New knapper

[Benn.Of.Trades]

Hello everyone,
  Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I have been on this site since 2015. I have always marveled at the craftsmanship that comes from everyone here. Well I am now at a point in my life were I to am willing and able to learn this craft. What will I need to get started what tools, materials and so on should I focus on getting. What reference books or videos can I watch or read for added information as I learn.

Thank you Benn.

[Parnell]

Basic knapper's starter kit.  Varying sized boppers, a pressure flaker and an Ishi stick.  My opinion is to not waste time and order some Georgetown chert off the internet to start on.  I argue its the best for learning with.

I saw you are in Wisconsin.  Can't say I know anyone from the area that you can sit down with, but, get yourself to a knapp-in and sit with someone in person ASAP.  Break lots of rock, don't get frustrated.

Deerhunter21's thread had an explanation that I put up regarding centerline, platform set up and the starting point.  I would look at that. 

Keep us posted!

[JEB]

Nothing beats sitting with other knappers and learning but your next best option is you tube. All kinds of good videos on how to knap but also on how to make your own knapping tools.

[bjrogg]

All good advice. Especially the don’t get frustrated part. Knapping is what got me started at all of this and between making bows, arrows and Knapping. Knapping keeps me the most humble. I’m still very much learning and screw up plenty of nice rock yet. But I try to relax, get into my stone and enjoy it. If I’m not enjoying it I work on something else.
Bjrogg

[Hawkdancer]

Like BJ said, if you aren't having fun, do something else!  We don't do these things to survive, yet!  A large dose of patience is also necessary.
Hawkdancer

[GlisGlis]

Glass from bottles bottom is usually free knappable material

[Tracker0721]

First things first- safety glasses. Like 3 pairs just for when you walk into the house wearing a pair and forget them the next time you go out.

I’m heading to glass buttes next month, practice on some bottles, just try running flakes and forget trying arrowheads until you understand how to get a flake to travel where you want it as well as platform set up and then I’ll fill a box of obsidian flakes and send it to you. My only catch is anyone who gets free material has to post pictures of their arrowhead they made and it’s only 1 free box per new knapper.

As for tools my favorite is a 1” dowel with a copper cap hammered around so it’s round, filled with melted fishing weights and then epoxied to the dowel. 2nd favorite is my pie piece off of a grinding wheel. Best abrader and it’s cheap. 3rd favorite tool is my pressure flaker with a set screw holding the copper in place and the Allen wrench is hidden in the butt so I can always flip my tips around or whatever I need to do. And 4th is my piece of rubber with a channel carved across it glued to a piece of wood. Those and a piece of leather over my leg I can make whatever. Well- attempt to.

And lastly, I always use my boppers with my piece on my leather on my leg. I was once holding my piece in my hand and in the air as I learned to do it and when I took the flake it flew into my pinky finger and cut to the bone cutting both tendon sheathes and splitting my pinky from side to side. Stitches and a drive to the big city to see a hand repair specialist and I almost had a very bad day having a dr. fish my tendons back up from wrist to connect them to my finger. Luckily my tendons healed and weren’t cut all the way in half and after a few months I could move my pinky finger again!

But yeah, end of March I’ll ship ya some rock if you PM me your address.