A professional blacksmith is someone who is skilled enough to make varieties of metalwork projects using tools and materials such as a forge, anvil, and steel. Well, this may sound easy and simple to people who have no background knowledge about blacksmithing, but getting to that point of being able to make sellable projects is a bit of a process.
Every master was once an apprentice and every apprentice will one day become a blacksmith master. Depending on why you want to venture into the blacksmithing business, there are specific steps that can help you move from novice to professional in little or no time.
Some people often make the mistake of thinking that a professional blacksmith is a man dressed up in dirty cloth and working with fire. But thinking like this does not define a blacksmith.
Have you made up your mind being assertive that “I want to be a blacksmith”? You are on the right track because you will find essential information about the process in this article.
Essentials Tools
Instructions on how to become a blacksmith
Before you light up that forge and grab that hammer, open a book. Becoming a professional requires acquiring ample knowledge of the trade. Read books about blacksmithing, read articles.
The knowledge that you derive from reading these books can help you to learn the basics of the trade. Aside from books, other resources are available for individuals that aim to become professionals. These resources include videos, podcasts, and other publications.
Step 2: Take Classes
Unlike the time past when you can only learn the blacksmithing trade on a physical level with an experienced blacksmith, there are now modern ways of learning the trade. These modern ways of learning are relatively more comfortable, cheaper, and more convenient. You can attend a vocational school in your community.
It might be more affordable and more comfortable to take an online course, but physical classes will provide you with hands-on information and practice that you will not be able to get online.
Pro Tip
In these classes, you will also learn safety measures, tools, drawing; brazing, cutting, etc. Taking appropriate courses will equip you with adequate knowledge that will accelerate your learning process.
Likewise, it will provide you with the opportunity to ask and get answers to all the questions that are bothering you. You will also get the chance to meet other professionals with a similar passion.
Step 3: Take More Advanced Metal-work Classes
Classes like these will set you apart from regular blacksmiths. You will learn metalworking skills that will enable you to become a well-rounded professional. These classes will teach you both traditional and contemporary blacksmithing practices.
The acquisition of several skills will take you steps ahead of the novice level. Likewise, these metal-work classes will get you familiar with the common materials that are used in blacksmithing and their properties. A professional must have proper knowledge of the variety of raw materials used in blacksmithing.
Note:
These classes will get you familiar with their features such as melting point, malleability, texture, hardness, as well as the purposes that they can be used for in various blacksmithing processes. Consequently, you will be able to work effectively with all varieties of metals and materials.
Step 4: Start Your Tool Collection
During and after taking these classes, you will need tools. At this point, you just need the minimum equipment: a forge, tongs, clamps, hammers, safety equipment, and gear, and an anvil. These essential tools are enough for you to start up your projects. If you cannot afford new tools, you can always get a fairly used one to start up.
As time goes on, you can change them or make your tools by yourself once you have the needed materials and skills. If you intend to become a professional blacksmith, you cannot rely on borrowing tools. Borrowing tools will slow down your learning process because you require constant practice to master the skills.
However, aside from the collection of these essential tools, you should also have a deep understanding of the other tools. You should understand the uses of these tools as well as how you can properly handle and take care of them.
Step 5: Become an Apprentice
As simple as it sounds, becoming an apprentice is one of the steps you might not be able to bypass in becoming a professional blacksmith. All masters were once an apprentice. Being an apprentice requires submissiveness, commitment, hard work, and willingness to learn.
How to be a blacksmith apprentice is quite easy once you identify your potential master. After you have attended these classes, the next best step is to become an apprentice. Look for apprenticeships or internships near you. This phase will help you learn from actual blacksmiths who are ‘out on the field.’ Likewise, it will expose you to a more practical aspect of the trade and enhance your mastering of the skills. You will get to work with different materials and carry out several processes under supervision.
Likewise, you will be able to carry out your regular practice, which will consequently accelerate your skill mastering.
Note:
However, not all apprenticeship is free. Some are priced. Nevertheless, if you are committed to becoming a professional, then paying for learning should not be a problem.
After you have apprenticed for at least a year, you may consider starting your shop. It will be better to start small and then build it up from there. You have the tools, and you have the skills. Now, all you have to do is market your business and your work.
The key to making this business successful is to build a base of happy and satisfied customers (who will recommend you to their friends) and make a right name for yourself. From there on, you can begin your journey to the apex of your career. Also, you don’t have to start big. You can start small and expand your brand gradually.
Pro Tip
You might not even have to build a workshop before you start. Start from your backyard before moving ahead to build a shop. Another critical factor you need to consider before starting your workshop is the government policy in your area. Also, you should start by focusing on becoming a better blacksmith for a start before concentrating on looking for the customer base.
