Online Blacksmithing Classes

Are there online blacksmithing classes?

There are online blacksmithing classes you can take right now, on your own schedule.

From basic blacksmith startup costs to the fundamentals to knife making, it’s all available.

To offer you the best options, we’ve partnered with Forged in Fire champion Ben Abbott at BilletToBlade.com.

Where Can I Learn Blacksmithing Online?

There are two main options out there for picking up blacksmithing:

1. Searching through YouTube (which you’ve probably already done).
2. Enrolling in one of Ben Abbott’s courses at BilletToBlade.com.

Searching Through YouTube

Pros

• It’s free. All it costs you is your time.
• There are so many different projects you can get a birds-eye view of.

Cons

• A step-by-step structure might be lacking in some of the videos.
• Organization might be all over the place.
• You could be dealing with conflicting information.

Billet to Blade Courses

 

Pros

• It was built with the beginner in mind. You follow video lessons step-by-step until you have a clear idea of what you need to get started, what skills you need to practice, and how to save a lot of money on equipment.
• Well-defined projects explained clearly by a professional blacksmith and bladesmith.

Cons

• Not all courses are free. As mentioned above, there is a cost to it so it might not be for everyone.
• You will need to collect your own equipment. Luckily, Mr. Abbott offers a free course laying out what you will need at BilletToBlade.com.

What All Do I Get in the Billet to Blade Online Courses?

Here is a sample of what’s included in the Chef’s Knife Course:

• Getting started and selecting your steel
• Shopping List
• Preparing your steel
• Getting familiar with your tools
• Moving metal for the first time
• Basic hammering techniques
• Forging steel
• Forging the shape
• Adding your Maker’s Mark
• Thermocycling with a forge
• Thermocycling with a kiln
• The Double Quench
• Grinding
• Planning your handle
• Profiling your blade
• Finishing touches – Hand sanding
• Handles and bolsters
• 3D model of the Blade
• Problem solving your bolster
• Attaching the bolster
• Preparing the tang
• Choosing your handle materials
• Creating your handle scales
• Attaching the handle
• The Final Shaping
• Buffing your handle to a shine
• Edge geometry
• Sharpening your blade

BONUS:

• Caring for your heirloom chef’s knife
• Knife show and tell
• Handle material: show and tell

You can pause and come back to a lesson any time you need to. There’s no expiration date on it.

It’s fully organized with step-by-step lessons to get you up to speed with modern blacksmithing.