Blast Furnace Gold Bars in OSRS: The Ultimate Guide to Smelting Gold Efficiently

If you’re an Old School RuneScape (OSRS) player looking to level up your Smithing skill quickly or make some decent in-game profit, the Blast Furnace is one of the best methods available. Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace offers some of the highest Smithing XP rates in the game, making it a go-to choice for players aiming for that coveted level 99 Smithing cape. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace in OSRS, including requirements, methods, XP rates, costs, and tips to maximize efficiency. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, this blog post will help you master the art of Blast Furnace gold bars.

The Blast Furnace is a members-only minigame located in Keldagrim, a dwarven city in OSRS. It’s a unique smelting facility that allows players to produce metal bars in bulk, using half the coal typically required for high-tier ores like mithril, adamantite, and runite. However, when it comes to gold bars, no coal is needed at all, making it an incredibly efficient method for both XP and resource management. The Blast Furnace is especially popular on designated worlds where dwarven NPCs operate the machinery, letting you focus solely on smelting.

Why Choose Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace?

Gold bars are a standout choice at the Blast Furnace because they offer the fastest Smithing XP per hour in OSRS when paired with the right gear. Unlike other bars that require coal, gold ore can be smelted directly into bars, streamlining the process. Plus, with the right setup, you can achieve upwards of 300,000–400,000 XP per hour, making it a top-tier training method for Smithing enthusiasts.

How to Access the Blast Furnace

To use the Blast Furnace, you’ll need to unlock access to Keldagrim by starting The Giant Dwarf quest. This is the only hard requirement, though additional preparations can enhance your experience. Once in Keldagrim, head to the eastern side of the city, where the Blast Furnace is located in a building marked with a furnace icon. For the fastest travel, use the minigame teleport (available after visiting once) or the minecart from the Grand Exchange.

Requirements for Smelting Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace

Before you dive into smelting gold bars, you’ll need to meet some basic requirements and gather essential items. While the Blast Furnace itself is accessible to all levels, optimizing your XP rates requires specific gear and preparation.

Skill and Quest Requirements

• Smithing Level 40: Required to smelt gold bars (though you can start using the Blast Furnace at any Smithing level).
• The Giant Dwarf Quest (Started): Grants access to Keldagrim.
• Family Crest Quest (Optional but Recommended): Unlocks Goldsmith Gauntlets, which significantly boost XP when smelting gold.

Essential Items for Efficiency

To maximize your efficiency at the Blast Furnace, consider bringing the following items:

• Goldsmith Gauntlets: Boosts XP from 22.5 to 56.2 per gold bar.
• Ice Gloves: Allows you to pick up hot bars from the dispenser without waiting for them to cool.
• Stamina Potions: Restores run energy for continuous trips between the bank and furnace.
• Weight-Reducing Gear: Such as the Graceful outfit, to minimize run energy depletion.
• Coins: 72,000 GP per hour on Blast Furnace worlds, plus 2,500 GP every 10 minutes if below 60 Smithing.

Recommended Blast Furnace Worlds

For the easiest experience, use one of the official Blast Furnace worlds (e.g., Worlds 352, 355, 358, 386, 387). On these worlds, dwarven NPCs handle the furnace mechanics, costing 72,000 GP per hour, but freeing you to focus on smelting. Deposit your coins in the coffer near the bank chest to keep the dwarves working.

How to Smelt Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace

Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace is straightforward once you’ve got your setup ready. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started, along with tips to optimize your runs.

Step-by-Step Smelting Process

1. Prepare Your Inventory: Equip Goldsmith Gauntlets, and keep Ice Gloves and a Stamina Potion in your inventory. Withdraw 27 gold ores from the bank chest.
2. Deposit Ores: Run to the conveyor belt and place all 27 gold ores on it.
3. Wait for XP Drop: Stay equipped with Goldsmith Gauntlets until you see the XP drop (1,517.4 XP for 27 bars). This ensures you get the boosted XP rate.
4. Switch Gloves: After the XP drop, equip Ice Gloves and run to the bar dispenser to collect your 27 gold bars.
5. Bank and Repeat: Return to the bank chest, deposit the bars, withdraw another 27 gold ores, and repeat the cycle. Sip a Stamina Potion when your run energy gets low.

