Iron is less tedious than miming both copper AND tin to make bronze.

You can download a mod that lets you portal metals and ores or you can log off with ore/metal. Log into a new server and drop it off. Log back in and portal. Log off and pick your ore/metal up. Log back in and start smelting. Killing oozers occasionally causes a unit of iron scrap to drop and you can occasionally find bit of iron scrap at the base of ancient trees.

When you reach the plains you'll need iron again. Padded armor pieces require iron and linen and not black metal. Black metal is used for weapons and shields but not armor.

It would be nice if Haldor was more useful in game. Maybe trade ores and other items instead of just jewels and pearls for gold and then gold for a few useful items and fishing worms. I have all the worms I can use and a chest and a half of gold and nothing to spend it on.