Pressure Flakers
Pressure flakers can take a variety of forms, depending on what you have available and what you want to do with it. One of the more traditional types is an antler tine sharpened to a point. These can be difficult to find and tend to dull quickly, which can cause slippage when you use them. Copper pressure flakers are very common today amongst flintknappers. These usually consist of an 3/4inch (approx. - whatever feels comfortable to hold) piece of
dowelling or broom handle section with heavy copper wire set into
the end and filed to a blunt point. These two (antler and copper) are used for general purpose pressure flaking.Notching is also done using pressure flakers. Dowelling with a piece of coat-hanger wire in the end, filed to a chisel-shape works well for this purpose, as do copper flakers which have had the end pounded flat, like a screwdriver head. These flat flakers can also be used to remove step fractures.
As with any stage of the knapping process, your pressure flaking tool kit should include safety glasses and bandaids. You will also want a piece of thick leather to protect your hand.
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