i love these videos. i've always wanted to get in to flint knapping. the long form video showing the process from start to finish is great to see. thank you for these.
Gregory, Not only are you a Master Knapper, you're a Master with your camera! What a magnificent lesson. Very grateful for it. I've gotten close but no Cigar (finished point) yet. Skills are improving through trial & error. Agree totally with your statement about patience and strategy. I get close. I get impatient. Bad hit above C/L, dammit! Start on another bottle. Getting pretty good at the preforms though. I saw all your vids. The Slab Knapping was interesting too. I followed your advice and some are on their way. Also found source for plate glass. I can get 1/4" and 3/8"! I'm committed and hooked! It's so bad I bought a Jig! Thank you again for ALL your videos. Every one is awesome!
Best video on YT for folks that are new to this. Imo. I've watched a SH!$! ton.. Killer job. Great camera work, no doubt. But, IMO some folks are just gifted with being better teachers and explaining things. My ole man is a master carpenter (retired), but he struggled when it came to showing employees new skills... Including myself. But my maternal grandfather, also a master carpenter and master woodworking guru.. Had a knack/and the patience for teaching things related to that stuff that seemed to come natural..
If anyone else is wondering how to get a good supply of bottle bottoms, I just drove around a few bars and looked in their trash. The third bar we stopped by had a jackpot and I came home with more bottles than I could carry in a trash bag. Just a quick rinse with the garden hose and a day out to dry. Bottle bottoms for months depending on how often you knap.
Nice job sir I enjoyed watching the entire thing even if you are napping in the past it’s a good refresher course God bless you and I’ll catch you down the road
I just knew about knapping as a craft like an hour ago and... wow. I watched you vid without skipping a second, absolutely glued to the screen and the action, and hearing you explain why you do what you do. This is somehow truly captivating, maybe it's something common for all people? Since this is how our ancestors made their tools using which to hunt and survive!? I have a feeling that this is how our geometry and risk-evaluation skills evolved, through millions of years of observing and striking stone. The piece itself looks amazing, too!
I attempted my very first arrowhead today following yours and jack craftys instructions, this is just about the best video I’ve ever seen, it makes it so simple, brilliant, thank you so much for sharing your talents with other people, God bless 🙏🏻👍
you believe this video is good because youre a beginner, this guy has no clue and you will be making arrowheads a poorly as he does by following his instruction....
thank you for the video, greetings from Brazil, here it is difficult to find silex, this explanation using the glass of the bottle will make this practice possible for me
Absolutely excellent video for beginners, Professor! You're the best teacher I've found yet. You explain & make every move appear so simple, which is precisely what we need. We'll done!
Flaking deep into the center of a clear and back painted tile piece frustrated me but I think watching you here helped me. Grinding always then flake makes sense
This video brought to the point of being able to make a pretty legit arrowhead in just a few tries , quite surprised with myself but maybe I just have a knack for it
I got as far as the bottle bottom before, but no further. I could not even chip Flint Ridge Flint. But I did manage to chip quartz I kept hitting it with a spark plug,....then the spark plug shattered. Copper lead filled boppers didn't even shatter any flint that I could find about 8 Miles from Flint Ridge Ohio. Yes I have the urdge to make arrow heads just no tallent. I can make arrows and bows though. So congratulations your knapping,....and it's a great and informative video.
I’ve just watched this video for about the fourth time over, it is really great, if only you knew just how good you are at explaining things, absolutely amazing you make it so simple 👍👌
This was absolutely excellent presentation and much appreciated. Am increasingly interested in knapping arrowheads primarily for one reason: The superiority of cutting action for a well designed hunting point. And then of course for getting closer to the most natural ways of harvesting wild meat with primitive bow & arrow. These types of bows are incredibly quiet when made right. Prefer hickory mostly.
Greg, I always wished that I had taken the time to pick your brain about this topic while I was still at FMU. I happened to stumble across your channel today randomly and was thrilled to find this. now Living in north georgia there is an abundance of silicious rock so I have plenty of opportunities to figure this out now. Glad you posted this and I hope you and the herd are doing well!
