Flint knapping

[lutonlagerlout]

if you have look at the video on this page, i did a course with eddie a few years ago
absolute legend in flint knapping
off camera he talks a lot more plainly and eschews gloves etc
he reckons if you dont get a *pisser* cut every day,your not a flint knapper
flint knapping
LLL

[seanandruby]

What a star, legend. Nice find LLL.

[mickg]

absolutely, 50 years in the trade is superb

[lutonlagerlout]

i have never met anyone whose hands are more scarred yet a funnier and more helpful down to earth bloke you could not meet
flint knapping is very difficult yet he makes it look easy
gotta love that song at the end

LLL

[DNgroundworks]

I dunno if i like it meself, never seen that round this way, must be no flint around here?

[GB_Groundworks]

yeah none up here, hes a skilled man those squares must take ages

anyone know the term to describe coursed stone work that decreases in size lotsof houses in the peak district go from 4inch courses at footing to 1" at the wall plate

ill find a photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyberprop/7349099232/



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1339095341

[Carberry]

nice find LLL.
I like seeing stuff like this, lost trades, older folk using hand tools, people passionate about their art.

No doubt if I gave that a bash the wall would look terrible and take a month to build :laugh:

[lutonlagerlout]

I have done bits of flint work but there is not enough demand to make it an earner
its a bit like cookies setts,its 150million years old so what you see is how its going to stay
i did this as a project a few years ago and although it generated a lot of interest, it works out too costly compared to brickwork
took me 3 days just to do the flints

LLL

[henpecked]

'with a wife and kids to keep on 50 bob a week ,come inside, you silly bugger , come inside'

Sounds like a plan :p

[rab1]

old school tradesman who takes a pride.

[lutonlagerlout]

had to visit matthews yard in bellingdon friday so took the opportunity for a pic of eddies flint work 2 years on

LLL

[mickavalon]

Brilliant film, love watching people with skills like that. There should be a national skills "bank" where traditions can be taught and passed on. I'm getting to do a Stone walling course this winter, already do a bit, but I fancy learning it properly.
I suppose the big cause of the loss of these traditions are people don't want to pay for the skills, they'd rather pay less and get shite. Most of our traditional crafts come from a time when Labour and living cost where a lot cheaper, sadly.

[Pablo]

I appreciate the skill involved but I'm not a huge fan of the look of it also the pedant in me feels the need to correct the name of the stone. It's called chert it's identical to flint visually but there is a chemical difference that means it doesn't spark like flint.

[lutonlagerlout]

fair comment pablo but for me personally i wouldnt swap 1 flint panel for all the yorkstone in london
its the fact that you cannot machine it or use any tool other than a club hammer ,which incidentally only last about 6 weeks due to wear of hitting the flint/chert

I like it probably because i see flint walls and buildings on a daily basis
different stroke for different folks
LLL

[Thehandmadegarden]

loved that video and the song, although these days you dont need to be a Lunatic just sign on
I've never used flint but seeing it a lot down south.
I'm guessing there's no structural strength to it, its just used as a facing?

Clive