I use quartz here too. The Mohawk valley here in NY is home of someone the worlds finest gem quality quartz. Known as herkimer diamonds.... I have buckets of less than gem quality that I use with a steel striker.... knife.... axe etc always throws an awesome spark
The nail is a great idea. I bought an awl some guy made with a nail and a broomstick piece for $2 at a re-enactment. It’s one of the most useful tools I own. Put a wine cork over the nail when not in use. Because nail points are clipped and angular, it works great like a drill. Thanks for the educational video. I’m going to make one and try it.
I bought a box of rocks. Or I thought that's what I was getting, but I got the whole rock. A 3 lb rock. Now I have to find a hammer stone and learn about spalling flint. Too funny, but as usual educational. These videos are informative. Dan Wowak, you rock. : )
My town sources their gravel from a quarry that evidently has a lot of chert in it. There's pieces of good, hard, spark-throwing rock on every trail and town parking lot within a 5-mile radius of me. 😁
A large nail is reasonable for pressure flaking but it doesn't have the gripping ability that a copper ended pressure flaker has. It still works fine though. I have both a wooden pressure flaker I made myself with a maybe 3mm + thick copper rod in the end of it, and a 5 inch nail which is no longer pointed but instead is rounded in my flint knapping bag. A nail or a copper rod can both be easily cold worked with a hammer into a finer end if you want to take off smaller flakes, though a copper point is going to be worn away a lot faster than a mild steel nail point. For my 5 inch nail flaker I simply cut an appropriately sized piece of bamboo and slipped it onto the nail so the pointed end was sticking out of the end an inch or so. It seems to work fine.
One thing of note, if you're gonna pressure flake it's a bad idea to do it in a place that isn't well ventilated. This is more dangerous with flintknapping but it can be a problem if you try to sharpen a lot at once. Always pressure flake in a place with a lot of circulating air, otherwise you might get rock dust in your lungs.
Hey Dan, you teach easy to understand good skills and information of what is reasonably inexpensive for equipment that works for different tasks just as I like to do. Great video brother and keep up all your good work and effort!
That was awesome ! I've been trying to figure out how to sharpen my flints , and this popped up in my stream today. You are a good instructor. I actually learned, and it worked great. Thanks very much!
I have also flaked off a bit of flint with the my striker. In the beginning I would miss the edge of my flint and strike the flint with my steel causing a bit to flake off. Its a good quick way to knock off an edge to make the flint sharp again.
Thanks Dan. Appreciate the quick and comprehensive response. Got to admit I never thought of purchasing flint. I was more focused on trying to make what I find locally work. Enjoy your holidays.
Very good. Thank you very much. Dan, Someone on Utube stated that granite will also produce sparks. I am a very experienced Soldier and backpacker, but new to bushcrafting. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it and even a "beginner" like me got sparks. The granite doesn't seem to work as well as the flint, but it does work.
Great tips Dan! I hv not used flint n steel much... but I do hv a set, came in a lil burlap bag (tinder, if needed!). I really need to work on that skill!
Dan... Thanks for the video. Mucho helpful and informative. You have a nice way of taking some of the mystery out of it and make it understandable. Best wishes..... Ax
I stumbled across how quartz throws a spark, pulling quartz boulders out of my creek for some building projects, and as they tumbled out of the wheelbarrow and off the stone sled, I could see at/after dark they throw sparks when they collide. I always wondered if those sparks were viable for bringing about fire. THANKS!!
I saw your comment about selling strikers at your store, but I couldn't find it on your site ? Thanks for the video, I was looking for the same answers.
I dont have flint in my area, but quartz is everywhere. Usually i can take a quartz rock and smash it to get a several pieces with sharp edges. Only problem is it doesn’t hold that edge very well and crumbles dull usually after only a few strikes. But, its everywhere here in nh. I have several pieces in my quartz 😜 n steel tin.
This guy makes grizzly adams look like sjw who spends his days in his moms basement trolling on twitter, broh... you are Amazing keep up the good work ! Macgyver has nothing on you.
Yeah can my striker edge be too sharp? When I ground the little fins off the sides of the file, the squared up edges are really sharp should I get rid of that?
MY FLINT HAS A SHARP EDGE BUTMORE LIKE A HACKSAW BLADE.. I FILED IT DOWN SMOTH AND STILL NO SPARK. 27 YEARS OLD PPURCHASED ON LINE AND COULD NEVEER GET IT TO NIGHT CHAR CLOTH. DOES FLINT GO BAD AFTER SO MANY YEARS? BOB
flint is not cheap from experience. I have to buy it as it is not abundant in Australia, nor is chert or quartzite in my area. Smashing it up also only works somewhat as it really diminishes its size quickly. I think a bopper is the best solution overall, and learn how to knap the edges back to sharp.
