I have assumed this would be a topic on the forums, but it seems that it isn't.
I have recently died again, and it seems that my ore has a lower chance of smelting. I have looked through the forums and the wiki, and have found that there is nothing said about changing the chance of smelting ore into a bar. I am aware there are many factors, such as the ql of the ore smelter, and some skills, so I would just really like it if some expert here (probably going to be Sevenless again) tell me what changes smelting chance, if anything, and specifically, what skills. I am pretty sure it is affected by masonry, but I have no way to be certain