Smelter

The Smelter is the essential metal refining building available to both Folktails and Iron Teeth, unlocked for 500 Science Points and built from 50 Planks, 20 Gears, and 30 Scrap Metal. This 2x4 structure employs 1 worker and requires 200 horsepower to operate, converting raw Scrap Metal into refined Metal Blocks. Each production cycle takes 2 Scrap Metal and 0.2 Logs (effectively 1 Log per 5 cycles) and produces 1 Metal Block in 2 hours. Internal storage holds 26 Scrap Metal, 13 Logs, and 13 Metal Blocks, providing reasonable buffering for continuous operation.

Metal Blocks are a high-tier construction material required for many advanced buildings, including the Printing Press (30 Metal Blocks), Food Factory (10 Metal Blocks), Coffee Brewery (15 Metal Blocks), and various other late-game structures. The Smelter processes Scrap Metal collected by Scavenger Flags (from surface Ruins) or extracted by the Mine and Efficient Mine (from Underground Ruins). A single Mine with 10 workers running at full capacity can supply approximately 2.77 Smelters, so plan your smelting capacity to match your mining output. The small Log fuel requirement is easily met by a nearby Lumberjack Flag, adding negligible overhead to your wood economy.

The 200 horsepower demand makes the Smelter one of the most power-hungry buildings in the game, requiring a robust power grid from multiple Water Wheels, engines, or Windmills. Position your Smelters near your mines or Scrap Metal warehouses to minimize hauling distances, and ensure a reliable fuel Log supply. Following improvements in Update 7, the Smelter now produces Metal Blocks twice as fast as in earlier versions, making it significantly more efficient. Both factions have access to the Smelter with unique visual models, and it serves as the single chokepoint for all metal production in your colony. Build multiple Smelters as your mining operations scale up, and stockpile Metal Blocks in advance of major construction projects to avoid frustrating bottlenecks.