The Forge

The Forge is one of the most important early workstations in 7 Days to Die, used to smelt raw ores and reshape metals into the parts, tools, and materials that underpin nearly all advanced crafting. Establishing a Forge is a key milestone in any playthrough.

What the Forge Does

The Forge melts down materials into liquid form, which is then stored inside the station until you craft with it. You can smelt items such as iron, brass, lead, clay, sand, stone, and scrap metal. Once molten, these resources are drawn on to forge components like iron parts, tool heads, nails, arrowheads, and forged iron and steel used in building and repairs.

Fuel and Operation

The Forge requires fuel to reach smelting temperatures. Common fuels include wood, coal, and other burnable materials, with denser fuels burning longer. Load the Forge with both the materials to smelt and fuel to keep it running. Smelting takes time, so it is efficient to fill the input slots and let the Forge process while you handle other tasks.

Upgrading Output

• Crucible — Adding a crucible to the Forge unlocks the ability to smelt and work with higher-tier metals, expanding the range of items you can produce.
• Anvil / Tool Additions — Certain forge attachments improve crafting speed and unlock more complex recipes.

Crafting with the Forge

• Iron and steel parts for weapons, tools, and armor
• Nails, needed for many building and mechanical recipes
• Arrowheads, bullet casings, and other ammo components
• Building materials and repair supplies

Practical Tips

• Build the Forge early — it gates most of the metal economy.
• Keep a steady supply of coal or wood as fuel so smelting never stalls.
• Feed scrap iron and salvaged metal into the Forge to build a reserve of molten material.
• Read the relevant crafting magazines to unlock advanced forge recipes and higher quality tiers.
• Place the Forge near your storage and other workstations to streamline production.

Updates Needed

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