Tips for Maximum Efficiency

• Timing is Key: Don’t switch to Ice Gloves too early, or you’ll miss out on the Goldsmith Gauntlets’ XP boost.
• 0-Tick Banking: With precise clicks, deposit bars and withdraw ores on the same game tick to minimize downtime. Use a resizable client with transparent chatbox settings for easier clicking.
• Pre-Fill Bank: Use bank fillers to clear placeholders for gloves, ensuring quick deposits without accidentally banking essential items.

XP Rates and Costs of Smelting Gold Bars

Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace is all about balancing XP gains with costs. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in terms of experience rates and expenses.

Experience Rates

With the optimal setup (Goldsmith Gauntlets, Ice Gloves, and Stamina Potions), you can achieve the following XP rates:

Method	XP per Hour	Notes
Solo Smelting	300,000–370,000	Assumes efficient banking and glove switching.
With Runners	Up to 420,000	Requires coordination with players trading gold ore for bars.
No Goldsmith Gauntlets	~150,000	Half the XP rate, not recommended.

Cost Breakdown

While the XP rates are impressive, smelting gold bars is a costly endeavor. Here’s an estimated cost per hour:

• Gold Ore: ~350–400 GP each x 2,500 ores/hour = ~875,000–1,000,000 GP.
• Blast Furnace Fee: 72,000 GP/hour on official worlds.
• Stamina Potions: ~10,000–15,000 GP/hour (40 doses at 250–375 GP each).
• Total Cost: Approximately 950,000–1,100,000 GP/hour.

Note: Selling gold bars (worth ~150–200 GP each) offsets some costs, but you’ll still lose money overall. The trade-off is the unmatched XP rate.

Advanced Strategies and Alternatives

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can explore advanced techniques or alternative methods to tweak your Blast Furnace experience.

Hybrid Smelting Method

For players looking to reduce costs while maintaining decent XP, consider the hybrid method. This involves smelting gold bars alongside another ore (e.g., mithril, adamantite, or runite) that requires coal. You’ll need a coal bag, Goldsmith Gauntlets, and Ice Gloves. Here’s how it works:

1. Fill your coal bag with 27 coal and your inventory with 26 gold ores.
2. Deposit everything on the conveyor belt.
3. Switch between gloves as usual, then bank and repeat with a mix of coal and other ores.

This method cuts gold ore costs by ~30% while adding profit from higher-value bars, though XP drops to ~250,000–300,000 per hour.

Using Runners for Max XP

Wealthy players can hire runners to trade gold ore for bars, eliminating banking time. This pushes XP rates to 400,000+ per hour but requires paying runners (e.g., 7M GP/hour) and precise coordination, making it a luxury option.

Alternatives to Gold Bars

If gold smelting feels too expensive, consider these alternatives:

• Mithril Bars: Decent XP (~120,000/hour) and profit with half coal usage.
• Runite Bars: Lower XP (~100,000/hour) but high profit (1M+ GP/hour).
• Anvil Smithing: Slower but cheaper, e.g., mithril platebodies at Varrock anvil.

Final Thoughts on Blast Furnace Gold Bars

Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace in OSRS is the pinnacle of Smithing training for those willing to invest the gold. With XP rates soaring past 300,000 per hour and the potential to hit 99 Smithing in record time, it’s a method that rewards dedication and precision. While the costs are steep—often exceeding 1M GP per hour—the efficiency and satisfaction of watching your Smithing level skyrocket make it worthwhile for many players. Equip your Goldsmith Gauntlets, grab your Ice Gloves, and head to Keldagrim to start smelting today!

Have you tried the Blast Furnace for gold bars? Share your tips or XP rates in the comments below, and happy smithing!