Man.. I've watched a sh!t ton of beginner oriented FNap vids on YT.. Dude.. You're a hell of teacher!! Lol. For me.. Your way of explaining and especially the way you word things?? just clicked with me. Some people just have a knack for teaching and are just naturally gifted in that area. Imo, u have that, brother. That, combined with excellent camera work/angles and great overall vid production, and I've 'got it' now. Just a matter of putting the time in now. Just wanted to give ya props and say thank you for doing these vids. As a new 'green' flintknapper, I'd like to say, thank you especially for taking the time to do this one, man. Best on YT.. Imo. KG
Thank you for showing the entire process and explaining your tools. Going to make me a set and give it a shot. Subscribed as well so I can check out some of your other videos on it. Awesome video
I love how he makes you feel free to make mistakes quite possibly because we use our mistakes and learn from them and he takes his time to explain the process...truly a marvelous teacher
I discovered watching UA-cam videos, that if you actually flake the concave side first, the piece turns out much more flat. Hear me out. I know it doesn’t seem that way but you start out just flaking the outer rim of the concave side. That will make the concave virtually flat. Work the convex side from there and it will have much less of a curve than if you were to work the convex side first.
This was like a trip to Disney Land with Mr.Rodgers. Amazing what 10 years Knapping glass with copper tools can lead to. No books needed, just watch u-tube where all the knowledge is. Half of that glass was not needed to get the same results. Still overly convex & concave. This guy actually teaches beginners to advanced Flintknapping?
An important recommendation. Never knapp glass without wearing a glove. Even then you area in a high risk injury location. John C. Whittaker (archeologist) was learning knapping using glass. It appears that when pressure flaking a flake was released from the bottom and also the top. Whittaker explains in his book "Flintknapping making & understanding stone tools page 3" " I managed to drive a pressure flake through my leather glove and into my left index finger" " when I pulled off the glove there was a small cut, less than a quarter of an inch wide, with a glass flake sticking out of it." This injury was of little pain but the finger didn't seem to work.This injury required two operations. The surgeon who was a specialist indicated that Whittaker had severed the sublimis & the profundus tendons. The surgeon had to remove a section of tendon from his arm and connect it to the damaged tendon in an effort to repair the severed tendon tendon. Whittaker was holding the point steady when this fracture at the platform caused a freak fracture with that was then driven with the force of pressure flaking through his glove & into his finger. He states "now I know better, but my finger still won't completely straighten or clench into a tight fist". Glass is by far the most dangerous unpredictable material one can learn on. Take his advice & work with material that is as safe l as possible yet will respond like high grade Flint. Stay away from teachers that do not put a high emphasis on safety & protective equipment. I would recommend beginners books by Paul Hellweg, D.C Waldorf, & Whittaker. These injuries are very real & unforgiving. I feel that the stages of a knapper are- beginner, intermediate and then a long interaction as a journey man. Becoming advanced requires a lot of time to earn that title. I have never met anyone who masters at every aspect of stone tool technologies. Only certain aspects/ typologies. Stay safe. Vincent James Ajello (Lithic Technologist/Researcher 30 yrs)
Thank you for sharing your skills in a very well produced video for the new knappers! Excellent presentation. Where does one get a/the copper bopper? Thanks again....subbed
Nice one! I'm new to flintknapping and this helped so much. I would love to see your process of mounting that arrowhead. By the way, what would you say is the most ideal shaped arrowhead since there are so many variances?
Gregory seems to like my brand Evan Williams LOL. Big bottles pretty good but take forever to drain unless you're a drunk. If Greg was a drunk he'd have shredded fingers! Motts Apple Cider Jugs are very good. They're thick and have a flattish 2.5" circle in middle. In middle it's about 3/8" thick so you want to start thinning far out and work your way in. I've ended up with about 3/16 after flaking with bopper. It's when I get close and I have to switch to flaker where I run into trouble because I don't have the "Feel" yet. I bought a jig to help with precision but my goal is to eventually do Abo. Welcome from a Newbie!
@@franslangendonk6510 I see, thanks for your advice! Tho I'm not a drunk so it would take a lifetime to end BUT I think I have an almost over Jack Daniel's somewhere, I wonder if it works with a square piece of glass and I really don't know how big is it, gotta try i guess!
Thanks for your vids, definitely the most helpful in my eyes. A couple questions. It seems that in both the initial shaping with the bopper, and the beginning stages of thinning with your pressure flaked, you aren’t worried much about setting up platforms. It just seems like you stick to one side, and push off flakes at 1/8 intervals more than worry about hitting actual platforms. Is this correct? If so, is this always true when you get this thin and begin the work on an actual point after thinning from a larger stone? Also, if you make a video on properly supporting larger spalls, that would be great. I have so much trouble trying to support my pieces and not having my flakes terminate early and make hinges. I can’t consistently make good smooth flakes when working down a piece.
exactly what i was thinking. havent done it in years and never found decent stone to try on, but worked plenty of glass. in order to preserve size id work the concave side almost exclusively, maybe 1 round on the convex side just to get some flakes started but mainly the concave side till it at least flattened out or even started to be slightly convex. but never had trouble getting the convex side to take off long flakes. so ignoring 1 side till later preserved the size for a larger piece in the end.