Step 7: Create a Specialty for Yourself
It is best if people can recognize you as a master in a particular aspect of blacksmithing. Therefore, you should determine what you are best at and focus on harnessing that skill. Focus on making more of those products, and make them well, as this will add to your training qualifications.
Choose a specialty that is not already common in your community, so you do not have to worry about too much competition. It is better than trying to be a general blacksmith with all types of skills. The craft is too broad for you to become a master in all aspects of the art.
Pro Tip
You can decide to choose artistic blacksmithing, welding, or forging knives and blades. However, specializing in one aspect of the craft does not mean you should be ignorant about the rest. It only means you are focusing most of your energy in harnessing the skills of a particular aspect while having a general knowledge of the rest.
Step 8: Start Taking Interns and Apprentices
Once you can overcome the growth phase, and you are fully established, you can move on to taking interns and apprentices. Give room for aspiring blacksmiths to intern at your shop. This phase will make more people see you as a professional and also help boost your confidence.
Likewise, your workshop might be more than what you can handle at this point. Having apprentices and interns can lend you helping hands while teaching them the trade. Other than that, teaching helps you aspire to get better; so, you can be sure that while you are preparing a young apprentice, you will also be learning.
Consequently, taking in interns and apprentices will not only help those you are taking, but it will also help you get better and attain the position of a master in the craft.
Note:
There is no special thing to learn about how to become an apprentice as long as you have interest and you are ready to learn.
Step 9: Practice
Just like every other profession, trade, or business, blacksmithing requires relentless training. Never stop practicing. With blacksmithing, there are no limits. You can only get better and better. Aside from the fact that it will help you get better; it will also keep you sharp and up to date with your skills.
Likewise, you should watch out for the evolution in your field. Update your skills, learn how to use the latest tools, continue attending conferences, stay in touch with other professionals around the world through online forums and social media.
Have you started making any money yet? Yes? Congratulations! You are now a professional blacksmith. One of the important definitions of a professional is one that earns a living from blacksmithing. There is no limit to the amount of money you can make from this trade.
There are a lot of ways that you can make a limitless amount of money. Unlike blacksmith hobbyists that only find pleasure in making lovely things from anvils, professionals are interested in creating a career from the trade. Therefore, one of the measures of how professional you have gotten with blacksmithing is how much people are willing to pay for your products.
The quality of your work and the creativity in it will also influence how much value people will attach to it. And the quality and creativity in your work can be a measure of your professionalism.
Quick Note
Overall, following the above steps will help you navigate your route to the top of your blacksmithing career. Don’t forget the striking difference between blacksmith hobbyists and professional blacksmiths is the ability to make a living from it.
Simultaneously as you are aiming to become a professional blacksmith, you should be considering how you can make money from the profession. Let’s take a quick look at how you can make a living from this trade.
FAQs
Question
How long does it take to become a blacksmith?
Just like Rome is not built in a day, you cannot become a professional blacksmith in a day. It might take you a year or two to get to this point. Becoming a professional at anything is never reached by sudden flight.
A lot of hard work, patience, and determination often go into preparation. But once you master the skills, it becomes a part of you forever.
The journey to becoming a blacksmith is not an easy process. Neither is it too complicated if you know the right step to follow. If need be, you can pick a mentor from the multitude of experienced and professional blacksmiths around you. These mentors can help you ease the rigor of the journey.
To become a professional blacksmith, it is best if you start slowly. Develop interest in the trade and make it your hobby. Invest your time, resources, and be ready to learn. If you think you are physically and mentally prepared to undergo the process, it will take you to become a professional
Question
Who Is a Professional Blacksmith?
There are a lot of misconceptions about the blacksmithing trade. Some DIY enthusiasts are not sure if they should categorize themselves as professional blacksmiths or not. Similarly, most onlookers find it challenging to figure out the difference between hobbyists and professional blacksmiths.
A professional blacksmith is someone that earns full or partial income from blacksmithing. They include those that can make beautiful projects from metals using necessary tools like an anvil, forge, hammer and tongs.
A hobbyist can also be considered as a professional blacksmith. The condition involved is that the hobbyist must be able to make major projects from steel and metal, using various blacksmithing processes.
Now that you already understand who a professional is, the next step is to become a professional blacksmith. Let’s get started!
Question
How to Make Money from Blacksmithing Trade?
A common question among beginner blacksmiths and other onlookers is “can you make money blacksmithing?” The answer is quite simple. As long as you already understood how to become a blacksmith, making money is part of the process. Below are some common ways you can make money from this craft.
