What to do with worn out flints?

[awreis]

I have several worn out flints. Is there any use for these other than maybe with a steel to start a fire?

 

[Cruzatte]

If they're large enough to hold in cold fingers, that's a good place to start.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

if they are from the larger locks I try and use them in the smaller locks after they get worn down.

 

[ZUG]

Throw them away - not worth the trouble to be messing with them.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Save them up to gravel your drive way.

 

[Grimord]

Careful use of a diamond wheel in a dremel tool can re-shape some badly worn flints for further use. Just be sure to wear eye protection and a mask to prevent breathing in flint dust which can harm your lungs.

 

[bigted]

Usually throw em away. I do have a lock that takes a 1 inch flint but never occurred to me to knap em up for my smaller locks. Great idea

 

[Scota@4570]

It depends on how short they are. I re-nap the edge until they are to short to work. Put the flint in leather then a bench vice. Lay a piece of brass rod on the edge. Strike the side of the rod with a little hammer shooting for an angle of about 40*. It does not take much force if you pick the right spot. It should knock a nice chip out of the edge. Try several places to get it to chip and set up a shelf for the next chip. The angle determines the length of the chip. You will get the hang of it quickly. Wear safety glasses.

Once you get it down you can sharpen flints in the cock jaws with you brass rod.

 

[Rob M.]

I throw them in a coffee can , collect them .I'll knap them for smaller locks later and even for trade gun locks sometimes ... Keep em , doesnt cost ya anything and might get a bit more use out of a few of them ...

 

[M. De Land]

Save them up to gravel your drive way.

I think they will probably embed pretty easily into your vehicle tires being flat, sharp and wedge shaped.

 

[muskethunter1109]

I have several worn out flints. Is there any use for these other than maybe with a steel to start a fire?

You can always try to sharpen them and get a bit more life out of them! Or shape them into some arrowheads for fun..

 

[hanshi]

I don't throw anything away and that includes flints. As they wear just wedge them out farther in the cock by putting something behind them to hold them firmly in place. You can use them in your smaller locks. Attach the smaller ones to something to use as a handle so you can easily hold them for fire starting.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

I agree with Phil - driveway.

 

[wiscoaster]

They get lost in one of my rock gardens:

 

[Sidney Smith]

I chuck them in the weeds. Not worth the trouble to attempt to knap or resharpen or whatever. Toss and move on.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Define "worn out" . I pressure flake frequently to reestablish a sharp edge. When they become too short, I chuck them out.

 

[IanH]

I think they will probably embed pretty easily into your vehicle tires being flat, sharp and wedge shaped.

Then they ain't worn out yet

I chuck them in my driveway, which is already 1-1/4" screened limestone rock with plenty of flint (about 30%) already in it.

 

[Psycho Mike]

Doesn't take much flint (so long as you can keep a decent grip) to have a good flint for a fire kit. I have a raw piece of flint that isn't the right size for a lock in my kit...sparks well enough to catch the char-cloth on a regular basis

 

[springfield art]

Save them up to gravel your drive way.

Imagine those little suckers slicing your tires!

 

[bldtrailer]

unless they are rounded you should be able to pressure flake a new sharp edge using an antler or copper wire to push off micro flakes

the leather on wood is to help hold the flint while pressure flaking

if you watch the below you will see how I knap a new edge (and some fun shooting)