Thanks for your videos. Like jack Crafty, Paleoman52, Freeze Cracked, & Flintknapping Tips, you too have Great explanations and tips..Ogi-nalli wa-do. Wa-ya ya-ni. ( White Wolf )
i love these videos. i've always wanted to get in to flint knapping. the long form video showing the process from start to finish is great to see. thank you for these.
I had no idea------ and now I do. Grate explanation. 😊.
Gregory,
Not only are you a Master Knapper, you're a Master with your camera!
What a magnificent lesson. Very grateful for it.
I've gotten close but no Cigar (finished point) yet. Skills are improving through trial & error. Agree totally with your statement about patience and strategy.
I get close. I get impatient. Bad hit above C/L, dammit! Start on another bottle. Getting pretty good at the preforms though.
I saw all your vids. The Slab Knapping was interesting too. I followed your advice and some are on their way. Also found source for plate glass. I can get 1/4" and 3/8"! I'm committed and hooked!
It's so bad I bought a Jig!
Thank you again for ALL your videos. Every one is awesome!
Best video on YT for folks that are new to this. Imo. I've watched a SH!$! ton.. Killer job. Great camera work, no doubt. But, IMO some folks are just gifted with being better teachers and explaining things. My ole man is a master carpenter (retired), but he struggled when it came to showing employees new skills... Including myself. But my maternal grandfather, also a master carpenter and master woodworking guru.. Had a knack/and the patience for teaching things related to that stuff that seemed to come natural..
i work in a glass factory...i have an unlimited supply of free glass...from 2.5 mm to 12 mm...ive been practicing making heads for abit
If anyone else is wondering how to get a good supply of bottle bottoms, I just drove around a few bars and looked in their trash. The third bar we stopped by had a jackpot and I came home with more bottles than I could carry in a trash bag. Just a quick rinse with the garden hose and a day out to dry. Bottle bottoms for months depending on how often you knap.
Awesome video you forgot one thing about experienced Flint nappers.. they all chew their finger nails lol. Great video you're an awesome teacher.
Thank you. This has been a very helpful video!!
Nice job sir I enjoyed watching the entire thing even if you are napping in the past it’s a good refresher course God bless you and I’ll catch you down the road
I just knew about knapping as a craft like an hour ago and... wow.
I watched you vid without skipping a second, absolutely glued to the screen and the action, and hearing you explain why you do what you do. This is somehow truly captivating, maybe it's something common for all people? Since this is how our ancestors made their tools using which to hunt and survive!? I have a feeling that this is how our geometry and risk-evaluation skills evolved, through millions of years of observing and striking stone. The piece itself looks amazing, too!
I attempted my very first arrowhead today following yours and jack craftys instructions, this is just about the best video I’ve ever seen, it makes it so simple, brilliant, thank you so much for sharing your talents with other people, God bless 🙏🏻👍
you believe this video is good because youre a beginner, this guy has no clue and you will be making arrowheads a poorly as he does by following his instruction....
Well I still find this really helpful and interesting so I guess we can’t all be perfect can we, anyway thank you for your advice, and God bless you
thank you for the video, greetings from Brazil, here it is difficult to find silex, this explanation using the glass of the bottle will make this practice possible for me
Absolutely excellent video for beginners, Professor! You're the best teacher I've found yet. You explain & make every move appear so simple, which is precisely what we need. We'll done!
This is by far , the best explanation of flint Knapping! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Great video
Flaking deep into the center of a clear and back painted tile piece frustrated me but I think watching you here helped me. Grinding always then flake makes sense
This video brought to the point of being able to make a pretty legit arrowhead in just a few tries , quite surprised with myself but maybe I just have a knack for it
Love it brother Gene Gorringe Mi ✌️ 🇺🇲 🇬🇧
Nicely done!
Glad you're back to knappin'!
Best knapping tutorial I've seen on UA-cam!
Thanks for the instructions !
I got as far as the bottle bottom before, but no further.
I could not even chip Flint Ridge Flint.
But I did manage to chip quartz I kept hitting it with a spark plug,....then the spark plug shattered.
Copper lead filled boppers didn't even shatter any flint that I could find about 8 Miles from Flint Ridge Ohio.
Yes I have the urdge to make arrow heads just no tallent.
I can make arrows and bows though.
