20. The Smelter Smoke Detector Passage
What This Idea Means
Furnaces, Smokers, and Blast Furnaces output an active redstone signal through a comparator only when actively smelting items. Placing fuel and raw ores into a decorative wall furnace activates a comparator that opens a secret wall door into a hidden crafting workshop.
Materials Needed
- 1 Furnace, Smoker, or Blast Furnace
- 1 Redstone Comparator
- Redstone Dust
- 1 Redstone Torch
- Sticky Pistons
- Smelting materials (Coal & Raw Iron/Kelp)
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Make It
- Build Smelting Station: Place a furnace inside a wall array in your workshop or kitchen.
- Attach Comparator Output: Place a comparator directly behind the furnace facing outward.
- Invert Signal: Run redstone dust from the comparator to a redstone torch attached to the side of a solid block. Wire this torch to keep your hidden piston wall closed.
- Operation: Open the furnace and drop in a piece of coal and raw iron. As soon as the furnace begins smelting, the comparator reads the active state, unpowers the torch, and slides open the secret workshop door.
- Close Door: Taking the items back out stops smelting and closes the door behind you.
Tips and Variations
- Kelp Smelter Lock: Use Dried Kelp Blocks as a long-burning fuel source to keep your secret workshop unlocked for extended build sessions.
