose billet. Once Ed was happy with the preform, he finished the blade with his moose. He ended up getting a blade with an average W/T ratio of 10.3/1! Not bad for only the second blade Ed had made from this glass.
Bill said the biggest difference he noticed in the platforms that Ed preferred for the moose compared to what Bill would do normally set for copper was the platforms were much thinner. Both Ed and Bill seemed very intrigued with the experiment, getting into some deep discussions on platforms. Bill has never used much antler and was very impressed with what Ed could do with it and Bill certainly learned a lot.
Below are some pictures, first Ed watching and instructing Bill on preferred platforms, then Bill
watching Ed's moose antler work at Tom Chissum's booth.
Below is the finished blade, like I said, W/T of 10.3/1 on second try, nice work Ed! Not to mention that Bill felt if he had gotten a few better platforms set for Ed, he could have done better.
