This section of KA is dedicated to helping extend the effectiveness and lifespan of your toolkit. Thanks to K. Peter Polley for getting the ball rolling by sending in his tool maintenance tips!

I live in Arizona where the climate is quite arid, even indoors. That has forced me to come up with a standardized procedure to assure that my tools will last! Here are some suggestions below:

• Soak your hammerstones in water when not in use. It may seem silly, but they seem to survive longer, especially those made of sandstone and rhyolite.
• Apply liberal amounts of Corn Husker's Hand Lotion to the end of your antler billets after every use. I picked up this hint from a Navajo gentleman who had been knapping for many years. His claim is that it kept the billets from becoming brittle, and it really does.
• To strengthen your antler pressure tools (sorry, I just can't get the hang of copper,) soak the tips in a solution of two parts acetone and one part cyanoacrylate glue. allow the acetone to evaporate off, and the glue will penetrate the antler. This has allowed my tools to last for over five years!

These are just a few of what I am sure are many tips (ANOTHER pun!) that knappers have to keep their favorite tools in service.

K. Peter Polley
Benson, Arizona
[email protected]