Dan, I live in Mississippi, where I live we don't have sparking rocks. can you recommend a seller where I can but "a box of flint" as you suggest? Thanks!
Any rock harder than 5-5.5 chert, flint, jasper, quartz etc. Check any gravel pits, construction, railroad tracks, road bedding. Alot of gravel is brought in for building and concrete. Test everything!
I'm 90 minutes east of you, in the Slate Belt. I haven't found anything that'll spark so I ordered a flint n steel set. Should I continue looking around for anything? Anytime in the woods is great, but searching gets frustrating because I can't find or make any sparks on what I try.
I use quartz here too. The Mohawk valley here in NY is home of someone the worlds finest gem quality quartz. Known as herkimer diamonds.... I have buckets of less than gem quality that I use with a steel striker.... knife.... axe etc always throws an awesome spark
You can also use a diamond sharpening stone, it will sharpen a flint, I used this method when I shot Flintlock rifles
Your easy style of teaching shows me that you really care about having us learn.
The nail is a great idea. I bought an awl some guy made with a nail and a broomstick piece for $2 at a re-enactment. It’s one of the most useful tools I own. Put a wine cork over the nail when not in use. Because nail points are clipped and angular, it works great like a drill. Thanks for the educational video. I’m going to make one and try it.
Thanks Dan , I have learned more from you than any other bushcrafter on U tube. Take care and happy holidays !
I really appreciate comments like this! That’s why I’m putting out the info!! Thanks again!!
I bought a box of rocks. Or I thought that's what I was getting, but I got the whole rock. A 3 lb rock. Now I have to find
a hammer stone and learn about spalling flint. Too funny, but as usual educational. These videos are informative.
Dan Wowak, you rock. : )
Great info! Ty for sharing how to put an edge on flint. I just got my first set and am going to practice
My town sources their gravel from a quarry that evidently has a lot of chert in it. There's pieces of good, hard, spark-throwing rock on every trail and town parking lot within a 5-mile radius of me. 😁
A large nail is reasonable for pressure flaking but it doesn't have the gripping ability that a copper ended pressure flaker has. It still works fine though. I have both a wooden pressure flaker I made myself with a maybe 3mm + thick copper rod in the end of it, and a 5 inch nail which is no longer pointed but instead is rounded in my flint knapping bag. A nail or a copper rod can both be easily cold worked with a hammer into a finer end if you want to take off smaller flakes, though a copper point is going to be worn away a lot faster than a mild steel nail point.
For my 5 inch nail flaker I simply cut an appropriately sized piece of bamboo and slipped it onto the nail so the pointed end was sticking out of the end an inch or so. It seems to work fine.
One thing of note, if you're gonna pressure flake it's a bad idea to do it in a place that isn't well ventilated. This is more dangerous with flintknapping but it can be a problem if you try to sharpen a lot at once. Always pressure flake in a place with a lot of circulating air, otherwise you might get rock dust in your lungs.
another reason to carry a few nails in your kit..good video..safe journeys
Can't you use a big nail as the "steel" as well? Then it would be dual purpose
Hey Dan, you teach easy to understand good skills and information of what is reasonably inexpensive for equipment that works for different tasks just as I like to do. Great video brother and keep up all your good work and effort!
That was awesome ! I've been trying to figure out how to sharpen my flints , and this popped up in my stream today. You are a good instructor. I actually learned, and it worked great. Thanks very much!
Great vid. Thnx for uploading this. And what Bronze Kneecap said...you're the best man. Good holydays and greetings from The Netherlands.
I have also flaked off a bit of flint with the my striker. In the beginning I would miss the edge of my flint and strike the flint with my steel causing a bit to flake off. Its a good quick way to knock off an edge to make the flint sharp again.
Good info I am new to using flint and steel your videos are very helpful thanks.
Thanks a lot for the trick and homemade pressure flaker
Thanks Dan. Appreciate the quick and comprehensive response. Got to admit I never thought of purchasing flint. I was more focused on trying to make what I find locally work. Enjoy your holidays.
Your videos are very good. Thanks!
Thank you for such a quick response to my question and I appreciate the home made tool lesson even more!
I look forward to your videos. Good information and I think you do a good job. Keep'em coming.
thanks for the continuing education, Prof. Coalcracker.
kidbach this is better than school
its higher learning hence the title Professor and not teacher.
I appreciate it
Very good. Thank you very much. Dan, Someone on Utube stated that granite will also produce sparks. I am a very experienced Soldier and backpacker, but new to bushcrafting. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it and even a "beginner" like me got sparks. The granite doesn't seem to work as well as the flint, but it does work.