So congratulations your knapping,....and it's a great and informative video.
Excellent video.
Now I understand how to set your edge up to knock a flake off. Thank you !! Very good video.
Your video was really informative and immersive, I felt like having a personal tutor over my shoulders showing me how-to with all the zoom-in shots
I’ve just watched this video for about the fourth time over, it is really great, if only you knew just how good you are at explaining things, absolutely amazing you make it so simple 👍👌
One of the best teacher on youtube ;) With JackyCrafty, you both are awesome. Thanks for sharing that knowledge !
This was absolutely excellent presentation and much appreciated. Am increasingly interested in knapping arrowheads primarily for one reason:
The superiority of cutting action for a well designed hunting point. And then of course for getting closer to the most natural ways of harvesting wild meat with primitive bow & arrow. These types of bows are incredibly quiet when made right. Prefer hickory mostly.
That was a great deal of help 😊
Greg, I always wished that I had taken the time to pick your brain about this topic while I was still at FMU. I happened to stumble across your channel today randomly and was thrilled to find this. now Living in north georgia there is an abundance of silicious rock so I have plenty of opportunities to figure this out now. Glad you posted this and I hope you and the herd are doing well!
I'm so glad I found this - I wanted to learn how to do this many decades ago but had no idea. I'll have to think about picking up knapping! ;)
Thanks. Appreciate all the steps shown.
followed concentrated : I fully like your method - you formed a diamond, man ....!
Excellent first video for the beginning flint knapper!
Good job!😁👍🇺🇸
Thank you for your patience!
I wish this man could open up a school for this! haha
Great video, and I loved the close ups.
Excellent work, thanks for this. Been learning a lot about prehistory, and this helps solidify it.
Going to try again thanks
Man.. I've watched a sh!t ton of beginner oriented FNap vids on YT.. Dude.. You're a hell of teacher!! Lol. For me.. Your way of explaining and especially the way you word things?? just clicked with me. Some people just have a knack for teaching and are just naturally gifted in that area. Imo, u have that, brother. That, combined with excellent camera work/angles and great overall vid production, and I've 'got it' now. Just a matter of putting the time in now.
Just wanted to give ya props and say thank you for doing these vids. As a new 'green' flintknapper, I'd like to say, thank you especially for taking the time to do this one, man. Best on YT.. Imo.
KG
Really neat
Great job I intend to look for more of your videos to follow thanks
Good job....very good demo + explanation why you do things. Going to your Folsom video next.....Keep it up!
Dude Your A God At Explaining ❤️
Thank you for showing the entire process and explaining your tools. Going to make me a set and give it a shot. Subscribed as well so I can check out some of your other videos on it. Awesome video
I love how he makes you feel free to make mistakes quite possibly because we use our mistakes and learn from them and he takes his time to explain the process...truly a marvelous teacher
good stuff.
Amazing
This is exactly what I needed. Than you 🤙
Thanks. Very good vid.
Yes aluminum does work I found that aluminum gutter spikes work pretty slick
I discovered watching UA-cam videos, that if you actually flake the concave side first, the piece turns out much more flat. Hear me out. I know it doesn’t seem that way but you start out just flaking the outer rim of the concave side. That will make the concave virtually flat. Work the convex side from there and it will have much less of a curve than if you were to work the convex side first.
Just a fyi you can also make points out of the sides of bottles as well …. I tend to use the sides more than the bottom
This was like a trip to Disney Land with Mr.Rodgers. Amazing what 10 years Knapping glass with copper tools can lead to. No books needed, just watch u-tube where all the knowledge is. Half of that glass was not needed to get the same results. Still overly convex & concave. This guy actually teaches beginners to advanced Flintknapping?
