I buy my flints from a fellow on "The MuzzleLoading Forum" by the name Of Rich Pierce. He will make and sell you a dozen for about $15. Heck he will even ship them to you, and let you inspect them before you pay them. He makes a very good flint.

Normally I just took the back edge of a folding knife and tapped it against the flint to sharpen the edge of the flint. You just need a good jagged edge for a good spark. When that stops just change the flint. And they are cheap enough so that if you have any doubt just change it.

The angle of the flint is almost as important as how jagged the edge is. You want a good angle, and you want the entire flint from left to right to strike the frizzen. That will give you a good spark shower.

I clean the frizzen with brake cleaner.

Good luck to you. Fellow West Virginian!! Tom.