There are plenty of sources of information that a beginning flintknapper can acquire through books, videos, University Archaeology Departments, Internet homepages and flintknapping forums, like the Tarp.  Therefore, it is not my intention to go into depth here of what exactly a newbie should do to make that perfect point.  My only goal is to provide a few recommendations that I could have used when I started.  Again, if there is anything that I missed or that you do not understand, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Where to Start

In order to save a lot of time and money, the best thing to do would be to purchase the right materials so that you have a starting point.  This would include:

Tools – It may be difficult to visualize what is needed, but overtime you will come to associate a tool that is perfect for your size, grip, etc.  In fact, the tools I make now are no where close to looking like the one that I first purchased – I adapted it to what works for me.  If you do decide to purchase one, make absolutely certain that you get them through a skilled knapper.  Others try to sell tools that plain and simply do not work and fall apart.

Books - The most recommended flintknapping book for someone just starting out is “The Art of Flint Knapping by D. C. Waldorf”.  It is very technical, but from a layman’s understanding.  It has many good graphics and instructions. But I am not here to plug DC, however, a reference source is very important whether it be from his book, my page or elsewhere. 

Videos - Despite DC’s book, and reading it 5 times, I just didn’t get it!  This was extremely frustrating and I was too broke to buy a video.  Mistake number one.  If you can’t make it to knapins and have never seen it done, then a video is the next best thing, and a MUST!  The money that I would have saved in wasted stone alone would have paid for a hundred videos.  There are plenty of good ones (and bad ones) out there, so ask around before you jump on Ebay and buy the first one that pops up.

Knapping Material - The first thing that a beginner will do is buy as much stone as they can, and the most colourful, expensive stuff at that!  Fight the urge to make a pretty rubble pile.  This is the best way to work (assuming you have to purchase stone) find glass (beer bottle bottoms, aquariums, etc.) and toilet bowl tanks.  Work those for a month or so until you get better and build confidence.  Then substitute the glass for obsidian and see how you do.  The important thing here is to work upwards and not backwards. Note that in the stones section there are some examples of the types of stone that I have worked.

 Now that you got everything that you need, lets move on to some general recommendations.

General Recommendations

• Find a comfy chair

• Work in a well-ventilated, warm and quiet area

• Where gloves (at-least on your left hand – assuming that you are right handed) or keep some band-aids near

• When something works, or doesn’t work, try and figure out why

• Hold the stone, and really get a feel for it. Learn how to put pressure on certain areas and not others

• Most importantly, abrade, abrade and abrade (AAA).  This is the least used and most important step for beginners

• Another equally important point is proper platform preparation (PPP).  Have patience and follow this and you will improve so much quicker

• Save your broken and first points so you have a timeline to reference future work to.  It is a big confidence builder

• Generally it will take 6 months before one is able to make a point that they are very happy about.  However, there will be plenty of decent bird points and some larger ones in between

• Finally, TAKE YOUR TIME

Pressure Flaking Recommendations

• Keep at-least one of your pressure flakers sharp like the tip of your pen.  Use this for final or near to, flaking.  A small tip isolates the flake better

• Hold the slab vertically in your left hand, with the wrist against your left knee.  With the flaker in your right hand, put your right forearm on your right leg and push the legs together.  The pressure comes from the legs and not necessarily from the arms

• You will eventually be able to figure out how much power is required for flake length, so be patient.  Long flakes do NOT come overnight

• Learn how to control the pressure placed on the slab in the left (holding) hand.  This is the area that will break most of your points and is an important area to get a feel for a.s.a.p.

 Percussion Flaking Recommendations

• Do not hit the stone like a hammer.  It is more of an up and down stroke.  Also try hitting the nipple and pulling away at the same time

• Figure out where the hit will send a flake and try to compensate areas that may snap – get a good feel for holding it

• Learn how tilting the stone up will drive flakes deep, but will also cause hinges

• Isolate the platforms before the centre line so that you have a good striking pattern

• Line the stone up so that you follow previous ridges

Again the most important thing to take off of this site or any knapping book that you will read (other than AAA and PPP) is take your time and have fun.  It is very frustrating at times but turn those aggravations into learning tools.  After all "repetition is the mother of skill" and before long, you will be showing off dozens of successful points.

Additional Resources

Tarp

The Flintknapper.com

Percussion

Pressure

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This Page Was Last Updated January 07, 2005