A lot of people have prejudices about the complexity of blacksmithing. Like any other craft, blacksmithing requires some level of learning and practice. You cannot expect to learn anything without effort. In this article, we decided to answer these questions that are frequently asked.
Is blacksmithing hard to learn? Blacksmithing is typically not hard to learn as long as you put enough practice and studying into it. To learn blacksmithing, it is not enough just to read books, you have to put learned things into practice. In just a couple of months, you can learn some basic skills whereas in several years you can become a professional smith.
Now, don’t get me wrong, you cannot just practice without knowing what to do. Before practice, you should get the idea of what blacksmithing is, what tools you need, what techniques you must practice, and some other blacksmithing essentials. As with any learning curve, it will depend on various factors.
Which Factors Will Determine My Learning Curve in Blacksmithing?
I would bet that from 10 people who are starting blacksmithing, each of them will learn differently. No man is the same. I could see that very clearly when I was in my first blacksmithing class. There were 15-20 of us attending that class at the beginning. There was one guy who literally walked away when he saw how much he needed to learn to make his dream sword.
So today, you have many people who want to start something, but when things get a little hard, they give up. So, before I even jump into discussing the learning of blacksmithing, it is crucial to have the right mindset.
The Right Mindset in Blacksmithing
This type of mindset that will be described next is not only applicable in blacksmithing, but in any other craft, you want to learn. Okay, you decided to learn blacksmithing. There are hundreds of reasons why someone would like to learn it. Maybe someone only wants to make his dream project, like some particular tool or blade and after that be finished with blacksmithing.
Maybe you want some hobby that will keep you entertained. Or some of you may want to learn blacksmithing and turn it into a business. It is important to know your reason why you want to start with this craft. The more important reason is to you, the higher the chances are to succeed.
For example, a person who wants to turn blacksmithing into income which will provide for him and his family is far more compelling than someone who is bored and wants something to fulfill his time.
After you understand why are you doing it, it is time to commit. I don’t want to sound like some motivational speaker but the reality is that you have to commit to learning blacksmithing. There are people who would like to learn something and there are people who are committed to learning.
For example, you would love to learn 5 languages. Now, when you realize how much time and effort you must put in, there is a large possibility you will give up. On the other hand, if you truly commit to learning these 5 languages, there is no giving up. It doesn’t matter that you are not in a mood for learning today, you simply do it with no excuses.
We personally started this site with a commitment to educating as many people as we can. I must say, it is very challenging to think about the amount of content you have to write. But, when you are doing something with a purpose and commitment, you become unstoppable.
Time
“You can have more money but you cant have more time. “
Time is an incredibly important factor that determines the rate of learning. For example, a guy with a wife and 3 kids probably won’t have much time as some high-school student with plenty of free time. It is not the same to practice hammering the metal 1 hour per day, or 5 hours per day.
After some time, a guy who practiced 5 hours per day will eventually become better at blacksmithing. In the end, it all depends on how much time you will put into learning and practicing. When somebody says that blacksmithing is incredibly hard to learn, it is mostly due to their poor mindset.
When the right mindset is combined with deliberate practice, learning blacksmithing becomes easy. But don’t let the fact that you don’t have much time discourage you from starting. If you truly want something, you will find a way, if not, you will find an excuse.
In the beginning, I could spend only a couple hours per week in the workshop practicing various blacksmithing techniques. As I was working already 2 jobs, adding blacksmithing on the daily schedule seemed impossible at first. Remember that 30 minutes per day is better than nothing, so whenever you get some free time, use it for practice in the workshop.
Also, the required amount of practice is primarily determined by your goal. A person who wants to create a successful business from blacksmithing must practice more than the person who just wants to create some project for fun.
So, if your goals are related to the creation of business, your required time and effort will noticeably increase. For example, to start selling tools, you cant produce low-quality work. The good thing is that in blacksmithing, people can immediately see the difference between good and low-quality work.
Remember, nobody can create successful blacksmithing business by producing garbage. Now, it is impossible to say the exact amount of time required to learn blacksmithing because there is no measuring point. There is no particular moment when you just stop and say: “I learned blacksmithing”. Learning is a process that you should enjoy.
One of the best ways to speed up your learning is to sign up for some local blacksmithing class. One day spent with experienced blacksmiths worth more than days of reading the book. It is amazing how much you will learn in these classes. As you know, it is not the same to start blacksmithing on your own as with someone who spends years and years doing it.
Unfortunately, sometimes blacksmithing classes are not accessible to everyone. Maybe someone doesn’t have enough money or simply, there are no any blacksmithing classes in that area. Trust me, in case you sign up for that, it will be the best decision you could possibly make. Instead of making the same mistake over and over again, without realizing, the experienced blacksmith will correct you immediately in the class.
So, Where Do I Start Learning Blacksmithing?
After you know exactly what is your goal, the next step is to learn about fundamentals. With so many options online to choose from, it is impossible to say exactly where you should start. I mean, you can read books, articles, watch tutorial videos or even sign up for online blacksmithing classes.
Whatever you choose, you are good. Now the first thing I would recommend is to get to know required blacksmithing tools. Which are they? What purpose of each tool is? How to use them? These are all questions you have to ask yourself before stepping in the workshop.
When it comes to equipment and tools, don’t fall in the common trap of thinking that you must have every possible and the most expensive tool. You simply don’t. Ask any well-known blacksmith, they all started with some basic tools. The truth is that, in the beginning, all you need is some kind of anvil, a hammer, and some type of forge. That is it basically, you don’t need anything else.
As you are getting better and better, you will slowly start using more and more tools for more advanced projects. I remember one guy saying: “It is the blacksmith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the blacksmith.” There is much truth to that.
Next, when you understand your tools, it is time to learn some basic blacksmithing techniques, including drawing, upsetting, bending, cutting, and punching. Each of them has its part in making some projects. It is very important to learn all of them even if you may not use them all in one project.
What Projects Should Beginner Blacksmith Make?
While there are many different things you can make as a beginner, it is important to point out what you shouldn’t do in the beginning. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is that they jump straight into making some special blades or tools, which are considered as advanced work.
Yes, watching Forged in Fire can inspire you a lot, but you have to start slowly. Your first projects should be easy to make, otherwise, there will be a lot of frustration. To be honest, this was my mistake when I was just starting out. One of my first projects was a sword. You can guess how that went.
Because of that, we decided to write the article The List of 20 Easiest Forging Projects For Beginners so every beginner knows where to start his blacksmithing journey. Also, completing these projects will give you the confidence to move on the more advanced work.
