Iron Man Crafting Guide - Efficient Training from Level 1 to 99

Crafting on an Iron Man in Old School RuneScape can feel more limited compared to other skills, but with the right approach, it’s both manageable and rewarding. While you can’t simply buy OSRS gold to speed things up like a main account might, this guide breaks down the best methods, their pros and cons, and how to plan your progression from level 1 all the way to 99.

1. Questing for Early Levels (1-35)

If you enjoy questing, you can use it to quickly bypass the slowest early levels. Several quests award Crafting XP, enough to push you from level 1 to around level 35. Completing them in a recommended order saves resources and lets you jump straight into faster methods.

Not a fan of questing? You can skip this entirely and start with one of the gathering or production methods below.

2. Shooting Stars Method - Passive & AFK

How it works: Mine Shooting Stars to collect Stardust, then trade it for gem bags. Each bag contains 40 random uncut gems.

XP gains:

· Cutting gems directly: ~8.2 XP per Stardust

· Cutting gems + crafting into jewelry: ~16.4 XP per Stardust

Pros:

· Highly AFK

· Great for passive XP while training Mining

· Generates valuable resources for later

Cons:

· Slower than active methods

· Requires time to process gems into higher XP items

Tip: Use the community tracker at osrs.portal to find stars instantly rather than scouting manually.

3. Charter Ships & Molten Glass (1+ Crafting)

Charter ships allow you to buy buckets of sand and soda ash directly. Locations like Catherby are preferred for lower competition and proximity to banks.

Steps:

1. Buy sand and soda ash in bulk (world-hop if needed).

2. Use a furnace (e.g., Edgeville) to turn them into molten glass.

3. Use a glassblowing pipe to make the highest-level glass product you can.

Notes:

· Around 1,800 molten glass/hour is possible with fast banking.

· Some players stick to glass orbs for utility; others make the highest XP product available.

4. Superglass Make - The Core Iron Man Method (61+ Crafting, 77+ Magic)

After completing Lunar Diplomacy, the Superglass Make spell becomes the most efficient way to train Crafting as an Iron Man.

Requirements per cast:

· 2 Astral runes

· 6 Fire runes

· 10 Air runes

· Buckets of sand

· Giant seaweed (6:1 sand-to-seaweed ratio)

The spell processes your entire inventory at once, instantly converting sand + seaweed into molten glass.

Optimal gear:

· Elemental staff or tome combo to save runes (e.g., smoke battlestaff, tome of fire + staff of air)

· Astral runes purchased from Baba Yaga on Lunar Isle

5. Gathering Buckets of Sand Efficiently

Instead of buying from charter ships, switch to sandstone mining at the Desert Quarry.

Steps:

1. Mine sandstone with the best pickaxe you have.

2. Deposit into the Sandstorm machine.

3. Give Drew empty buckets to fill with sand (50 gp each).

Boosts:

· Circlet of Water (from Beneath Cursed Sands) to avoid waterskins 

· Varrock armour and Celestial ring for a chance at double sandstone

6. Farming Giant Seaweed

Giant seaweed replaces soda ash for Superglass Make and is farmed in underwater patches on Fossil Island.

Steps:

1. Bring seaweed spores and ultra compost.

2. Plant at underwater patches.

3. Wait ~40 minutes for growth; expect 15-34 seaweed per patch with ultra compost.

Getting spores:

· Passively collect in the underwater area while wearing diving gear from Recipe for Disaster.

· This is more efficient than killing monsters like lobstrosities for drops.

Tip: Start farming seaweed early so you have a large supply ready for longer crafting sessions.

7. Putting It All Together

For the smoothest progression:

1. 1-35: Quests or early Shooting Stars/charter ships.

2. 35-61: Charter ship molten glass making or continued Shooting Stars.

3. 61-99: Superglass Make with sand from sandstone mining and seaweed from Fossil Island farming.

The combination of Superglass Make, efficient sand gathering, and early seaweed farming ensures fast, sustainable Crafting XP without relying on the Grand Exchange.

With this plan, Iron Man crafting becomes far less of a grind and more of a streamlined routine. Unlike accounts that can take advantage of RuneScape gold for sale to buy materials instantly, you’ll need to stockpile supplies in advance, train in bursts, and you’ll reach your Crafting goals far sooner than expected.