Originally posted by Tekk:

Just started playing again after being gone for a while.

Is there a way to automate fuel when smelting?

I don't mind the grind; Mining, looking for materials etc.
But having to stay near my base when smelting has become enough of a drag that I don't really feel like going on, especially considering how many bars i need for stuff.

I don't mind a process taking long, eg. fermentation, but at least let me explore and do whatever while it's happening, instead of having to feed the Smelter every 5 minutes, and loot the kiln every 6 or so.

Valheim Plus has some very good quality of life alterations, but careful you don't abuse some settings too much, like stamina drain on actions etc, otherwise it feels like cheating..

Tekk, if you haven't already check out thunderstore. Its so much easier to use than Nexus and you'll find the same mod (s).

Maybe check on the available mods?
There are already mods that will pull crafting mats from nearby chests so there might be ones for the kiln and smelter that will pull charcoal and ores from nearby chests respectivly.

EDIT
quick search turned up this one
https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/159
auto wood for kiln and coal/ore for the smelter

Thatnks for mentioning this, I never thought to look for it before.

Appreciate the replies, especially this one:

Originally posted by Yakumo_2020:

...
EDIT
quick search turned up this one
https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/159
auto wood for kiln and coal/ore for the smelter

Thatnks for mentioning this, I never thought to look for it before.

Definitely going to try this out.
I generally don't use mods since i want to maintain the intended balance of the game, and I feel that Valheim is mostly good as it is, apart from the smelter mechanics, so it's excellent that there is a mod mostly addressing that!

also going to sleep, as the furnaces work while sleeping.

If you want to mess with mods and all that comes with them then yeah, probably an answer there. If you don't wan't to mess with all that and the headaches they can bring (for me, anyway) then no, this isn't Minecraft where you can redstone everything. Build more kilns/smelters or, if not in a rush, just load 'em up and get on about your day. Come back a little later to collect/refill. Try not to be OCD about smelting everything but if you are in a hurry or can't stand those unrefined rocks laying around then yeah, build more processing equipment.

If you sleep with a full smelter, you wake up with a pile of bars.

I just loaded the kiln any time I was in the base and picked up the coal when I returned. I got a couple chests ahead on coal that way. I also did things like tend my boars and grow carrots, chop and plant trees, cook ahead and get ahead on arrow production.

Originally posted by Tekk:

Just started playing again after being gone for a while.

Is there a way to automate fuel when smelting?

I don't mind the grind; Mining, looking for materials etc.
But having to stay near my base when smelting has become enough of a drag that I don't really feel like going on, especially considering how many bars i need for stuff.

I don't mind a process taking long, eg. fermentation, but at least let me explore and do whatever while it's happening, instead of having to feed the Smelter every 5 minutes, and loot the kiln every 6 or so.

Build more smelters I have at least 4, and build a small hole in front and plank it so all your stuff will drop in it. Nothing will happen.

Meh... feed the kilns, go explore and don't worry about the ingots. It's not as if anyone is going to come along and steal them ;)

Build more kilns and smelters maybe.

I have been playing and reading the forum since a month after Valheim's release. I have never seen or heard of a way to automate feeding the smelter with either coal or ore.

A player is not, however, limited to one kiln or one smelter per base. Provided one has a decent supply of sertling cores, one can set up three or four kilns and produce a lot of coal. After making enough coal, tear down the kilns and replace them with smelters. Load up all the smelters and go do something else. I usually farm or craft foods. When the first round of smelting is done, reload all the smelters. Repeat until all the ore is processed.

Refining all one's ores may take two or three days with one smelter. Multiple smelters reduce this time significantly.

Officially? Just build more smelters. Note that, unlike some stuff, smelters will play "catch up" when you get near them again, effectively working while you are away.

Unofficially? Mods exist for pulling items from nearby chests. I think Valheim plus will do it, along with a bunch of other things. There might be a separate mod that specifically deals with smelters/crafting from chests, but I'm not aware of it. Obligatory disclaimer: mods are not supported by the devs at this time, and they take no responsibility for any mod-related issues that appear. If/when such issues do appear, remember to mention all mods used when asking for help/reporting it.

Originally posted by shadain597:

Unofficially? Mods exist for pulling items from nearby chests. I think Valheim plus will do it, along with a bunch of other things. There might be a separate mod that specifically deals with smelters/crafting from chests, but I'm not aware of it. Obligatory disclaimer: mods are not supported by the devs at this time, and they take no responsibility for any mod-related issues that appear. If/when such issues do appear, remember to mention all mods used when asking for help/reporting it.

^ This. Valheim Plus mod offers many QOL features, including pulling fuel and resources from nearby storage. Automate smelters, kilns, spinning wheels, fermentation barrels, and more. Highly recommended.