Main Discussion Area > Flintknapping

why copper?

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JackCrafty:
Here's an interesting video showing a flintknapper making stone masonry flints and gun flints. He uses all steel tools.  Just wanted to mention this because knapping takes many forms.  It's good to get as many perspectives as possible.  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpqOZvel4tk

Sasquatch:
That video is great. I really like the part when he was working that piece like a core.  He was driving long flakes without any prep.  I wonder if that hammer was steel or could it have been copper? It looks like steel.

JackCrafty:
The hammer was either steel or iron.

Chad:
Great stuff thanks guys! The vid was great!

Dalton Knapper:
One of the most enduring copper tools you can make is to buy an old blacksmith's "soldering iron." This is usually a wood handle with a 8" or longer rod that connects to a rectangular copper tip of some 4" or so. Basically you cut off the whole handle except for 3" or so of the iron rod and cut off the tip of the copper soldering end and round it off. That makes a solid bopper that will last almost forever. You have to go to "junktique" stores to find them.

That said, the normal copper bopper has a different weight and feel to it and delivers a softer and if you do it right....slower swing allowing for better control of flaking. Some knappers like a solid bopper for the brutal work of making a preform and a lead filled bopper for the finer work. The solid one does the hard work that will wear out your lead filled one. Basically for me, I like the lead filled boppers because of their dampening effect and control. I don't care if I wear some out because a couple of buck copper cap is not a financial concern. If you skip a trip to a fast food restaurant, you just saved enough to make a couple of boppers.

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