Thanks again for another awesome video!!! Always learning . Take care and stay safe
Another very informative and useful video delivered short and to the point. Thank you.
I just made one of these for my kiddos and I. Thanks so much, Dan!!
Great tips Dan!
I hv not used flint n steel much... but I do hv a set, came in a lil burlap bag (tinder, if needed!). I really need to work on that skill!
Thank you for sharing that info. Much appreciated.
Dan... Thanks for the video. Mucho helpful and informative. You have a nice way of taking some of the mystery out of it and make it understandable. Best wishes..... Ax
Great video!
Another great rip. Thanks for sharing.
Great topic and video!
I love all of the great information you put out Dan. Here in the Dakotas we can't help but stumble upon quartz all over the place. 🙄 😁
You could just carefully knap the flint edge with your steel striker if you had no access to a nail or other type of pressure flaker.
Great idea.
Another great video, thank you !!!!!!!!!
Resharpen That Flint Video was Awesome 😎👍
Awesome 😎 way to go about sharpening flint
I stumbled across how quartz throws a spark, pulling quartz boulders out of my creek for some building projects, and as they tumbled out of the wheelbarrow and off the stone sled, I could see at/after dark they throw sparks when they collide. I always wondered if those sparks were viable for bringing about fire. THANKS!!
Most helpful- thanks
the flint your holding looks like our flint
we have a abundence on flint around here,even have a castle build in flint stone
atb
steve
Okay, that's fantastic.
I saw your comment about selling strikers at your store, but I couldn't find it on your site ?
Thanks for the video, I was looking for the same answers.
I dont have flint in my area, but quartz is everywhere. Usually i can take a quartz rock and smash it to get a several pieces with sharp edges. Only problem is it doesn’t hold that edge very well and crumbles dull usually after only a few strikes. But, its everywhere here in nh. I have several pieces in my quartz 😜 n steel tin.
Are you sure it isn't quartzite instead?
Thanks, my frustration has ended
Appreciated the tips! Thanks.
Awesome 😎👍 Homemade reshaping flint tool
AWESOME video... Very new to Flint and Steel and this will be a big help... Thanks Again.
Nice.
Hi my name is Adam my mom is friends of Gina my little brother had his birthday party at your school.
Hey buddy
This guy makes grizzly adams look like sjw who spends his days in his moms basement trolling on twitter, broh... you are Amazing keep up the good work ! Macgyver has nothing on you.
Yeah can my striker edge be too sharp? When I ground the little fins off the sides of the file, the squared up edges are really sharp should I get rid of that?
Your videos are very very informative a question what kind of knife would you use stainless steel or just regular Steel
MY FLINT HAS A SHARP EDGE BUTMORE LIKE A HACKSAW BLADE..
I FILED IT DOWN SMOTH AND STILL NO SPARK.
27 YEARS OLD PPURCHASED ON LINE AND COULD NEVEER GET IT TO NIGHT CHAR CLOTH. DOES FLINT GO BAD AFTER SO MANY YEARS? BOB
Good information
flint is not cheap from experience. I have to buy it as it is not abundant in Australia, nor is chert or quartzite in my area. Smashing it up also only works somewhat as it really diminishes its size quickly. I think a bopper is the best solution overall, and learn how to knap the edges back to sharp.
How did he tie the string off so tightly?
Dan, I live in Mississippi, where I live we don't have sparking rocks. can you recommend a seller where I can but "a box of flint" as you suggest? Thanks!
Any rock harder than 5-5.5 chert, flint, jasper, quartz etc. Check any gravel pits, construction, railroad tracks, road bedding. Alot of gravel is brought in for building and concrete. Test everything!
Also amazon and ebay, individual rocks to knapping stones.
What size or number is that bankline ?
I'm 90 minutes east of you, in the Slate Belt. I haven't found anything that'll spark so I ordered a flint n steel set. Should I continue looking around for anything? Anytime in the woods is great, but searching gets frustrating because I can't find or make any sparks on what I try.
Find a washout or stream bed and take your striker wack some rocks...look for white and clear looking stones.
Who carries around a nail?
Do you still have the yurt?
Hey, where'd you get those suspenders? I've been looking for a good pair for a while now.
Filson! Most of my stuff is filson
"...here I don't have flint or kirk" (at least auto translate says that it is kirk). How it is written?
Chert...
Thank you.
What do you find is better a ferro rod or flint and steel
Emergencies ferro rod- hanging out and enjoying the woods and the art of bushcrafting flint and steel for sure
Really what's surprising is that I never learned how to use flint and steel and ferro rod is my go to