Light an ore smelter?

[RichardNixon]

I've got the metalworking skill(plus mining and of course stone working), filled it about half full and it didn't light so I tried filling it full with iron ore and that didn't work either. Do I need to put wood in it or something?

[DrStealth]

You need to provide fuel for it, then light it. Cut some wood, then click on it. Now right click on the smelter on the map view.

[RichardNixon]

Do I use blocks of wood?

[Blaze]

You have to burn the wood in a kiln to make charcoal, smelters and finery forges don't accept normal wood.

[RichardNixon]

Alright lit the kiln and am waiting for it to do it's stuff on some blocks of wood, thanks for the help.

[KoE]

It's worth noting that 4 pieces of charcoal are sufficient to convert iron ore to cast iron, and two to convert cast iron to wrought iron in a finery forge. Over that is generally a waste of resources.

[ArPharazon]

There's also currently a bug and if you let the ore sit for 3 coal's burning time, then only use 1 coal, the reaction still runs fine.