Knapping w/ kids

Duckbutt · March 29, 2010, 02:34:00 PM

I don't know the first thing about flint knapping but my six year old was beating on a rock the other day and told me he was "knapping." I'm willing to learn and buy some stuff to help fuel his interest but what is the proper way to approach this with my ignorance and his immaturity from guys and gals that have the T-Shirt already?

Thanks. :confused:

fido dog · March 29, 2010, 03:32:00 PM

Knapping is dangerous. Too dangerous for a six year old. Even with gloves and eye protection, cuts happen. Trust me.....I know! LOL! The flakes that come off are like little razors only sharper. I would like to bring my nephews with me to one of our knapp-ins, but they are just too young at 8 and 11. Next year maybe.

lpcjon2 · March 29, 2010, 03:38:00 PM

Fido has a good point Safety first.

Duckbutt · March 29, 2010, 04:23:00 PM

10-4 Fido.

That is what I needed to hear!

Ragnarok Forge · March 29, 2010, 04:29:00 PM

I would say that the guys above are right, it is dangerous. I am a neophyte and have the scars to prove it. On the other hand if you get some low grade rock the boy can knap it without crazy flakes. Plus just let him break the big rocks down and not do any pressure flaking.

How to start. Buy books and videos, get some good grade rocks and basic tools and the start practicing. Go to knap in's and learn from the pro's. Practice, practice, practice.

Bill Skinner · March 29, 2010, 10:29:00 PM

I do a lot of demonstrations for Scouts, schools and other groups of kids. Usually, 11 is about the youngest that the kids will have the strength and hand/eye coordination to actually make a point. You can make a preform and use punch style knapping and let him finish it. It is much safer as all he is doing is hitting the punch. You, on the other hand, are going to get some bruises when he misses the punch. Bill

pintail_drake2004 · March 30, 2010, 12:25:00 AM

Careful with the kids. Ive been knapping for a few years know and have plenty of scars to show for it. One of my very good friends lost his left eye when he was trying to "knap" as a kid. I enjoy knapping, but when my nephew wants to see-eye glasses are required ( i wear my script glasses or sun glasses). I even know a feller who uses a face shield to knap.

Material is easy to come by if you know where to look. I practice on alot of glass before i go to my rock. Look for someone in your area who knaps, personal 1-on-1 lesson is the best way to get started imho. I am fortunate enough to have one of the best knappers in the US live a mile from my house-amof I grew up hunting with the guy not knowing he was famous. WHen you strike a rock, the shockwave is driving the flake off and the flake will move as fast as a .22 bullet. I use to wear gloves but found i cannot feel the ridges on the rock as well so i dont use them anymore. Attend knap-in's when they pop up in your area. Lots of tools, rock, and good people to help you out.

knife river · March 30, 2010, 09:19:00 AM

My son, 11, has knapped off and on for a several years. All my kids have attended knap-ins since they popped out of their mom, but knap-ins aren't always the best place for them to learn: kids require close supervision and there are too many distractions at knap-ins. He wears safety glasses, but no gloves. The only cuts have been very minor, and there's a good life lesson in every little cut. I believe that gloves are far more a hindrance than a help. Supervision and well-placed advice is the key. After all, he's only removing thumbnail-sized flakes, not spalling a 100 pound boulder of obsidian.

knife river · March 30, 2010, 09:22:00 AM

Pintail drake, is Tim Dillard the famous knapper you live near? If so, you're a lucky guy. I don't know of anyone who's better with an antler billet.

Jon Stewart · March 30, 2010, 02:47:00 PM

Duckbutt you just got advise from one of the best flintknappers I have ever seen, "knife river". He probably rates in the top ten in the nation so he really knows what he is talking about, IMHO.

Duckbutt · March 30, 2010, 03:05:00 PM

Thanks Woody. I'd hoped you would pipe up. I may buy your video and learn more about what is really involved. Based on your advice, it sounds like it's something I need to get proficient with so that I could provide the "supervision and well-placed" advice necessary.

He has a real passion for fishing and while I've provided a lot of supervision, I do take pride in watching him at six years old from the back porch take his own rod and tackle to the neighborhood bream hole and catch and release his own fish.

He has very mild cerebral palsey and doesn't get the self confidence and sense of self reliance that growing boys often get from sports so I'm always looking to provide him the opportunities around outdoor skills that will fan his internal flames.

Thanks again for all the advice.
Julian

Doc Nock · March 30, 2010, 03:07:00 PM

DB,

I hope you can find a way to do it safely with kids. We're loosing too many "skills" to technology today...

In a lighter tone, reading your title, I had to laugh... Napping w/ kids...does that make it "kid napping?"

JEJ · March 31, 2010, 02:00:00 PM

Julian, I think your son is a lucky kid to have a dad who looks for new ways for him to learn outdoor skills. Good for you, and for your son. You might get Woody's video as a long range project, but in the near term you could try some things my boy did while he was in Cub Scouts. The boys all had pretty short attention spans at that age, but they all seemed to take an interest in activities like archery, pitching tents, using binoculars, using cameras, following tracks, etc. where they could see or get immediate results. I have pounded and bled on some rocks before too, and I agree with a lot here that you might want to work in knapping in a few more years. Again, my hat's off to you for providing opportunities for your son to learn outdoor skills, and good luck with it.