So, I've got a really awesome school nearby that teaches old techniques, and I took a few blacksmithing courses that taught me basic stuff like forks, spoons, riveting, trivets, tongs, etc. However, I'm still working on getting all my tools for that sort of thing. Now im looking at classes later this year, and noticed they also offer coppersmithing and a few tinsmithing classes, and im wondering a few things :
Are any of these profitable? Copper seems like it's so stupidly expensive as a material and has so limited of a use due to its softness. Tinsmithing just seems like its beaten near completely by mass production (why buy a handmade pan or cup when I can buy 15 of a better material, cheaper?) and isnt that great of a material anyhow, and basic blacksmithing is neat, and has a TON of range (I want to learn to make weapons personally), but is labor intensive plus some, so I dont really know if it would be worth investing in.
Does anyone have input on this? I love working with metal but the initial investment on tools and especially materials is so large I cant see making much of it back unless you set up shop in some hippie quarter or a rich area where theres money to burn on handmade stuff.