Two ways to get them
- Find them. Players report Iron Rods in the prison cells and two in a chest in the spider area. Early chests also hold one now and then.
- Smelt them. Build a Smelter from 5 Clay + 5 Scrap Metal, then smelt Scrap Metal + Coal. One player reports 9 Scrap Metal → 3 Iron Rods. Clay needs the Pickaxe — see how to get Clay.
What Iron Rods are used for
| Item | Iron Rods | Full recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Workbench | 2 | 3 Wood Plank + 2 Iron Rod + 1 Leather |
| Hammer (after finding one) | 3 | 3 Iron Rod + 3 Rock |
| Axe (after finding one) | 2 | 1 Leather + 2 Iron Rod |
| Cooking Pot | 3 | 1 Iron Pot + 3 Iron Rod |
| Hook (for the Grappling Hook) | 1 | 1 Iron Rod |
| Harpoon | 3 | 1 Hook + 3 Iron Rod |
| Long Bow | 1 | 1 Wood Plank + 1 Iron Rod + 1 Leather |
| Water Pot | 1 | 4 Clay + 1 Iron Rod |
The Smelter also casts keys from molds (5 Coal + 8 Scrap Metal each) — see keys and doors.