The Blast Furnace in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a highly efficient way of smelting ores into bars, offering players an alternative to the traditional smelting method with a significant reduction in time and effort. Unlike standard furnaces, the Blast Furnace operates with multiple machines that automate much of the process, allowing players to smelt ores at a much faster rate. In this guide, we'll dive deep into the Blast Furnace, explaining how it works, tips to maximize its efficiency, and the best ways to use it to make profits or gain experience.
What is the Blast Furnace?
The Blast Furnace is a unique furnace located in Keldagrim, the city of the Dwarves, accessible via a number of transportation methods, including the Dwarven Boat or a mining cart from Taverley. Unlike regular furnaces in OSRS gold, the Blast Furnace offers several advantages:
Double Output: You can smelt two bars at a time for the price of one coal, making it much more cost-efficient.
Faster Smelting: It significantly speeds up the process of smelting ores into bars, allowing for up to 2,000 ores to be processed per hour, depending on your efficiency and knowledge of the Blast Furnace mechanics.
Smelting Multiple Ores: You can smelt a variety of ores, including Iron, Steel, Mithril, Adamantite, and Runite bars, making it a useful tool for high-level smithing.
To use the Blast Furnace, you'll need to understand the mechanics and requirements for using the furnace effectively. So, let's break it down.
How to Access the Blast Furnace
Before you can start using the Blast Furnace, there are a few prerequisites and preparations to make:
Keldagrim Access: To get to the Blast Furnace, you'll first need to gain access to Keldagrim. This requires completing the “Dwarf Cannon” quest. Once you have completed it, you can use the minecart system from Taverley or take the Dwarven Boat from the Ice Mountain area.
The Furnace Setup: When you enter the Blast Furnace area, you'll find several key stations:
Ore Hopper: Where ores are added into the furnace. The ores are then automatically sent into the furnace.
Fuel Station: Where you need to add coal to fuel the furnace.
Blast Furnace Operator: This NPC provides useful information and a set of protective clothing.
Bar Delivery System: After the ores have been smelted, the bars are automatically delivered to a conveyor belt, which brings them to a nearby location.
Blast Furnace Mechanics
The Blast Furnace works on a basic system of fueling, feeding, and cooling ores:
Ores & Coal Ratios: For each bar you want to smelt, you need a specific ore and coal ratio. The furnace works in the following way:
Iron bars: Requires 1 ore and 1 coal per bar.
Steel bars: Requires 1 iron ore and 2 coal.
Mithril, Adamantite, and Runite bars require similar ratios, depending on the type of ore.
Ore Hopper: This is the first step in the furnace system. You will add your ores to the Ore Hopper. The furnace will automatically feed them into the machine once you add the necessary coal.
Coal: Coal is placed into the fuel station to keep the furnace running. Each smelting action requires a set amount of coal, which is combined with the ore in the furnace. You must ensure that the fuel level is high enough; otherwise, the furnace will stop functioning.
Bar Delivery System: Once the ores are smelted into bars, they are automatically delivered to a nearby conveyor belt. You can then pick up the bars from this location.
Protective Clothing
Due to the high heat and dangerous nature of the Blast Furnace, players must wear special protective clothing to avoid being burned. These clothes are available from the Blast Furnace Operator and include:
Blast Furnace helmet (required)
Protective gloves (required)
Apron (required)
The protective gear is crucial to buy OSRS gold ensuring your safety while using the furnace. Without it, you'll be repeatedly harmed by the heat, making it difficult to operate efficiently. Luckily, the clothing is inexpensive, and once you've bought them, they'll last for a long time.