Humpback flints, a quick haircut

[jimairwin]

But ... for SAFETY (seriously!) ... think asbestos and mesothelioma ... ideally wear a NIOSH-rated mask or at least work with the flints downwind whilst in a strong breeze - outdoors of course.

I do similar, but use diamond wheels in a Dremel tool, as I can fix them in but seconds!

Why the ref to asbestos? Flint is silicon dioxide. Like glass chemically.

 

[wiscoaster]

Why the ref to asbestos? Flint is silicon dioxide. Like glass chemically.

You don't want to be breathing in sharp glass particles, do you?

 

[springfield art]

Thanks all for the great tips!!

 

[S.Kenton]

You don't want to be breathing in sharp glass particles, do you?

But it’s a hand file, also if one added a dab of water to the process, wouldn’t that then be ok? Im genuinely curious and not trying to be feisty. When I work with horns I do everything by hand. I don’t wear a dust mask, however, if I was to use a power tool, say a dremel then I would prefer a mask.
I plan on ordering one of those files, that’s a great idea… I’m the one who normally gets stuck with humpback flints!

 

[WonkyEye]

If I could figure out how to hold a flint securely, I have a diamond grinder wheel that would take them down in a few seconds. I have a bunch that have rounded over and are too fat to knap (for me) and a few that are just too fat to fit in the jaws. I might have to buy that extra course diamond file you have.

 

[wiscoaster]

But it’s a hand file, also if one added a dab of water to the process, wouldn’t that then be ok? ....

Maybe. Is wearing a dust mask really so onerous to take out the probability factor?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not anally religious about dust mask wearing. But then, I'm in my mid-70's, and everything environmentally out to kill me has probably already had its opportunity. I'm not going to go overboard to possibly extend my already deteriorating life span and life quality for an unknown and uncertain amount of time if the means of doing so are too much of a PIA. Wearing a dust mask is not much of a PIA, IMO. It's obviously some kind of a trade-off involving personal risk factor weighting, health condition, and remaining life span. YMMV. Weigh all the pros and cons and make your own choice, and no need to apologize for intelligent and informed choices made thereby.

 

[springfield art]

I've seen photos of people knapping with out a mask; it's dangerous, you get microscopic shards of glass, essentially, into your lungs even though you can't realize it at the time. Thanks to the guys that pointed that out here. Very smart!

 

[S.Kenton]

Maybe. Is wearing a dust mask really so onerous to take out the probability factor?

Uhmm yes! I HATE those things.. I’ve literally made 100 or more powder horns, when I first started I used a dremel ( I know.. I know) then I realized two things, dremel make a lot of dust.l.. ( again I HATE wearing masks) and I couldn’t control it like I wanted to. So then I simply decided to do them all by hand with various sizes of rasps and files. The dust content was very very little, especially when I added a small fan blowing away from me as I worked. IF I was do flint work it would be with a hand file, wet the flint and use the fan.. I’d be good to go. I wonder what’s worse, melting lead and making bullets or filing a damp flint?

 

[WonkyEye]

Uhmm yes! I HATE those things.. I’ve literally made 100 or more powder horns, when I first started I used a dremel ( I know.. I know) then I realized two things, dremel make a lot of dust.l.. ( again I HATE wearing masks) and I couldn’t control it like I wanted to. So then I simply decided to do them all by hand with various sizes of rasps and files. The dust content was very very little, especially when I added a small fan blowing away from me as I worked. IF I was do flint work it would be with a hand file, wet the flint and use the fan.. I’d be good to go. I wonder what’s worse, melting lead and making bullets or filing a damp flint?

There are more comfortable mask options now. I came home from Iraq with asthma and woodworking sets it off. I got anal about dust a few years ago, got a big dust collector, big air cleaner, and a mask. I like my rzmask , it seals better and the cloth is a lot more comfortable.

 

[yellowhammer]

Maybe. Is wearing a dust mask really so onerous to take out the probability factor?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not anally religious about dust mask wearing. But then, I'm in my mid-70's, and everything environmentally out to kill me has probably already had its opportunity. I'm not going to go overboard to possibly extend my already deteriorating life span and life quality for an unknown and uncertain amount of time if the means of doing so are too much of a PIA. Wearing a dust mask is not much of a PIA, IMO. It's obviously some kind of a trade-off involving personal risk factor weighting, health condition, and remaining life span. YMMV. Weigh all the pros and cons and make your own choice, and no need to apologize for intelligent and informed choices made thereby.

@wiscoaster Agree. Silicosis is real; you do not want it.

D. C. Waldorf, in his book "The Art Of Flintknapping", commented that when prehistoric knapping of flint for trade started occurring in Europe, England, etc on an industrial scale, they were probably the first humans to contract disabling industrial lung disease.