Flintknapping slabs part 1 

Love the vids Paleo! Been knapping for 6 months now and have come a long way thanks to your vids and a few others' not to mention dedication and hard work on a daily basis. I emphasize that everyone should practice on slabbed material at least to start with. It conserves resources and cuts down on pollution for all those beginners!

@Mizzoufan1234 I dont know about Kansas but Missouri has great chert resources. I collected in the southern part of the state and there is lots of Burlington, Reed springs, Pierson, etc. If you can find a construction site in Springfield you might check it out. Sometimes the graders uncover lots of high quality Burlington....jim

Hey man I've been watching your videos for weeks now! I just gotta say thanks man, very good info!

I’m new with this but you are a great teacher

Hi Mike, glad you ike the vids. If the slab is thin (1/4" or less its usually best to thin the faces with pressure, too much risk of breakage with percussion. Thicker slabs (3/8" or greater) are usually best thinned with percussion. Hope this helps and good luck with your knapping....jim

@smellanalan The Ishi stick allows more force to be applied because it runs along the inside of the arm and can be levered on the ribcage...

Thank you PaleoManJim...you videos are awesome and help a great deal!

Glad you like them, its a good hobby....

@finaltom5 Yes, creating an edge first is usually the best strategy. After edging thinning and shaping can be done together...

Just get some glass or some knappable rock and start removing flakes with either percussion or pressure. Let the experience guide you to the next step....

Curious to know if you have any photos of your notching pad? Would like to see more of it. I'd like to make a larger one so I can hold it better..

Sorry, I know there are guys who sell slabs at knap-ins and probably the internet, but I'm not sure who. You might try Ebay, I have seen them on there before. I sold my saw last year so I dont knapp slabs much anymore....jim

What exactly is the purpose of the ishi stick. Do pressure flakes travel further with the ectra long handle opposed to a hand copper/antler flaker

Hey Jim, I was wondering you knew of any good rocks to begin knapping with in Kansas, or western Missouri? Thanks!

So working on a center line at start is best before the shape? Then making platforms below the center line, at ridge line that you intend to take off? TY

Man oh man....where do you come by slabs that big Brother

hey jim i know you collect and cut your own rock but im from b.c. canada and good knappable rock is hard to come by and i was wondering if you knew of a place or website where i can buy slabs like this

Jom where do you buy slabs like this?

I was wondering where did you find your rubber block? It is knocked with a curve. Did you make it or buy it?

Can one knap slabbed stone using a hammer stone instead of those tools? I ask because in a survival situation with no tools, to knap slabbed stone like this, one would have to use other stones.

I collect my own rock at the source and cut it with my rock saw as needed...

How can someone purchase some slabs of Flint