Sale of Blacksmithing Materials
One of the best ways you can make passive but massive income from this craft is by selling various blacksmithing materials. The materials can include different types of metals, tools, forge fuels, and even blacksmith’s protective wears.
You can also go into the acquisition and sale of scrap metals. Also, importantly, you don’t have to forge these tools by yourself. You can either purchase them for resale or acquire used ones and polish them before selling.
Teaching Blacksmithing
Teaching blacksmithing is another way that professionals earn passive income from the trade. You can make money from your interns and apprentice by offering a paid service.
Teaching blacksmithing is now relatively more straightforward, thanks to the advancement in global technology. You can teach a wide range of audience with one-on-one contact with them. It is possible to teach them on various online platforms such as YouTube and other social media platforms. You can also teach the craft passively by writing books and article publications.
Forging and Welding
Forging and welding are conventional with many professional blacksmiths. It comes in a variety of forms. You can make varieties of products and put them up for sale.
To be on a safe side, you can also choose to forge and make products only on orders. The frequently forged products by blacksmiths include swords, knives, nails, rings, hammers, tongs, and so on.
You can also involve in some form of high welding, such as structural and architectural designs. These structural designs include gates, railings, cabinets, and so on.
Operating Blacksmithing Craft Gallery
Operating art galleries is another effective way professional blacksmith make massive income from the trade. The gallery will have collections of beautiful, unique, and ancient blacksmithing works.
You can earn by charging visitors for tickets before allowing them access into the gallery. Likewise, you can help other blacksmiths put up their craft for sale in the gallery. You will earn by charging a certain percentage of the cost. An art gallery is also one of the ways that the history and dignity of the trade can be preserved.
In general, how much money you can make from this craft is dependent massively on the individual involved in the trade. It can be highly dependent on the level of your creativity, skills, attitude to work, business strategy, and so on.
Question
How Much Money Can You Make As a Professional Blacksmith?
Unlike salary or other fixed income earners, the income of blacksmiths varies. There is no limit or restriction to how much money you can make as a blacksmith. You will see the future of endless possibilities for ceaseless income flow if you check through blacksmiths’ ways to make money.
It is safe to say that the harder and better you work, the more money you can make from the trade. The better and more quality of your work is, the more money people are ready to pay to secure your services and acquire your products.
Question
What are the Requirements for Becoming A Professional Blacksmith?
A lot of people wrongfully carry the impression that you have to meet specific extreme requirements before you become a professional. As much as blacksmithing is not just hitting a piece of metal, there are no high-level standards.
You will make a good blacksmith and reach the professional level in no time if you meet the following requirement;
Enormous interest in the blacksmithing trade and pleasure in handling various blacksmithing tools.
Commitment, hard work, and willingness to learn.
Creativity and prudence.
Have a general and specialized knowledge of various blacksmithing skills.
Physical strength, mental focus, and agility.
Financial intelligence and business, and ethics.
Good hearing and vision.
Question
What are the Education Requirements for Professional Blacksmiths?
Unlike many other professions, blacksmithing does not explicitly set any academic standard to be called a professional. Formal education is usually left at the choice of individual blacksmiths as there are no general requirements. You can reach the peak of your blacksmithing career without having a formal education.
Nevertheless, having a degree or other professional qualification is always a plus for blacksmiths. It will even be more relevant if you attend a blacksmithing school or earn a professional certification in a similar field. Aside from the fact that formal education will broaden your knowledge and open your mind, it will also add a lot of respect to your name.
You can get blacksmithing courses and certifications in various colleges and universities. Some of these formal education courses usually come in the form of blacksmith apprenticeship program. You can also take online courses and certifications if you cannot find colleges or universities that offer such courses in your location.
Finding courses that are specific for blacksmiths can be a little bit difficult. In this case, you can take similar or related courses if you are interested in getting a formal education. Commonly related courses include courses in welding, metal works, painting, casting, sculpture, and so on.
Overall, as much as formal education is not a necessity for blacksmithing, it doesn’t mean getting a formal degree is irrelevant. Considering the calculative and business aspect of the blacksmithing trade, it is even recommended for blacksmiths to at least have the formal primary education. Basic education includes how to read, write, and carry out simple calculations.
Question
What Do Professional Blacksmiths Do?
The specific duties of professional blacksmiths are one of the most common questions beginners often ask. The problem is, however, significant because it will get beginners prepared for the journey ahead.
One of the significant things professional blacksmiths do is that they shape pieces of metals to give a product of definite use. They also join these individual pieces of metals together to create bigger and broader products. They can even forge out useful products from scrap and discarded parts of metals.
Forging metals is a general duty of professional blacksmiths. Metals are usually hard and unworkable when it is cold. Consequently, blacksmiths heat metals in the forge to the point where they can be easily beaten to give the desired shape and form.
