copper,

I went to my works stainless supplier yesterday to pick up some rod while mooching i saw they had copper rod of all thicknesses up to about 50 mm+ if anyone is ever interested i could ask the cost,
i also work with stainless rod - 5mm 6mm and 8mm so if anyone wants some off cuts to try out for notching / flaking i could supply for free.
I have yet to try the Shoe Nails you sent mr cone but will be having a go in the coming week,
Steve.

That's excellent a copper supply in the UK. I've got plenty at the moment but it's good to know there's some for the future.

Awesome, I had a look for copper bars around that thickness the other day, alas to no avail. I wonder haw much for a 6" length of various diameters would cost? I May have to sell my soul...
The horseshoe nails are good up to a certain thickness, any flint biface thicker than around 5mm thick you may have to consider a punch of some sort, the nails are a bit bendy untill the shorten through use and/or wear, maybe nip the thin end off to get to more stable metal.
What are you're thoughts on horseshoe nails Mr. Grendel?

i will ask at the stock holder what the cost is for the copper - i think it will be sold by weight like the stainless,

just for ref, you can buy rods of copper of varying thicknesses and lengths on e-bay, just search "copper rod" iirc

good spot that man, I'll have to buy some, for when the 50 four inch long soft iron nails I bought wear out.

i've yet to buy any myself, but i've most likely spent almost as much time trying to source stuff as i have actually breaking rocks!