I only had "a" axe since I only know how to make stockpiles, a chicken coop and set up some fields and pray for the best, my fort was sitting on a stockpile of raw gold steel and rubies because I have no idea how to smelt or forge.
I only had "a" axe since I only know how to make stockpiles, a chicken coop and set up some fields and pray for the best, my fort was sitting on a stockpile of raw gold steel and rubies because I have no idea how to smelt or forge.
In my opinion the smelting works are one of the harder things to do in Dwarf Fortress.
(A decent leather / clothing industry is tricky as well).
Maybe this image can help you out a bit :
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/File:DFflowchart.pngTo make metal bars (forget about alloys), you can do 3 things:
1.
Use a lot of wood.
Ie. You need to be in an area with atleast some trees (nowadays they drop a lot more wood, but grow slower?)
Use a wood furnace to make charcoal, use charcoal in your smelters to combine with an ore stone. (I think the menu of the smelter will show all available options, but you -need- charcoal)
Once you made regular bars (iron/silver/what be it) you can make alloys, but I'd skip that part until your stockpile has enough metal bars.
Alloys :
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Metal#Alloys_2Alloys can be useful, when certain stronger materials don't exist, or when you need more bars than the original ore gave you.
2. Combination of #1 and 'coal'.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:FuelIf your embark includes coal, you can use this to get more fuel to smelt your metals with.
First you need at least 1 regular fuel type, charcoal, which is burnt wood.
After which you can use that 1 fuel item to make many more, using coal.
3. Use magma
Depending on the embark, I found this to be the more difficult (But most rewarding).
Either get all the magma from the bottom of the map, using a pump stack.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/v0.34:Screw_pump#Pump_stackHowever, you need a lot of magma-safe materials and patience to get it up and running.
Easiest is.. find a volcano, embark on it and drain the sucker.
Open up 1 tile under your smelters, possible use a grate to keep nasties (magma man/imp) out and place your 'magma' workshops there. (and fill the level below the workshops up with magma).
You still need regular fuel, if you want to use steel. (in order for the flux part, if not mistaken)