Redstone and Furnaces: Can You Really Power Smelting with Dust?

The short answer is no, you cannot directly power a furnace in Minecraft with redstone to smelt items without fuel. Despite some outdated information suggesting otherwise, redstone signals do not act as fuel for furnaces in the standard versions of Minecraft.

Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics of furnaces, explore alternative methods of automation, and debunk some myths surrounding redstone’s capabilities.

Understanding Furnace Mechanics

Minecraft’s furnace is a fundamental block used for smelting ores, cooking food, and transforming various materials. It requires two key inputs:

• Item to be smelted: The raw material that needs processing (e.g., raw iron ore).
• Fuel: The energy source that powers the smelting process (e.g., coal, charcoal, lava bucket).

When both inputs are present, the furnace consumes the fuel and transforms the input item into its processed form. The absence of either input prevents the furnace from functioning.

The Redstone Myth: Debunked

The idea that redstone can power a furnace stems from older versions or modded versions of Minecraft. Some mods, like Tekkit or Feed the Beast, may have introduced “Redstone Furnaces” or similar mechanics where redstone interaction altered furnace behavior. However, in vanilla Minecraft (the standard, unmodded game), redstone’s role is limited to automation and control, not direct fuel replacement.

You can use redstone circuits to automate the process of inserting items and fuel into a furnace, but redstone cannot directly substitute for fuel itself.

Automating Your Furnace System

While redstone can’t power a furnace, it’s crucial for automating the entire smelting process. This is where redstone truly shines, allowing you to create efficient and hands-free systems:

Basic Automation

• Hoppers: Hoppers are essential for automated input and output. Place a hopper above the furnace to feed it items to be smelted, a hopper to the side or back to feed it fuel, and a hopper below to collect the smelted output.
• Redstone Signals: Use redstone circuits to control the flow of items into the hoppers. For example, a comparator can detect the number of items in the furnace and activate a hopper to add more fuel only when needed.
• Droppers: Droppers can be used instead of hoppers to actively push items into the furnace. They are particularly useful in vertical setups or when precise item placement is required.

Advanced Automation

• Item Sorting: Implement item sorting systems using hoppers, comparators, and redstone torches to direct different types of items to specific furnaces.
• Fuel Efficiency: Design circuits that optimize fuel consumption by activating the furnace only when there are items waiting to be smelted.
• Multiple Furnaces: Create large-scale automated smelting arrays by connecting multiple furnaces to a central control system.

Best Fuel Sources

Optimizing your furnace system also involves choosing the right fuel. Here’s a rundown of common fuel sources in Minecraft:

• Lava Bucket: Smelts 100 items, longest burn time. Not stackable.
• Block of Coal: Smelts 80 items, highly efficient.
• Coal/Charcoal: Smelts 8 items, readily available.
• Blaze Rod: Smelts 12 items, renewable through blaze farms.
• Wood/Saplings: Smelts a few items, suitable for early game.
• Dried Kelp Block: Smelts 20 Items, good renewable resource.

The Block of Coal is generally considered the best all-around choice due to its high smelting capacity and stackability. Lava buckets are an excellent option if you have a readily available source, but their non-stackable nature can make them less convenient for large-scale automation.

Blast Furnaces and Smokers

For specialized smelting, consider using blast furnaces and smokers.

• Blast Furnaces: Smelt ores and metal-based items (iron, gold, armor, tools) twice as fast as regular furnaces.
• Smokers: Cook food items twice as fast as regular furnaces.

These specialized furnaces provide a significant speed boost for specific tasks, making them valuable additions to any automated system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I power a furnace with redstone in vanilla Minecraft?

No, you cannot directly power a furnace with redstone in the standard, unmodded version of Minecraft. Redstone is used for automation, not as a fuel source.

2. What items can be used as fuel in a furnace?

Common fuel items include coal, charcoal, lava buckets, blaze rods, wood, saplings, and dried kelp blocks. The burning time varies for each fuel source.

3. What is the most efficient fuel for a furnace?

The block of coal is considered the most efficient all-around fuel source due to its high smelting capacity (80 items) and stackability.

4. How do I automate a furnace in Minecraft?

Use hoppers to feed items and fuel into the furnace, and to collect the smelted output. Redstone circuits can be used to control the flow of items and optimize fuel consumption.

5. What is a blast furnace, and how is it different from a regular furnace?

A blast furnace smelts ores and metal-based items twice as fast as a regular furnace. However, it can only be used for specific items, such as raw ores, iron, gold, armor, and tools.

6. What is a smoker, and how is it different from a regular furnace?

A smoker cooks food items twice as fast as a regular furnace. It is specifically designed for cooking food and cannot be used for smelting ores or other materials.

7. How long does a lava bucket last in a furnace?

A lava bucket lasts for 1000 seconds and smelts 100 items. After use, it returns an empty bucket.

8. Is it better to use a lava bucket or a block of coal for fuel?

A lava bucket has a longer burn time (1000 seconds) compared to a block of coal (800 seconds). However, a block of coal is stackable, making it more convenient for large-scale automation.

9. Can I use kelp as fuel in Minecraft?

Yes, dried kelp blocks can be used as fuel in furnaces, blast furnaces, and smokers. It smelts 20 items.

10. What is the fastest way to smelt ores in Minecraft?

Use a blast furnace, which smelts ores twice as fast as a regular furnace.

11. Can I make a furnace stay lit all the time?

In Java Edition, you can use commands to create a lit furnace that remains lit regardless of whether it contains items or fuel. In Bedrock Edition, this can only be achieved through inventory editing.

12. Do campfires cook food faster than furnaces?

No, campfires cook food much slower than furnaces or smokers. Campfires take 30 seconds to cook an item, while furnaces take 10 seconds, and smokers take 5 seconds.

13. Is there a way to make my furnace more fuel-efficient?

Yes, use redstone comparators to detect the number of items in the furnace and activate the fuel supply only when necessary. This prevents the furnace from burning fuel unnecessarily.

14. What is the best way to scoop up lava in Minecraft?

Use an empty bucket to scoop up lava from a lava source. Be cautious when handling lava to avoid taking damage.

15. Where can I learn more about redstone mechanics and automation in Minecraft?

There are numerous online resources, tutorials, and communities dedicated to redstone in Minecraft. You can also explore educational platforms like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, which explores the educational potential of games.

Conclusion

While the idea of powering a furnace with redstone directly might be appealing, it’s simply not a feature of vanilla Minecraft. Redstone’s true power lies in its ability to automate and control complex systems, including furnace setups. By mastering redstone mechanics and understanding the various fuel options, you can create efficient and automated smelting systems that streamline your Minecraft gameplay.