An important recommendation. Never knapp glass without wearing a glove. Even then you area in a high risk injury location. John C. Whittaker (archeologist) was learning knapping using glass. It appears that when pressure flaking a flake was released from the bottom and also the top. Whittaker explains in his book "Flintknapping making & understanding stone tools page 3" " I managed to drive a pressure flake through my leather glove and into my left index finger" " when I pulled off the glove there was a small cut, less than a quarter of an inch wide, with a glass flake sticking out of it." This injury was of little pain but the finger didn't seem to work.This injury required two operations. The surgeon who was a specialist indicated that Whittaker had severed the sublimis & the profundus tendons. The surgeon had to remove a section of tendon from his arm and connect it to the damaged tendon in an effort to repair the severed tendon tendon. Whittaker was holding the point steady when this fracture at the platform caused a freak fracture with that was then driven with the force of pressure flaking through his glove & into his finger. He states "now I know better, but my finger still won't completely straighten or clench into a tight fist". Glass is by far the most dangerous unpredictable material one can learn on. Take his advice & work with material that is as safe l as possible yet will respond like high grade Flint. Stay away from teachers that do not put a high emphasis on safety & protective equipment. I would recommend beginners books by Paul Hellweg, D.C Waldorf, & Whittaker. These injuries are very real & unforgiving. I feel that the stages of a knapper are- beginner, intermediate and then a long interaction as a journey man. Becoming advanced requires a lot of time to earn that title. I have never met anyone who masters at every aspect of stone tool technologies. Only certain aspects/ typologies. Stay safe. Vincent James Ajello (Lithic Technologist/Researcher 30 yrs)
just received 20 pounds of obsidian in the mail. Already made my antler pressure flaker and bopper. Now I just need to sit down and start hitting rock
good job
What a treat drink a 40 and you can make a bonus arrowhead!
Thank you for sharing your skills in a very well produced video for the new knappers! Excellent presentation.
Where does one get a/the copper bopper?
Thanks again....subbed
Probably a stupid question but why can’t you just sort of grind down the “belly” part to flatten it out a bit? Or would that just shatter it?
Nice one! I'm new to flintknapping and this helped so much. I would love to see your process of mounting that arrowhead. By the way, what would you say is the most ideal shaped arrowhead since there are so many variances?
Can you do this with every kind of bottle?
The wider and thicker the bottom, the better.
@@gregpryorhomestead thanks! I need to try this, unfortunately I don't think there are any suitable rocks to do it in my area
Gregory seems to like my brand Evan Williams LOL. Big bottles pretty good but take forever to drain unless you're a drunk. If Greg was a drunk he'd have shredded fingers!
Motts Apple Cider Jugs are very good. They're thick and have a flattish 2.5" circle in middle. In middle it's about 3/8" thick so you want to start thinning far out and work your way in. I've ended up with about 3/16 after flaking with bopper.
It's when I get close and I have to switch to flaker where I run into trouble because I don't have the "Feel" yet. I bought a jig to help with precision but my goal is to eventually do Abo.
Welcome from a Newbie!
@@franslangendonk6510 I see, thanks for your advice! Tho I'm not a drunk so it would take a lifetime to end BUT I think I have an almost over Jack Daniel's somewhere, I wonder if it works with a square piece of glass and I really don't know how big is it, gotta try i guess!
Thanks for your vids, definitely the most helpful in my eyes. A couple questions.
It seems that in both the initial shaping with the bopper, and the beginning stages of thinning with your pressure flaked, you aren’t worried much about setting up platforms. It just seems like you stick to one side, and push off flakes at 1/8 intervals more than worry about hitting actual platforms. Is this correct? If so, is this always true when you get this thin and begin the work on an actual point after thinning from a larger stone?
Also, if you make a video on properly supporting larger spalls, that would be great. I have so much trouble trying to support my pieces and not having my flakes terminate early and make hinges. I can’t consistently make good smooth flakes when working down a piece.
I’d wear protective glasses doing this
19:25 brave fly.
Try working only concave side till the very end. Works much better for me.
exactly what i was thinking. havent done it in years and never found decent stone to try on, but worked plenty of glass. in order to preserve size id work the concave side almost exclusively, maybe 1 round on the convex side just to get some flakes started but mainly the concave side till it at least flattened out or even started to be slightly convex. but never had trouble getting the convex side to take off long flakes. so ignoring 1 side till later preserved the size for a larger piece in the end.
i m an 11 year old knapper your vids are sooo! helpful
what package do you get on neolithic?
I have been interested in flint knapping for a long time. What Flint knapping kit do you recommend for a beginner?
Good excuse to get hammered😜
Never even heard of this before a random short video. I’m amazed. Also how are your hands not getting cut up by the small glass morsels I see ?
I did my Jagermeister
What size bopper is that?
19:25 horse Fly?
First
No one gunna talk about the bug that flew across the screen at 19:24 to 19:26
funny there's another guy who shows how to make a bottle arrowheads an he does it opposite of the way your doing it
Them Indians made plenty of points out of whiskey bottles that they got from the white man.
19:25 OHRU(WFJIEOVBHFIDQO
Steady at the tip? Far - cough, real men come first.
Thanks for your videos. Like jack Crafty, Paleoman52, Freeze Cracked, & Flintknapping Tips, you too have Great explanations and tips..Ogi-nalli wa-do.
Wa-ya ya-ni.
( White Wolf )