Professionals usually understand the unique properties of blacksmithing materials. They also know the appropriate temperature for each type of material and the projects that they are suitable for in forging. They can also create useful materials from scrapped metals.
Professional blacksmiths use their forging, welding, and hammering skills to make critical domestic materials such as knives, cabinets, cooking wares, etc. They also make more pronounced structures such as gates, railings, sculptures, and so on.
Blacksmiths also create industrial products such as blacksmithing tools (hammers, tongs, forges, chisels, and anvils), machines, structural frames, as well as other practical items. Aside from rendering service and selling products locally, they can also sell their products abroad. They can also sell their products at craft exhibitions, fairs, and also put them up for sale in art galleries.
Question
What can I make as a professional blacksmith?
One of the qualities of a professional blacksmith is creating several useful products and materials from metals. There is no limit to what they can make with metals. They can make various hardware, blacksmithing tools, dinner bells, bottle openers, doors, weapons, security accessories, and other similar useful materials.
Question
Can you teach yourself, blacksmithing?
You can self-teach many things when it comes to the blacksmithing trade, but you might not be able to teach yourself to become a professional blacksmith. You can learn by yourself by reading books, watching useful videos, and try out several projects. However, it is almost inevitable to need help, particularly with the practical steps.
Question
Is blacksmithing a profitable profession?
Blacksmithing is a great profession, just like most other crafts. It is one of the best professions because it offers a stable source of income, flexible work hours, as well as the liberty to get creative and exhibit your skills. Likewise, it can help you to stay fit, both physically and mentally.
Question
What tools do beginner blacksmiths need?
Beginner blacksmiths only need the essential tools to kick start their journey to become a professional. These essential tools include anvils, hammers, tongs, forge, vice, hammer, and necessary protective materials
Question
How difficult is blacksmithing?
Blacksmithing is not extremely difficult; however, it requires a high level of commitment spiced with hard work and creativity. If you aim to become a professional in this craft, you should be ready to undergo some rigorous learning processes.
Question
Is blacksmithing dangerous?
Blacksmithing comes with its work hazard, just like most other crafts. Nevertheless, it is easy to say that blacksmithing is one of the most hazardous crafts. It deals with fire, very hot metals, and repeated heavy hammer blows. It is possible to get scars and burns from these processes quickly.
However, you can mitigate these hazards and dangers by putting some precautionary safety measures in place. Putting on your safety gears (gloves, aprons, etc.), keeping fire extinguishers and first aid kits close to you, as well as ensuring other blacksmith safety measures will ensure your safety.
Question
Is blacksmithing a dying art?
Blacksmithing is not a dying art. In fact, the relevance of this trade continues to become apparent, despite not being one of the most popular crafts. However, there are some modern upgrades to tools and skills that make them slightly different and more efficient than the medieval blacksmiths.
Question
Is blacksmithing a trade?
Of course, blacksmithing is a highly-skilled trade that involves creating artistic, custom, and useful products. These products are sellable, and blacksmiths often make a lot of money from sales. Blacksmiths can also repair objects, as long as they are made of steel and metals.
Question
Where can I learn blacksmithing?
Learning blacksmithing is not a problem as long as you are ready to go through the process. The first thing to do is locate a professional blacksmith workshop close to you and register for an apprenticeship. You can also help yourself by reading books, watching helpful videos, and trying out various light projects.
Question
Do I need a license to work as a professional blacksmith?
The question about needing a license to operate as a professional blacksmith is dependent on your location. Some countries require it while others do not. It is best to understand the legal demands of the location and obtain a license if necessary.
Question
Do blacksmiths pay taxes?
Of course, blacksmiths pay taxes like other legal income earners. Blacksmithing is a legal trade that will require you to pay taxes.
Conclusion
The blacksmithing trade is one of the earliest occupations in human existence. Forging metals and iron are as old as the discovery of metals itself. A lot of people have shown increasing interest in the trade; thus, contributing to the sustainability of the deal.
However, no one is naturally born with the existing knowledge of blacksmithing. Everyone has to learn the trade, develop themselves before becoming a professional in the business. Being a professional blacksmith does not necessarily require formal education; it is more critical to acquire the skills necessary for the craft.
Contrary to the general belief that becoming a professional blacksmith is severe, you can quickly rise from an apprentice to a professional if you follow the right steps. It requires you to create interest in the trade, creativity, hard work, little capital, as well as some other simple requirements.
Professional blacksmiths also have a way of earning income and making a living from the blacksmithing trade. This feature is one of the striking differences between mere blacksmith hobbyists and professional blacksmiths.
