So correct me if I'm missing something:
In order to get Metal you have a Mine Hole or be next to a cave.
To make a Mine Hole you need 10 Hardned Leather. For 10 Hardened Leather you need 20 units of wax. Since Wild Beehives are basically impossible for a small group to harvest without having some lategame statted character since they seem to infinitely spawn bees the only possible wax is Candleberry Wax. In order to make Candleberry Wax you need to collect a what seems to be fairly rare herb, that only exists in a few biomes, and you need to collect a total of 100 of them.
Is that about right? Because if so, dragging my dick through a mile of glass seems like a more appealing prospect.