hand pads with removed flake area or flat leather ?

[ohiocountryboy]

I've been learning to flintknap using hand pads with the flake area removed but all the videos I see they are doing it on a flat piece of leather

[Knapper]

A lot has to do with how you learned or just plain preference. I mostly use just a leather hand pad ( I have a flat one, and one that's rolled up), but have been known to pull out the rubber pad with groove for certain jobs. So go with what your comfortable with, and try different ones if your having difficulties with a certain task.
Knapper

[bubby]

I do a lot of slabs so I use a notched rubber pad to drive the first set of flakes to make sure I get flakes all the way across, then I just use a pc of leather folded over

[TRACY]

Flat square of leather folded in half works for me. I've used the Bradley block style and it's not as comfortable in the hand as leather is for me.


Tracy

[bubby]

I don't know what the Bradley block style is and i'm self taught and probably go about things bass ackwards anyway, but it helps the flake release better I think

[TRACY]

I don't know what the Bradley block style is and i'm self taught and probably go about things bass ackwards anyway, but it helps the flake release better I think

Name comes from Callahan and Waldorf for the notch in solid hand pad. Sorry for not explaining bubby Tried both methods and like leather more.

[bubby]

that's cool Tracy, to each there own